Tony Bin
Encyclopedia
Tony Bin was an Irish-bred
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who competed in Europe for his Italian
owner from a base in Milan
and who became a leading sire in Japan
.
Severn Bridge by Hornbeam. The colt was a descendant of the great Nearco
through both his sire and his dam. There was nothing special about the foal and O'Callaghan sold him for a paltry 3,000 guineas
to the Allevamento White Star breeding and racing operation of Italian businessman Luciano Gaucci
.
Gran Criterium
at Milan's San Siro Racecourse. As a three-year-old in 1986, he achieved a second place finish in the GI Gran Premio del Jockey Club
.
It was at age four that Tony Bin blossomed into a star. In 1987 he won some of Italy's most prestigious Group One
events including the Gran Premio del Jockey Club, the Premio Presidente della Repubblica
and Gran Premio di Milano
, repeating as winner of the latter two in 1988. Sent to race in France
and England
, he ran second in the 1988 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
and third in the 1988 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In October, he capped off a brilliant campaign with a win in France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
. His 1988 campaign earned him European Champion Older Horse honors.
. He stood at stud
at their Shadai Stallion Station
in Shiraoi, Hokkaido
where he met with considerable success. The leading sire in Japan
in 1994, Tony Bin's progeny includes:
Tony Bin sired other Grade I millionaire winners and was also the damsire of the Japanese colt Heart's Cry, winner of the 2006 Dubai Sheema Classic
who handed Deep Impact his first ever loss in winning the 2005 Arima Kinen
.
In 2000, Tony Bin died unexpectedly of heart failure at the age of seventeen.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who competed in Europe for his Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
owner from a base in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and who became a leading sire in Japan
Leading sire in Japan
The list below shows the leading Thoroughbred sire of racehorses in Japan for each year since 1924. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the season.-----References:* -See also:* Leading sire in Australia...
.
Background
Bred by Pat O'Callaghan, Tony Bin was foaled on 7 April 1983. He was a son of Rathbarry Stud's Kampala and out of the mareMare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
Severn Bridge by Hornbeam. The colt was a descendant of the great Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
through both his sire and his dam. There was nothing special about the foal and O'Callaghan sold him for a paltry 3,000 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
to the Allevamento White Star breeding and racing operation of Italian businessman Luciano Gaucci
Luciano Gaucci
Luciano Gaucci is an Italian entrepreneur and sportsman. He was the owner of various clubs:* Perugia Calcio, a football club based in Perugia, Umbria.* Viterbese Calcio, a football club based in Viterbo, Lazio.* S.S...
.
Racing career
Trained by Luigi Camici, at age two Tony Bin's best result in a major race was a third in the GIGroup One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Gran Criterium
Gran Criterium
The Gran Criterium is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October....
at Milan's San Siro Racecourse. As a three-year-old in 1986, he achieved a second place finish in the GI Gran Premio del Jockey Club
Gran Premio del Jockey Club
The Gran Premio del Jockey Club is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.Past winners of the event include Tenerani and...
.
It was at age four that Tony Bin blossomed into a star. In 1987 he won some of Italy's most prestigious Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
events including the Gran Premio del Jockey Club, the Premio Presidente della Repubblica
Premio Presidente della Repubblica
The Premio Presidente della Repubblica is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Capannelle over a distance 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
and Gran Premio di Milano
Gran Premio di Milano
The Gran Premio di Milano is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Milan over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
, repeating as winner of the latter two in 1988. Sent to race in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he ran second in the 1988 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June.-History:...
and third in the 1988 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In October, he capped off a brilliant campaign with a win in France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
. His 1988 campaign earned him European Champion Older Horse honors.
Stud record
Tony Bin was sold for US$4 million to the Zenya Yoshida family of JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He stood at stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at their Shadai Stallion Station
Shadai Stallion Station
is a thoroughbred breeding facility located in Abira on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. The farm was begun in the late 1970s, early 1980s by the late Zenya Yoshida and is now run jointly by his sons , known collectively as the Shadai Group. As of 2006, the brothers own 3,000 horses worldwide...
in Shiraoi, Hokkaido
Shiraoi, Hokkaido
is a town located in Shiraoi District, Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 31 May 2008, the town had a population of 20,371 The town was established in 1867 by the feudal lords of Sendai. Most of the area of the town is forested and parts lie within the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park.-History:Shiraoi like...
where he met with considerable success. The leading sire in Japan
Leading sire in Japan
The list below shows the leading Thoroughbred sire of racehorses in Japan for each year since 1924. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the season.-----References:* -See also:* Leading sire in Australia...
in 1994, Tony Bin's progeny includes:
- Air Groove (1993) - Horse of the Year and 1997 Champion Older Mare in Japan. In July 2004, her foal (later named The Sunday Fusaichi) by Dance in the Dark sold for ¥490,000,000 (U.S.$4.54 million), making it the world's highest-priced foal and the most expensive horse ever sold at auction in Japan.
- Jungle Pocket (1998) - winner of the Tokyo Yushun and Japan CupJapan CupThe is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
, voted the 2001 Japan Horse of the Year and rated that year by TimeformTimeformTimeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
as the third best three-year-old colt in the world. - Narita Century (1999) - Japanese stakes winner of US$2,466,527.
- North Flight (1990) - winner of Yasuda KinenYasuda KinenThe Yasuda Kinen is a Japanese International Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at the Tokyo Racecourse in Tokyo. Raced annually each June, the Yasuda Kinen is run at a distance of eight furlongs on turf and is open to horses three years of age and up...
and Mile ChampionshipMile ChampionshipThe Mile Championship is an International Grade I flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,600 metres on the turf at Kyoto Racecourse in November...
. - Telegnosis (1999) - winner of GI NHK Mile CupNHK Mile CupThe NHK Mile Cup is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbred colts and fillies, run over a distance of 1,600 metres on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse in May....
with career earnings of more than US$3 million. - VegaVegaVega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus...
(1990) - winner of the 1993 Oka ShoOka ShoThe is a Japanese Domestic Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies run over a distance of 1,600 metres at the Hanshin Racecourse, Takarazuka, Hyōgo in April....
(Japanese 1000 Guineas) and Yushun HimbaYushun HimbaThe , also known as the is a Japanese domestic Grade 1 flat horse race for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies run over a distance of 2,400 metres at the Tokyo Racecourse, Fuchū, Tokyo in May....
(Japanese Oaks). - Winning Ticket (1990) - winner of the 1993 Tokyo YushunTokyo YushunThe , also called as the is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over a distance of 2,400 metres at the Tokyo Racecourse, Fuchū, Tokyo in late May or early June....
(Japanese Derby).
Tony Bin sired other Grade I millionaire winners and was also the damsire of the Japanese colt Heart's Cry, winner of the 2006 Dubai Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
who handed Deep Impact his first ever loss in winning the 2005 Arima Kinen
Arima Kinen
The Arima Kinen is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,500 metres at Nakayama Racecourse, and it takes place annually in late December...
.
In 2000, Tony Bin died unexpectedly of heart failure at the age of seventeen.