Cellini (horse)

Last updated
Cellini
Sire Round Table
Grandsire Princequillo
Dam Gamely
Damsire Bold Ruler
SexStallion
Foaled10 April 1971 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
Breeder Claiborne Farm
OwnerCharles St George
William Stamps Farish III
Trainer Vincent O'Brien
Del W. Carroll
Record12: 6-1-1
Major wins
National Stakes (1973)
Dewhurst Stakes (1973)
Vauxhall Trial Stakes (1974)
Tetrarch Stakes (1974)
Awards
Timeform rating 125 p (1973), 118 (1974)

Cellini (foaled 10 April 1971) was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred in Kentucky he was sold for $240,000 as a yearling and sent to race in Europe. In 1973 he was one of the best colts of his generation in Britain and Ireland, winning all three of his races including the National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. In the following spring he won the Vauxhall Trial Stakes and the Tetrarch Stakes but was beaten when favourite for both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes. He was then retired to stud but proved infertile and was returned to the track, winning one minor race in 1976.

Contents

Background

Cellini was a "strongly-made, medium-sized" [2] bay horse with white socks on his hind feet bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm. His sire Round Table was one of the most successful grass specialists in American racing history, winning forty-three races and being named Horse of the Year in 1958. [3] He became a highly successful breeding stallion, being the Leading sire in North America in 1972. [4] Cellini's dam Gamely was an outstanding racemare who was rated the best of her generation in the United States at the ages of three, four and five. [5] She was one of numerous major winners to be descended from the British-bred broodmare Rough Shod. [6]

On the death of Claiborne Farm's owner Arthur B. Hancock, Jr. in 1972 Cellini was offered for auction. He attracted strong interest from bidders including Alec Head and Bernard van Cutsem but was bought for $240,000 by the British Bloodstock Agency on behalf of Charles St George. The colt was sent to race in Europe and was sent into training with Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle. [7] He was named after the sixteenth-century sculptor Benvenuto Cellini.

Cellini's background was remarkably similar to that of his contemporary Apalachee. Both horses were bred by Claiborne Farm and were sired by Round Table: both horses' dams (Moccasin and Gamely) were champion daughters of Bold Ruler and were respectively the daughter and granddaughter of Rough Shod: both were sold as yearlings and sent to Ireland to be trained by O'Brien.

Racing career

1973: two-year-old season

Cellini made successful racecourse debut by winning a maiden race over six and a half furlongs. He was then stepped up sharply in class for the National Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh Racecourse in September. Ridden by Lester Piggott he won easily by three lengths from the Paddy Prendergast-trained Haunt. On his third and final start of the year, Cellini was sent to England to contest the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in October. With Piggott again in the saddle he was made the 40/85 [8] favourite with his main opposition expected to come from Pitcairn who had finished second in the Middle Park Stakes earlier in the month. Cellini led from the start [9] and drew away in the closing stages and won easily from Pitcairn with Gerard Street and Jupiter Pluvius in third and fourth. [7]

1974: three-year-old season

On his three-year old debut Cellini won the Group Three Vauxhall Trial Stakes over seven furlongs at Phoenix Park Racecourse, beating Furry Glen by a head. With the O'Brien-trained Apalachee and Charles St George's Giacometti both targeting the 2000 Guineas, Cellini was aimed at the Irish 2,000 Guineas. In his trial for the race he contested the Tetrarch Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh and won by half a length from Red Alert, a colt who went on to take the Jersey Stakes and the Stewards' Cup. After five consecutive victories Cellini started the 11/10 favourite for Irish 2000 Guineas on 18 May, but finished third of the ten runners, beaten a head and three lengths by Furry Glen and Pitcairn. The colt made his second appearance in England when he started favourite for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He was beaten two lengths into second place by the Clive Brittain-trained Averof, with the pair finishing well clear of the other runners. [2] Cellini never raced again and was retired at the end of the year.

Later career

At the end of his racing career Cellini was retired to become a breeding stallion at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky. [2] He proved to be almost entirely infertile and was returned to the racetrack under the ownership of William S. Farish III. Trained by Del W. Carroll he raced in the United States in 1976, winning once in an allowance race at Delaware Park Racetrack in June from five starts. [10]

