Torgau (horse)
Encyclopedia
Torgau was an Irish-bred, British-trained champion Thoroughbred
racehorse. As a two-year-old in 1999 she won the Group Two
Cherry Hinton Stakes
and finished second in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes
and the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes
. At the time of her success, her trainer, Giles Bravery had only nine horses in his stable. Torgau was named European Champion Two-year-old Filly of 1999 at the Cartier Racing Awards. She was retired after two unsuccessful runs as a three-year-old.
winner Zieten out of the mare Snoozy Time. Zieten was not a notable successs as a stallion although he had an excellent first season and has been described as "a good source of fast two-year-olds". Snoozy Time, a daughter of the Epsom Derby
runner-up Cavo Doro, won a minor race and was a half-sister to the successful sprinter Grey Desire (Duke of York Stakes
). Apart from Torgau, her most notable performer was Fujiyama Crest, who provided Frankie Dettori
with the last of his seven winners on Champions' Day at Ascot
in 1996.
Torgau is inbred
4x4 to Sir Gaylord (see below).
Torgau was sent to the sales as a foal in November 1997, when she was sold for 13,000 gns
to the bloodstock agent Paul Thorman. A year later Thorman sold her for the same price at the Tattersalls
October sales.
She was sent into training with Giles Bravery at his Revida Place stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
and won by two lengths from the favourite Littlefeather. Giles Bravery said after the race that Torgau was his best two-year-old and would be sent to Royal Ascot.
At the Royal meeting two weeks later, Torgau was sent off at odds of 25/1 for the Group Three Queen Mary Stakes
. She finished sixth, after starting slowly, but finished less than two and a half lengths behind the winner, Shining Hour.
Despite her defeat, she was stepped up in class again for her next start in the Cherry Hinton Stakes
at the July Meeting at Newmarket
in which she was ridden by Gary Stevens. New tactics were employed, with Torgau sent into the lead from the start. She was never headed, and ran on strongly to win by one and a quarter lengths from the favourite, Hoh Dear. After the race Bravery spoke at length about the problems of smaller trainers, explaining that he had thirty-one empty boxes at his forty box stable, and saying that, from a financial point of view, training racehorses was "unbelievably idiotic." Stevens was pleased with the filly, commenting that Torgau was "just enjoying herself out there."
Torgau was then moved up to the highest level when she was sent to Ireland for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh
. Her rivals included Littlefeather, who had won all three of her starts since the Catterick race, the unbeaten Preseli and the Aidan O'Brien
-trained Amethyst. Torgau disputed the lead in the early stages and went into a clear lead a furlong
from the finish but was caught close home and beaten three quarters of a length by Preseli.
Torgau's final start of the season came in the Cheveley Park Stakes
at Newmarket, one of the two Group One races for two-year-old fillies in England. Once again, Torgau was sent into the lead from the start by her jockey Michael Hills. In the final furlong she was overtaken by the Mick Channon
-trained Seazun, and although she ran on under pressure, she was beaten by a head.
Before her start at Newmarket, Torgau had been sold to American interests, with the intention of racing her in the United States, but in fact she stayed at Newmarket to be prepared for the following year's 1000 Guineas.
.
Torgau was then sent to the United States and joined the stable of Jenine Sahadi. On her first American start she finished last in the Grade II
Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park.
She was retired soon afterwards and sent to Keeneland
where she was sold for a reported $900,000.
Torgau was named European Champion Two-year-old Filly of 1999 at the Cartier Racing Awards.
In November 2006 she was sold at Tattersalls for 58,000 gns
to David Redvers Bloodstock.
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. As a two-year-old in 1999 she won the Group Two
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
Cherry Hinton Stakes
Cherry Hinton Stakes
The Cherry Hinton Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
and finished second in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes
Moyglare Stud Stakes
The Moyglare Stud Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August or early September.The event is named after its long-term sponsor,...
and the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes
Cheveley Park Stakes
The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was...
. At the time of her success, her trainer, Giles Bravery had only nine horses in his stable. Torgau was named European Champion Two-year-old Filly of 1999 at the Cartier Racing Awards. She was retired after two unsuccessful runs as a three-year-old.
Background
Torgau was sired by the Middle Park StakesMiddle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was established...
winner Zieten out of the mare Snoozy Time. Zieten was not a notable successs as a stallion although he had an excellent first season and has been described as "a good source of fast two-year-olds". Snoozy Time, a daughter of the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
runner-up Cavo Doro, won a minor race and was a half-sister to the successful sprinter Grey Desire (Duke of York Stakes
Duke of York Stakes
The Duke of York Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
). Apart from Torgau, her most notable performer was Fujiyama Crest, who provided Frankie Dettori
Frankie Dettori
Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing...
with the last of his seven winners on Champions' Day at Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
in 1996.
Torgau is inbred
Inbreeding
Inbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
4x4 to Sir Gaylord (see below).
Torgau was sent to the sales as a foal in November 1997, when she was sold for 13,000 gns
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 bloodstock agent Paul Thorman. A year later Thorman sold her for the same price at the Tattersalls
Tattersalls
Tattersalls is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall , who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. The first premises occupied were near Hyde Park Corner, in what was then the outskirts of London...
October sales.
She was sent into training with Giles Bravery at his Revida Place stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
1997: two-year-old season
Torgau began her career at Catterick in a maiden race in June 1999. She started a 14/1 outsider in a six-horse field, but after being behind in the early stages, she was brought through to take the lead by Kevin DarleyKevin Darley
Kevin Darley is a retired jockey, and a co-president of the Jockeys' Association of Great Britain...
and won by two lengths from the favourite Littlefeather. Giles Bravery said after the race that Torgau was his best two-year-old and would be sent to Royal Ascot.
