Castle Lady

Last updated
Castle Lady
Owner Godolphin.svg
Racing silks of Godolphin
Sire Shamardal
Grandsire Galileo
DamWindsor County
Damsire Elusive Quality
SexMare
Foaled12 April 2016 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Bay
BreederGodolphin SSC
Owner Godolphin
Trainer Henri-Alex Pantall
Record6: 3-1-0
Earnings£396,875
Major wins
Prix de la Grotte (2019)
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (2019)

Castle Lady (foaled 12 April 2016) is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2019 she won a minor race on her debut before taking the Prix de la Grotte and then recording her biggest victory in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. In three subsequent races she finished fifth in the Coronation Stakes, second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes and tenth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Contents

Background

Castle Lady is a dark bay mare with a small white star bred in Ireland by her owner Godolphin. She was sent into training with Henri-Alex Pantall at Beaupreau in Maine-et-Loire.

She was from the tenth crop of foals sired by Shamardal whose wins included the Dewhurst Stakes, Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Prix du Jockey Club and St. James's Palace Stakes. His other offspring have included Able Friend, Mukhadram, Lope de Vega and Blue Point. [2] Castle Lady's dam Windsor County was an unraced full-sister to Raven's Pass. As a descendant of the American broodmare Classicist (foaled 1965), she was also related to Danzig Connection. [3]

Racing career

2019: three-year-old season

After failing to appear on the track as a juvenile, Castle Lady made her debut on 14 March in a maiden race over 1600 metres on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Chantilly Racecourse in which she was ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot. Starting the 2.7/1 favourite she raced in second place before taking the lead 200 metres from the finish and drawing away to win by three and a half lengths from Red Curry. [4] Mickael Barzalona rode the filly in all of her subsequent races. One month after her maiden win Castle Lady was stepped up in class for the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp Racecourse and started the 4.7/1 third favourite behind Lily's Candle (winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac) and Tifosa (winner of the Listed Prix la Camargo). Castle Lady started well and settled behind the leaders before moving up to take the lead inside the last 200 metres. She extended her advantage in the closing stages to win by one and three quarter lengths from the front-running Imperial Charm. [5]

In the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over 1600 metres at Longchamp on 12 May Castle Lady started the 5/2 favourite against nine opponents including Matematica (runner-up in the Prix Marcel Boussac), East (Prix Thomas Bryon), Watch Me, Rocques (Prix d'Aumale), Coral Beach (Killavullan Stakes), Silva (UAE 1000 Guineas) and Imperial Charm. Castle Lady settled in fourth place as Imperial Charm set the pace from Suphala and Matematica before making progress on the outside to take the lead approaching the last 200 metres. Commes launched a strong late challenge on the inside but Castle Lady held on to win by a nose with East a length and a half back in third place. [6] After the race Pantall said that the filly would not be moved up in distance commenting "She won't stay the Diane trip, and we'll certainly look at the Prix Jacques Le Marois, with maybe the Coronation Stakes in between. She doesn't have a lot of experience, and it's quite something for her to find herself in front and then fight all the way to the death. She still has more physical progress to make, and I think there's more to come". [7]

As Pantall had predicted, Castle Lady reappeared in the Coronation Stakes over one mile at Royal Ascot on 21 June. She was made the 6/1 third choice in the betting but sustained her first defeat as she never looked likely to win and came home fifth of the nine runners behind Watch Me, beaten four and a quarter lengths by the winner. [8]

In the autumn of 2019 Castle Lady embarked on a North American campaign, starting with the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes over nine furlongs at Keeneland on 12 October when she finished second by a length to the Del Mar Oaks winner Cambier Parc. The filly ended her season on 2 November in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf over ten furlongs at Santa Anita Park. She started an 18/1 outsider and came home last of the ten runners behind Iridessa, beaten almost thirteen lengths by the winner after fading badly in the straight.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Castle Lady (IRE), bay mare, 2016 [1]
Sire
Shamardal (USA)
2002
Giant's Causeway
1997
Storm Cat Storm Bird (CAN)
Terlingua
Mariah's Storm Rahy
Immense
Helsinki (GB)
1993
Machiavellian (USA) Mr. Prospector
Coup de Folie
Helen Street Troy
Waterway (FR)
Dam
Windsor County (USA)
2009
Elusive Quality (USA)
1993
Gone West Mr. Prospector
Secrettame
Touch of Greatness Hero's Honor
Ivory Wand
Ascutney (USA)
1994
Lord At War (ARG)General (FR)
Luna de Miel
Right Word Verbatim
Oratorio (Family: 17-b) [3]

