Accidental Agent | |
---|---|
Sire | Delegator |
Grandsire | Dansili |
Dam | Roodle |
Damsire | Xaar |
Sex | Gelding |
Foaled | 8 April 2014 [1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | Gaie Johnson Houghton |
Owner | Gaie Johnson Houghton |
Trainer | Eve Johnson Houghton |
Record | 53: 7-5-5 |
Earnings | £753,996 |
Major wins | |
Queen Anne Stakes (2018) |
Accidental Agent, (foaled 8 April 2014) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his upset victory in the 2018 Queen Anne Stakes. He showed promise when winning twice as a juvenile in 2016 and developed into a high-class handicapper in the following year. In 2018, he defeated a strong international field to take the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at odds of 33/1. He failed to win in nine races as a five-year-old.
Accidental Agent is a bay gelding bred and owned by Gaie Johnson Houghton and trained by his owner's daughter Eve Johnson Houghton at Blewbury in Oxfordshire. He was named after John Goldsmith, Gaie Johnson Houghton's father. Goldsmith was a racehorse trainer and Special Operations Executive agent who wrote a book about his wartime experiences titled The Accidental Agent. [2] As a yearling Accidental Agent was offered for sale at Tattersalls but was bought back by his owner when he failed to reach his reserve price. [3] Eve Johnson Houghton later commented "He went through the sales ring and nobody even looked at him". [4] The horse has been ridden in most of his races by Charles Bishop.
He was probably the best horse sired by Delegator, a top-class sprinter-miler who finished second in the 2000 Guineas and won the Duke of York Stakes. [5] Accidental Agent's dam Roodle showed modest ability on the track, winning two minor races for the Johnson Houghtons from 16 attempts. [6] She was distantly descended in the female line from Satanella (foaled 1941) a British broodmare whose descendants have included Chief Singer, Pleasantly Perfect and Winged Love. [7]
Accidental Agent began his racing career in a maiden race over seven furlongs at Sandown Park on 13 July in which he started at odds of 7/1 and finished sixth of the sixteen runners. Eighteen days later at Chepstow Racecourse he started at odds of 9/2 for a similar event and recorded his first success, as he took the lead approaching the final furlong and won by one and three quarter lengths from Highland Lotus. [8] The colt then carried 132 pounds in a nursery handicap at Goodwood Racecourse on 26 August in which he led for most of the way before being beaten a length into second place by Procurator. On 1 October at Newmarket Racecourse he was dropped back to six furlongs and went off at 14/1 for the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes, a valuable handicap race for juveniles offered for sale at Tatteralls as yearlings. The 26 runner field split into two groups, with Accidental Agent racing towards the rear of the group on the near side (the left side from the jockeys' viewpoint). He made rapid progress approaching the final furlong, took the lead in the closing stages and kept on strongly to win by a length from the filly Simmie. [9]
On his first appearance of 2017 Accidental Agent ran fifth in a six furlong handicap at Doncaster Racecourse on 28 April and then finished seventh in a similar event over seven furlongs at Ascot Racecourse two weeks later. On 9 September the colt returned from a lengthy break in a seven furlong handicap on the synthetic polytrack surface at Kempton Park Racecourse and recorded his first success of the season, taking the lead in the final furlong and winning by one and three quarter lengths from Leontes. [10] Later that month he was stepped up to Listed class for the Dubai Duty Free Cup over seven furlongs at Newbury Racecourse in which he started a 16/1 outsider and finished strongly to take second place, a neck behind the four-year-old Tabarrak. On 7 October Accidental Agent carried 129 pounds in a valuable seven furlong handicap at Ascot and went off at 16/1 in an 18-runner field. After being restrained towards the rear by Bishop in the early stages he took the lead inside the final furlong and held off the late challenge of the four-year-old Lord Glitters to win by half a length. [11] Two weeks later he came home fourth behind Lord Glitters in the one-mile Balmoral Handicap at the same track when attempting to concede five pounds to his older rival. On his final appearance of the year he started favourite for the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton in November but ran poorly and finished unplaced.