At the Royal meeting two weeks later, Torgau was sent off at odds of 25/1 for the Group Three Queen Mary Stakes
Queen Mary Stakes
The Queen Mary Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
. She finished sixth, after starting slowly, but finished less than two and a half lengths behind the winner, Shining Hour.
Despite her defeat, she was stepped up in class again for her next start in the Cherry Hinton Stakes
Cherry Hinton Stakes
The Cherry Hinton Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
at the July Meeting at Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
in which she was ridden by Gary Stevens. New tactics were employed, with Torgau sent into the lead from the start. She was never headed, and ran on strongly to win by one and a quarter lengths from the favourite, Hoh Dear. After the race Bravery spoke at length about the problems of smaller trainers, explaining that he had thirty-one empty boxes at his forty box stable, and saying that, from a financial point of view, training racehorses was "unbelievably idiotic." Stevens was pleased with the filly, commenting that Torgau was "just enjoying herself out there."
Torgau was then moved up to the highest level when she was sent to Ireland for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh
Curragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
. Her rivals included Littlefeather, who had won all three of her starts since the Catterick race, the unbeaten Preseli and the Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
-trained Amethyst. Torgau disputed the lead in the early stages and went into a clear lead a furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
from the finish but was caught close home and beaten three quarters of a length by Preseli.
Torgau's final start of the season came in the Cheveley Park Stakes
Cheveley Park Stakes
The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was...
at Newmarket, one of the two Group One races for two-year-old fillies in England. Once again, Torgau was sent into the lead from the start by her jockey Michael Hills. In the final furlong she was overtaken by the Mick Channon
Mick Channon
Michael Roger "Mick" Channon is a sportsman who enjoyed a career as a striker with Southampton and England in the 1970s and later became a hugely successful racehorse trainer.-Southampton:...
-trained Seazun, and although she ran on under pressure, she was beaten by a head.
Before her start at Newmarket, Torgau had been sold to American interests, with the intention of racing her in the United States, but in fact she stayed at Newmarket to be prepared for the following year's 1000 Guineas.
1998: three-year-old season
On her three-year-old debut, Torgau was sent straight for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Bravery did not run her in a trial as she "took a long time to get rid of her winter coat." Despite her status as champion two-year-old, she was a 25/1 outsider, probably because both her breeding and racing style suggested that the one mile distance was likely to be too far- Bravery had said that "six furlongs is definitely her best trip". She tracked the leaders, but could make no impression in the closing stages and finished seventh of the eighteen runners behind LahanLahan (horse)
Lahan is a British thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 1,000 Guineas....
.
Torgau was then sent to the United States and joined the stable of Jenine Sahadi. On her first American start she finished last in the Grade II
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park.
She was retired soon afterwards and sent to Keeneland
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
where she was sold for a reported $900,000.
Race record
| Date | Race | Dist (f) | Course | Class | Prize (£K) | Odds | Runners | Placing | Margin | Time | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EBF Novice Stakes | 5 | Catterick | M | 3 | 14/1 | 6 | 1 | 2.5 | 1:00.10 | Kevin Darley Kevin Darley Kevin Darley is a retired jockey, and a co-president of the Jockeys' Association of Great Britain... |
Giles Bravery | |
| Queen Mary Stakes Queen Mary Stakes The Queen Mary Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... |
5 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
3 | 32 | 25/1 | 13 | 6 | 2.5 | 1:01.83 | Michael Hills | Giles Bravery | |
| Cherry Hinton Stakes Cherry Hinton Stakes The Cherry Hinton Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.... |
6 | Newmarket July Newmarket Racecourse The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping... |
2 | 22 | 12/1 | 12 | 1 | 1.25 | 1:11.77 | Gary Stevens | Giles Bravery | |
| Moyglare Stud Stakes Moyglare Stud Stakes The Moyglare Stud Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August or early September.The event is named after its long-term sponsor,... |
7 | The Curragh Curragh Racecourse The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :... |
1 | 87 | 5/1 | 12 | 2 | 0.75 | 1:24.20 | Michael Hills | Giles Bravery | |
| Cheveley Park Stakes Cheveley Park Stakes The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was... |
6 | Newmarket- Rowley Newmarket Racecourse The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping... |
1 | 78 | 11/2 | 14 | 2 | head | 1:12.92 | Michael Hills | Giles Bravery | |
| 1000 Guineas | 8 | Newmarket Rowley Newmarket Racecourse The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping... |
1 | 145 | 25/1 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 1:36.38 | Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races.... |
Giles Bravery | |
| Honeymoon Handicap | 9 | Hollywood | 2 | last | 1:48.05 | Chris McCarron Chris McCarron Christopher John "Chris" McCarron is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He is currently working as a racing analyst for TVG Network.... |
Jenine Sahahdi |
Assessment
In the International Classification for two-year-old fillies, Torgau was rated on 111, making her the eighth best filly of her generation in Europe, two pounds below the top-weights Goldamix, Lady of Chad and Preseli. The senior handicapper, Geoffrey Gibbs described the fillies of 1999 as a "particularly disappointing" group.Torgau was named European Champion Two-year-old Filly of 1999 at the Cartier Racing Awards.
Stud career
Several of Torgau's foals have reached the racecourse and at least two of them, Knapton Hill and Timur Danon have won, but none of her offspring have been top class.In November 2006 she was sold at Tattersalls for 58,000 gns
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 David Redvers Bloodstock.
Pedigree
- Torgau is inbredInbreedingInbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
4x4 to Sir Gaylord. This means that the stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.