Related Research Articles

Coronation was a French racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from the spring of 1948 until October 1950, she ran thirteen times and won six races. As a two-year-old she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Europe, winning the Queen Mary Stakes in England and the Prix Robert Papin in France. In the following year she dead-heated for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, but was beaten in both the Oaks Stakes and the Irish Oaks. In October 1949 she established her reputation as one of the best fillies to race in Europe in the 20th century when she emphatically defeated a strong international field in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Her subsequent racing career was disappointing and she was a complete failure as a broodmare.

Riverqueen was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After winning her only race as a two-year-old she emerged as one of the best fillies in Europe in the spring and summer of 1976, winning the Prix de la Grotte, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix Saint-Alary. After her winning run was brought to an end by Pawneese in the Prix de Diane she rebounded to become the first three-year-old filly to win the weight-for-age Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. After running poorly in her last two races she was retired from racing and had some success as a broodmare. Her last recorded foal was born in 1989.

Nobiliary was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She recorded her biggest win in the Washington, D.C.International in 1975, a year in which she became the only filly since 1916 to finish placed in the Derby Stakes. As a two-year-old she won one minor race but showed promised when finishing sixth in the Grand Critérium and third in the Prix des Réservoirs. In the following year she won the Group Three Prix de la Grotte and was thereafter campaigned exclusively in Group One/ Grade I company. She won the Prix Saint-Alary and was placed in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Epsom Derby, Irish Oaks and Prix Vermeille before ending her career with a win in the Washington, D.C.International. She had no success as a broodmare, producing only two foals.

Shake The Yoke was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Originally trained in France, she showed good form as a two-year-old, winning the Prix d'Aumale and finishing second in the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following year she won the Prix de la Grotte by ten lengths and recorded her biggest success when taking the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. In the same year she finished second in both the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes and third in the Prix du Moulin. She was then exported to the United States where she took time to adapt to her new conditions, but won the Wilshire Handicap as a five-year-old in 1998. She later had some success as a broodmare, producing several winners.

Immortal Verse Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse


Immortal Verse is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she showed promise by winning on her debut and finishing second in the Prix d'Aumale. Her early form in 2011 was disappointing as she was beaten in her first two races and refused to enter the starting stalls in the 1000 Guineas. She then made rapid improvement, winning the Prix de Sandringham and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot before defeating a strong international field in the Prix Jacques Le Marois. She went on to finish third to Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes but failed to reproduce her best form in two races as a four-year-old. After her retirement from racing she was sold at auction for 4.7 million guineas setting a European record price for a broodmare.

Sophisticat was a Kentucky-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. A daughter of Storm Cat out of the champion filly Serena's Song she was sold for $3.7 million as a yearling and raced in Europe for the Coolmore Stud organization. Racing as a two-year-old, she won only one minor race but was placed in the Queen Mary Stakes, Silver Flash Stakes, Lowther Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she won the Prix de la Grotte and finished second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches before recording her biggest success in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was retired at the end of the year and had some success as a broodmare.

Gold Splash was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation in France when she won the Prix Marcel Boussac on her third appearance. In the following season she finished third in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches before winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She raced in the United States as a four-year-old, winning the Osunitas Handicap before being retired. Gold Splash was not a success as a broodmare, producing only two minor winners.

Golden Opinion was an American-bred French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted less than six months she won four of her six races. As a three-year-old in 1996 she won a Listed race on her debut and then finished third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains before winning the Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was narrowly beaten in the July Cup and ended her career with a six length win in the Prix du Rond Point. After being retired from racing she came a broodmare and produced several minor winners.