Accidental Agent commenced his third campaign in the Listed Paradise Stakes over one mile at Ascot on 2 May and started the 2/1 favourite against six opponents. He raced towards the rear for most of the way, and although he made some progress in the last quarter mile he never looked likely to win and finished third behind Century Dream and Crazy Horse. Seventeen days later at Newbury the colt contested his first Group race when he started the 66/1 outsider of the fourteen runners for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes. He exceeded expectations as he kept on in the closing stages to take sixth place behind Rhododendron.
On 19 June on good to firm ground at Royal Ascot Accidental Agent went off at odds of 33/1 for the Queen Anne Stakes. Benbatl started favourite, while the other thirteen runners included Rhododendron, Century Dream, Lord Glitters, Lightning Spear, Limato, Recoletos (Prix d'Ispahan), Yoshida (Turf Classic Stakes), Deauville (Belmont Derby) and Suedois (Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes). After racing towards the rear as Deauville set the pace, Accidental Agent began to make progress in the last quarter mile and joined the leaders in the final furlong. He gained the advantage in the closing stages and won by half a length from Lord Glitters with Lightning Spear, Century Dream, Yoshida and Beat The Bank finishing close behind. [12] After the race Eve Johnson Houghton said "I thought I was tilting at windmills and I dreamt about being third. I thought, 'My God, I'm going to be placed.' There was an awful lot of screaming going on! It's just ridiculous. I have all my cousins and brothers and my mum here; I don't think she's ever going to get over it. He was bred by mum. My mum is the little woman in a flood of tears. What a legend she is. I am so proud of her and I had a little bit on at 50/1 to pay for the party." [13]
In August Accidental Agent was sent to France to contest the Prix Jacques Le Marois over 1600 metres at Deauville Racecourse but never recovered from a poor start and came home eleventh of the twelve runners in a race won by Alpha Centauri. His final race of the season saw the horse dropped back to Group 2 class for the Joel Stakes at Newmarket on 22 September. He started slowly again and finished last of the five runners.
In the 2018 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Accidental Agent was given a rating of 116 making him the 163rd best racehorse in the world. [14]
Accidental Agent began his five-year-old season at Newbury on 18 May when he made a second attempt to win the Lockinge Stakes. He started a 33/1 outsider but ran better than his odds suggested as he stayed on well from the rear of the field to take third place behind Mustashry and Laurens. On 19 June he returned to Royal Ascot to attempt to win the Queen Anne Stakes for a second time but took no part in the race after refusing to start when the stalls opened. The horse finished last of eight behind Too Darn Hot in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and was then dropped in class for the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury Racecourse on 15 August in which he was beaten a nose by the three-year-old Kick On after struggling to obtain a clear run in the last quarter mile. Nine days later he ran third in the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor after which he underwent an operation to correct a breathing problem. Accidental Agent returned to the track on 19 October when he came home eleventh of the twelve runners behind King of Change in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. In November he was dropped back to Listed class but failed to recover his best form as he finished third in both the Ben Marshall Stakes at Newmarket and the Hyde Stakes at Kempton. In December he was gelded. [15]
The 2020 flat racing season in England and Ireland was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and Accidental Agent did not make his reappearance until 16 June when he contested his third Queen Anne Stakes and ran rather better that his 100/1 odds indicated as he finished fifth behind Circus Maximus. [16] Twelve days later he ran fourth behind Pogo in the Listed Midsummer Stakes at Windsor. In his two subsequent races in 2020 he finished fifth in the Sovereign Stakes and ran unplaced in a seven furlong handicap at Newmarket on 5 September.
Sire Delegator (GB) 2006 | Dansili 1996 | Danehill (USA) | Danzig |
---|---|---|---|
Razyana | |||
Hasili (IRE) | Kahyasi | ||
Kerali (GB) | |||
Indian Love Bird 1999 | Efisio | Formidable (USA) | |
Eldoret (IRE) | |||
Indian Love Song (IRE) | Be My Guest (USA) | ||
Indian Bird (GB) | |||
Dam Roodle (GB) 2007 | Xaar 1995 | Zafonic (USA) | Gone West |
Zaizafon | |||
Monroe (USA) | Sir Ivor | ||
Best In Show | |||
Roodeye 2002 | Inchinor | Ahonoora | |
Inchmurrin (IRE) | |||
Roo | Rudimentary (USA) | ||
Shall We Run (Family 16-a) [7] |
Night of Thunder is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In May 2014, he won the 2000 Guineas. He failed to win again as a three-year-old but finished second in both the St James's Palace Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and third in the Prix du Moulin. On his four-year-old debut, he won the Lockinge Stakes.
