1996 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Last updated
46th King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Location Ascot Racecourse
Date27 July 1996
Winning horse Pentire (GB)
Jockey Michael Hills
Trainer Geoff Wragg (GB)
OwnerMollers Racing
  1995
1997  

The 1996 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes was a horse race held at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 27 July 1996. It was the 46th running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Contents

The winner was Moller Racing's Pentire, a four-year-old bay colt trained at Newmarket, Suffolk by Geoff Wragg and ridden by Michael Hills. Pentire's victory was the first in the race for Hills and the second for Wragg after Teenoso in 1984. Mollers Racing was a trust formed to manage the racing interests of Teenoso's owner Eric Moller after his death in 1988.

The race

The race attracted a field of eight runners: seven from the United Kingdom, and one from Ireland. The favourite for the race was the three-year-old colt Shaamit who had won the Epsom Derby on his most recent appearance. The best of the other British runners appeared to be the Godolphin stables, Classic Cliche, winner of the St Leger Stakes and the Ascot Gold Cup and Pentire, who had been narrowly beaten by Lammtarra in the previous year's race before winning the Irish Champion Stakes. The Irish challenger was the four-year-old Oscar Schindler, the winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. The other runners were Strategic Choice (Irish St Leger, Gran Premio di Milano), Luso (Derby Italiano), Farasan and Annus Mirabilis, who was acting as a pacemaker. Shaamit headed the betting at odds of 2/1 ahead of Pentire (100/30), Classic Cliche (5/1) and Strategic Choice (7/1).

As expected, Annus Mirabilis went into the lead from the start and set a strong pace from Strategic Choice, Classic Cliche and Luso with Pentire in last place. On the turn into the straight, Classic Cliche moved up on the outside and took the lead approaching the last quarter mile but was soon challenged by Pentire on the outside and Shaamit on the rail. Pentire took the lead a furlong from the finish and won by an official margin of one and three-quarter lengths from Classic Cliche with haamit a neck away in third. There was a gap of ten lengths back to the fourth-placed Oscar Schindler who was followed home by Annus Mirabilis, Farasan, Luso and Strategic Choice. [1]

Race details

Full result

Pos.Marg.Horse (bred)AgeJockeyTrainer (Country)Odds
1 Pentire (GB)4 Michael Hills Geoff Wragg (GB)100/30
2 Classic Cliche (IRE)4 Mick Kinane Saeed bin Suroor (GB)5/1
3 Shaamit (IRE)3 Pat Eddery William Haggas (GB)2/1 fav
410 Oscar Schindler (IRE)4 Richard Hughes Kevin Prendergast (IRE)10/1
511Annus Mirabilis (FR)4 Richard Hills Saeed bin Suroor (GB)33/1
6Farasan (IRE)3 Ray Cochrane Henry Cecil (GB)11/1
7 Luso (GB)4 John Reid Clive Brittain (GB)14/1
8 Strategic Choice (USA)5 Richard Quinn Paul Cole (GB)7/1

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Pentire

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teenoso</span> American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse

Teenoso was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing moderate form as a two-year-old, he improved in the spring of 1983 to win the Group Three Lingfield Derby Trial and the Epsom Derby, giving Lester Piggott a record ninth win in the Classic race. Teenoso was beaten in his two remaining races that year but showed good form as a four-year-old, winning the Ormonde Stakes, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and, on his final appearance, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He proved to be a disappointment at stud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaamit</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Shaamit (1993–2001) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred race horse and sire. In a career which lasted from September 1995 to October 1996, he ran six times and won twice. He was the winner of the Epsom Derby in 1996. He was retired to stud at the end of his three-year-old season where he had limited success. He died in 2001.

Ballymoss (1954–1979) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career that lasted from 1956 until November 1958, he ran seventeen times and won eight races. In 1957, he became the first horse trained in Ireland to win the St Leger Stakes. The following season, he was Europe's leading middle-distance horse, winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Geoff Wragg was a Thoroughbred horse trainer who trained champion horses such as Teenoso and Pentire. He was the son of former jockey and trainer Harry Wragg, from whom he took over the licence at Abington Place, Newmarket in 1983 upon his father's retirement. Wragg retired in 2008 after 25 years of training and sold Abington Place to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum the following spring. He relocated to Yorkshire, the birthplace of his late father, Harry Wragg. He died in 2017.

Pentire was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shantou (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Shantou was a classic-winning Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a three-year-old in 1996 he won the St. Leger and the Gran Premio del Jockey Club as well as finishing third in the Epsom Derby and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf. In the following year he won the Gran Premio di Milano and the Princess of Wales's Stakes. After his retirement from racing he had success as a sire of National Hunt horses.