Ervedya French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ervedya is a French Thoroughbred racehorse best known for her performances over 1600 metres. She showed top-class form as a juvenile in 2014 when she won her first three races including the Prix de Cabourg before finishing third in the Prix Morny and second in the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following year she won the Prix Imprudence and then recorded Group One wins in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Coronation Stakes. Later that season she added another major victory when she took the Prix du Moulin. In 2016 she failed to win but ran prominently in several major races.

L'Attrayante was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was the first, and remains, the only horse to win both the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Irish 1000 Guineas. As a two-year-old she showed very promising form, winning her first two races and later being placed in both the Prix du Calvados and the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following spring she reached her peak, taking the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches on 1 May and the Irish 1000 Guineas three weeks later.

Qemah is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed considerable promise as a juvenile in 2015 when she won one minor race and finished third in the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following spring she took the Prix de la Grotte and went on to record Group 1 victories in the Coronation Stakes and Prix Rothschild. The highlight of her four-year-old season was a win in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

La Cressonniere is a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2015 she won all four of her races including the Listed Prix Isonomy and Prix Herod but was not tested at the highest level. After winning another Listed race on her three-year-old debut she was stepped up in class and recorded Group 1 victories in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane. She added a win in the Prix de la Nonette later that year but she then began to suffer from back problems and was retired undefeated in 2017.

Ta Rib was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Despite failing to win as a juvenile in 1995 she showed promise as he was placed in both her races. In the following spring she won a maiden race and then recorded her biggest success when recording an upset victory in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. She failed to win again but ran well in defeat in three subsequent races. As a broodmare she produced several minor winners but no top-class performers.

Darjina French Thoroughbred racehorse

Darjina was a French Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning her only race as a juvenile she improved to become one of the best three-year-old fillies in Europe in 2007, winning the Prix de la Grotte, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Prix d'Astarte and Prix du Moulin. In 2008 she compiled an unusual record: competing exclusively at the highest level she finished second in all of six of her races. She was rated the best horse of her age and sex in Europe in both 2007 and 2008.

Zalaiyka was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After finishing fifth on her first appearance she won her two other races as a two-year-old including the Prix des Réservoirs. In the following year she took her winning run to four with victories in the Prix de la Grotte and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches but was beaten in her two remaining starts and was retired at the end of the season. As a broodmare she had little success as a dam of winners.

Sagawara is a British-bred French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed promise as a juvenile in 2011 when she won a minor event on the second of her two starts. In the following spring she ran second on her seasonal debut in the Prix Vanteaux and then recorded her biggest success when he won the Prix Saint-Alary. For the rest of the year she was matched against top-class opposition but failed to win in four races and was retired from the track at the end of the year.

Teppal is a French-bred, British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2017 she won two minor races from two starts. On her first appearance of 2018 she recorded her biggest victory when she won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. She was unplaced in two subsequent starts that year.

Watch Me is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2018 she showed promise as she won the Listed Criterium du Languedoc on the second of her two starts. In the following year she won the Prix Imprudence and recorded her biggest win when she took the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. In 2020 she was unbeaten in two starts, namely the Prix de la Calonne and the Prix Rothschild.

Senga was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she showed promising form as she won her second of her three races and finished a close fourth in the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following year she won the Prix de la Grotte on her seasonal debut and recovered from defeats in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Sandringham to record her biggest win in the Prix de Diane. She was beaten in her three subsequent races and was retired from racing at the end of the year. She died in 2018.

Dream And Do Irish-bred racehorse

Dream And Do is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed great promise as a two-year-old in 2019 when she won three of her four races including the Group 3 Prix Miesque. In the following year she ran second in the Prix de la Grotte before taking the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

References

  1. 1 2 "Castle Lady pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Shamardal Stud Record". Racing Post.
  3. 1 2 "Biddy – Family 17-b". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  4. "Prix du Soissonnais result". Racing Post. 14 March 2019.
  5. "Prix de la Grotte result". Racing Post. 14 April 2019.
  6. "Poule d'Essai des Pouliches result". Racing Post. 12 May 2019.
  7. Burton, Scott (12 May 2019). "Ascot Could be Next for Unbeaten Castle Lady". The Blood-Horse .
  8. "Coronation Stakes result". Racing Post. 21 June 2019.