Trip To Paris is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing modest form in his first two seasons he emerged as a top-class stayer as a four-year-old in 2015 after being gelded, winning the Chester Cup in May before recording his biggest win in the Ascot Gold Cup. He failed to win again after his Gold Cup success but was placed in a number of major races including a second in the Caulfield Cup. He was retired in July 2017 having won six of his twenty-seven races and earning over £800,000 in prize money.
Noalcoholic was a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed useful form when trained in France and was set to be exported to stand as a breeding stallion in Australia. During what was intended to be a brief stopover in England in the spring of 1982 he began to show impressive form on the training gallops and was returned to the track in the training of Gavin Pritchard-Gordon. He showed much improved form as a five-year-old, winning the Van Geest Stakes, Prix Messidor and Challenge Stakes as well as finishing second in the Queen Anne Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He was even better at six, winning the Lockinge Stakes and the Sussex Stakes and being rated the best older horse in Europe over one mile. He was eventually sent to Australia in 1984, where he became a successful breeding stallion.
Galileo Gold is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old he won the Vintage Stakes and finished third in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. On his three-year-old debut he won the classic 2000 Guineas and went on to finish second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before winning the St James's Palace Stakes.
Lahib was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was unraced as a juvenile and won once from two starts as a three-year-old in the spring of 1991. In the following year he improved to become one of the best milers in Europe, winning the Queen Anne Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as well as finishing second in the Lockinge Stakes, Prix Jacques Le Marois and Champion Stakes. He was retired from racing at the end of the year and became a breeding stallion. He had some success as a sire of winners.
Tout Seul is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He is best known for his performances as a two-year-old in 2002 when he won five of his seven races including the Shergar Cup Juvenile, Tattersalls Breeders Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes, as well as finishing second in the Two-Year-Old Trophy. In the following year he failed to win in six races but finished fourth in the 2000 Guineas and third in the Irish 2000 Guineas. In 2004 he recorded his first victory in eighteen months when he won the Leicestershire Stakes but was well beaten in his remaining races and was retired at the end of the year.
Red Evie is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After finishing unplaced in her only start as a two-year-old in 2005 she improved to become a top class miler in the following year, when she won seven consecutive races including the Sandringham Handicap, Oak Tree Stakes and Matron Stakes. She defeated male opposition to win the Lockinge Stakes in 2007 and added a win in the Hungerford Stakes later that year before being retired from racing. As a broodmare for the Coolmore Stud she has made a considerable impact, producing several winners including the outstanding racemare Found.
Creachadoir is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a specialist miler who won four of his fifteen races between May 2006 and March 2009. Originally trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger he showed promise without winning in two races as a juvenile in 2006. In the first half of 2007 he won the Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial and the Tetrarch Stakes and went on to finish second in both the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He was then bought by Godolphin and won the Joel Stakes before being narrowly beaten in the Hong Kong Mile. In May 2008 he recorded his biggest success when he won the Group One Lockinge Stakes over one mile at Newbury Racecourse. He then suffered a serious leg injury and made only one subsequent appearance before being retired from racing in 2009. He has had limited success as a breeding stallion.
Samitar is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who raced in four countries and won major races in England, Ireland and the United States. She showed good form as a juvenile in 2011, winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and a valuable sales race at Newmarket Racecourse as well as being placed in the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she recorded an upset win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas before being sent to race in North America where she won the Garden City Stakes. She remained in training as a four-year-old and won stakes races at Belmont Park and Saratoga.
Where Or When was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed good form as a two-year-old in 2001, winning three races including the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes as well as finishing fourth in the Dewhurst Stakes and the Solario Stakes. In the following year he ran unplaced in the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby before recording his first win almost ten months when he took the Thoroughbred Stakes. On his final run of the year he recorded his biggest victory when he upset the odds-on favourite Hawk Wing in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In 2003 he failed to win but was placed in the Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne Stakes. After his retirement from racing he had modest success as a breeding stallion.