Bollin Eric, was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from July 2001 until October 2003, he ran eighteen times and won four races. He recorded his most important success when winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes as a three-year-old in 2002. He won the Lonsdale Stakes in the following year and was placed in important races including the Dante Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes, Great Voltigeur Stakes, Yorkshire Cup and Hardwicke Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic Cliche</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Classic Cliche, was a Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland and trained in Britain and the United Arab Emirates. In a career which lasted from August 1994 until September 1997, he ran sixteen times and won six races. He recorded his most important success when winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes as a three-year-old in 1995, the same year in which he won the Dante Stakes. In the following season he became the first Classic winner in fifty years to win the Ascot Gold Cup.

Bolkonski was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Originally trained in Italy, the colt moved to England for the 1975 season where he recorded an upset victory over Grundy in the classic 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse. He went on to win two other major British races over one mile, the St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. At the end of the season he was retired to stud where he had limited success as a sire of winners.

Sodium (1963–1983) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1966. After running well without winning in 1965 he improved to become one of the best European colts of his generation in 1966 when he developed a rivalry with Charlottown. Sodium finished fourth behind Charlottown in The Derby but reversed the form to win both the Irish Derby and St Leger. He failed to reproduce his best form as a four-year-old and was retired to stud, where he had little success as a sire of winners in France and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamossaire (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Chamossaire (1942–1964) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1945 and siring the Derby winner Santa Claus. After winning twice as a two-year-old, Chamossaire contested all three legs of the Triple Crown in 1945. He finished fourth in both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby before winning the St Leger. He was retired to stud where he proved to be a successful sire of winners. Chamossaire died in 1964.

First Island was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed unexceptional form in his early racing career but emerged as a top-class racehorse as a four-year-old in 1996, winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Sussex Stakes before becoming the first European-trained horse to win the Hong Kong Cup. He returned in 1997 to win the Lockinge Stakes, but died a month later at the age of five. In all, he won eight times and was placed on a further seven occasions in a career of twenty races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leading Light</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Leading Light is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old, he was well-beaten in his first race before winning a maiden race. In 2013, he established himself as a leading stayer, winning his first four races, including the Gallinule Stakes, the Queen's Vase, and the classic St Leger Stakes. As a four-year-old, he won the Vintage Crop Stakes before winning the Ascot Gold Cup.

The 1983 Epsom Derby was the 204th annual running of the Derby horse race. It took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 1 June 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes</span> Horse race

The 1995 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes was a horse race held at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 22 July 1995. It was the 45th running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winged Love</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Winged Love was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for his win in the 1995 Irish Derby. After winning one of his two races as a juvenile in 1994, the colt showed steady improvement in the early part of his three-year-old season, finishing second in his first two races before winning the Listed Prix de Suresnes. He finished a close third behind Celtic Swing in the Prix du Jockey Club before reversing the form to win the Irish Derby. He went on to finish fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and third in the Prix Niel and was retired from racing at the end of the year. He has subsequently become a successful sire of National Hunt horses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strategic Choice</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Strategic Choice was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion. In a racing career which lasted from April 1994 until July 2000 he competed in nine different countries – Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Turkey, Canada and Hong Kong – and won six of his thirty-four races. Unraced as a two-year-old he won the John Porter Stakes and Irish St. Leger at four, the Gran Premio di Milano and Grand Prix de Deauville at five and the Bosphorus Trophy at six. He was also placed in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Gran Premio del Jockey Club, Yorkshire Cup and St Simon Stakes. After his retirement from racing he had some success as a sire of National Hunt racing.

Oscar Schindler was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion best known for being the second horse to win two runnings of the Irish St. Leger. In a racing career which lasted from October 1994 until November 1997 he competed in five different countries and won five of his twenty starts.

Definite Article was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 1994 he won a maiden race on his debut and then won the Group 1 National Stakes on his second and final start of the year. In the following year he won the Silver Stakes and was narrowly beaten in a strongly contested edition of the Irish Derby. As a four-year-old he added victories in the Mooresbridge Stakes and the Tattersalls Gold Cup. After being retired from racing at the end of the 1996 he became a successful breeding stallion, enjoying particular success as a sire of National Hunt horses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyledriver</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Pyledriver is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing promise as a two-year-old in 2019, when he won two of four races including the Listed Ascendant Stakes, he improved in the following year to become a top-class middle-distance performer, winning the King Edward VII Stakes and the Great Voltigeur Stakes as well as finishing third in the St Leger. In 2021 he recorded his first Group 1 victory in the Coronation Cup. In 2022 he registered an upset victory the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He was ridden in fourteen of his first fifteen starts by Martin Dwyer.

References

  1. "King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes result". Racing Post. 27 July 1996. Retrieved 2014-04-13.