Indian Lodge was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He failed to win as a two-year-old in 1998 but made steady progress in the following year, taking two minor races in spring and ending the season with victories in the Joel Stakes and Darley Stakes. He reached his peak as a four-year-old in 2000 when he won the Earl of Sefton Stakes, Sandown Mile, Prix du Moulin and Prix de la Forêt. He had little success as a breeding stallion.
Aqlaam was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After finishing third on his only start as a juvenile he won both of his races as a three-year-old in 2008 including the Group 3 Jersey Stakes. He reached his peak in 2009 when he won the Summer Mile Stakes and the Prix du Moulin as well as finishing second in the Prix Jacques Le Marois and third in the Queen Anne Stakes. He showed some promise as a breeding stallion before dying on 5 October 2013 at the age of eight.
Lightning Spear, is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was lightly campaigned in his early career but eventually developed into a top class miler who won the Celebration Mile in 2016 and 2017 and recorded his biggest victory at the age of seven when he took the Sussex Stakes. He was also placed in numerous top-class races including the Queen Anne Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Lockinge Stakes. Lightning Spear was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion.
Mustashry is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He finished fourth on his only run as a juvenile and won two minor races in the following year. As a four-year-old in 2017 he improved to win two races including the Group 3 Strensall Stakes. After being gelded he returned in 2018 to win the Gala Stakes, Park Stakes and Joel Stakes. In 2019 he won the Lockinge Stakes and the Challenge Stakes.
Lord Glitters is a retired French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained in France where he won four races before being sold, gelded, and sent to race in England as a four-year-old where he won the valuable Balmoral Handicap in October 2017. In 2018 he showed very good form over one mile, winning the Strensall Stakes and being placed in the Lincoln Handicap, Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes. As a six-year-old he finished third in the Dubai Turf before recording his biggest victory when he took the Queen Anne Stakes at the second attempt. In 2021 he secured a second Group 1 success, winning the Jebel Hatta, and won the first of two back-to-back victories in the Singspiel Stakes. His retirement was announced in July 2022.
Zabeel Prince is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was unraced as a juvenile and finished second on his only start at three. As a four-year-old he won a maiden race and two handicap races. In 2018 he won the Doncaster Mile Stakes in spring but missed most of the season before returning in autumn to finish second in the Joel Stakes. He reached his peak as a six-year-old in 2019 when he won the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes and the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan. He failed to win in three starts in 2020.
Palace Pier is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won two minor events as a juvenile and a handicap race on his three-year-old debut before emerging as a top-class performer with victories in the St James's Palace Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois. In 2021 he won the Sandown Mile, Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and a second Prix Jacques Le Marois.
Regal Parade, is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a track career which lasted from January 2007 until October 2016 he contested 104 races, winning 13 times and being placed on 27 occasions. He won three minor races as a three-year-old in 2007 and improved in the following year to win the Buckingham Palace Stakes and the Ayr Gold Cup. In the next two years he showed top class form over sprint distances, taking the City Plate and Haydock Sprint Cup in 2009 and the Hackwood Stakes and Prix Maurice de Gheest in 2010. He remained in training until the age of twelve but never returned to the highest class and won only three minor races before being retired from racing,
Addeybb is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He excels over distances of around 2000 metres and is noted for his toughness, consistency and aptitude for racing on soft ground. He did not race as a two-year-old and as a three-year-old in 2017 he won three minor races from five starts before improving in the following year to win the Lincoln Handicap and the Sandown Mile. He made further progress in 2019 when he won the Wolferton Stakes and the Rose of Lancaster Stakes as well as finishing second in the Champion Stakes. As a six-year-old in 2020 he established himself as a world-class middle-distance performer, winning the Ranvet Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Australia before returning to Europe to win the Doonside Cup and the Champion Stakes.
Lady Bowthorpe is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed modest ability in her early career, finishing fourth on her only start as a juvenile and winning one minor race as a three-year-old in the following year. She improved in 2020, winning two races including the Group 3 Valiant Stakes. Lady Bowthorpe was even better as a five-year-old when she won the Dahlia Stakes and finishing second in the Lockinge Stakes before recording her first Group 1 win in the Nassau Stakes.