Assessment

There was no International Classification of European two-year-olds in 1973: the official handicappers of Britain, Ireland and France compiled separate rankings for horses which competed in those countries. In the British Free Handicap, Giacometti was assigned a weight of 127 pounds, placing him in third place behind Apalachee and Mississipian. The independent Timeform organisation gave him a rating of 125 p, (the "p" indicating that he was likely to make more than the usual improvement), twelve pounds below their top-rated two-year-old Apalachee. Despite the ratings, there were reports that Cellini was regarded as being at least as good as Apalachee by the Ballydoyle team. [7] In the following year he was rated 118 by Timeform, commenting in their annual Racehorses of 1974 that he might have achieved more had he been allowed to compete over longer distances. [2]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Cellini (USA), bay stallion, 1971 [1]
Sire
Round Table (USA)
1954
Princequillo (IRE)
1940
Prince Rose Rose Prince
Indolence
Cosquilla Papyrus
Quick Thought
Knight's Daughter (GB)
1941
Sir CosmoThe Boss
Hayn Ali
FeolaFriar Marcus
Aloe
Dam
Gamely (USA)
1964
Bold Ruler (USA)
1954
Nasrullah Nearco
Mumtaz Begum
Miss Disco Discovery
Outdone
Gambetta (USA)
1952
My Babu Djebel
Perfume
Rough ShodGold Bridge
Dalmary (Family: 5-h) [6]

Related Research Articles

Storm Bird was a Canadian-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the outstanding European two-year-old of 1980, when he was unbeaten in five races, including the Anglesey Stakes, National Stakes, and Dewhurst Stakes. His subsequent career was disrupted by injury and illness, and he was well beaten in his only race of 1981. He was then retired to stud, where he became a successful breeding stallion.

Apalachee (horse) American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Apalachee (1971–1996) was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from August 1973 until May 1974 he ran five times and won four races. In 1973 he was unbeaten in three starts including the Racing Post Trophy and was officially rated the best two-year-old in Britain and Ireland. In the following year he won on his debut but finished third to Nonoalco in the 2000 Guineas and never raced again. He was then retired to stud where he had some success as a sire of winners before his death at the age of twenty-five.

Thatch (1970–1983) was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from spring 1972 until July 1973 he ran nine times and won seven races. As a two-year-old he won three of his four races and was rated one of the best Irish juveniles of the season. In the following year he finished fourth on soft ground in the 2000 Guineas but in the summer he showed the form which led to him being rated the best European horse of his generation, winning the St. James's Palace Stakes, the July Cup and the Sussex Stakes. He was then retired to stud where he had some success as a sire of winners.

Don't Forget Me was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic 2000 Guineas in 1987. He showed promising form as a two-year-old in 1986, winning three of his four races including the Lanson Champagne Stakes and the Champagne Stakes. In the early part of 1987 he survived an injury scare to win the 2000 Guineas and completed a rare double by winning the Irish 2000 Guineas two weeks later. He was beaten in his remaining three races and was retired to stud, where he had some success as a sire of winners.

Monteverdi was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the leading European two-year-old of 1979, when he was unbeaten in four races including the National Stakes, Ashford Castle Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. His three-year-old season was a disappointment as he failed to win in four races, finishing second in his first two races and then running unplaced in the Irish 2000 Guineas and Derby. He was then retired to stud where he had little success as a sire of winners.

Jaazeiro was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred in Kentucky, he was trained in France as two-year-old and established himself as a top-class racehorse by winning the Prix des Chênes and finishing a close fourth in the Grand Critérium. He was based in Ireland in 1978, when he proved himself one of the best milers in Europe, winning the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes. He was retired to stud after a defeat in the Waterford Crystal Mile but had little success as a breeding stallion. He died in Spain in 1986 at the age of eleven.

Godswalk was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist sprinter, he won eight of his eleven races in a racing career which lasted from the spring of 1976 until September 1977. As a two-year-old he won five of his seven races including the Norfolk Stakes and was rated the best colt of his generation in Ireland. In the following year he established himself as one of the best sprinters in Europe, winning three of his four races including the Ballyogan Stakes in Ireland and the King's Stand Stakes in England. After his retirement from racing, Godswalk had some success as a sire of winners in Europe and Australia.

Saritamer was a Kentucky-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he was rated the third-best two-year-old in Ireland after winning the Anglesey Stakes and the Beresford Stakes. In the following year he became a specialised sprinter, excelling over six furlongs and winning the Greenlands Stakes, Cork and Orrery Stakes, July Cup and Diadem Stakes. He was named best sprinter of 1974 by Timeform. He later sired the middle-distance champion Time Charter, but was otherwise a complete failure at stud.

Giacometti was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 1974 he became the fourth horse since the Second World War to be placed in all three legs of the British Triple Crown. Regarded by his stable as a potential "world beater", he was unbeaten as a two-year-old, winning his first race by at least twelve lengths and then taking the Gimcrack Stakes and the Champagne Stakes. As a three-year-old he finished second in the 2000 Guineas, third in The Derby and second in the St Leger before winning the Champion Stakes. After two defeats in 1975 he was retired to stud in the United States where he made very little impact as a breeding stallion.

Habat was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the top-rated British two-year-old of his generation in 1973 when he won four of his six races including the Norfolk Stakes, Mill Reef Stakes and Middle Park Stakes. He won the 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes on his three-year-old debut but was beaten in his three subsequent races and was retired at the end of the season. He stood as a breeding stallion in Britain and Japan with limited success.

Junius was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After fetching a price of $300,000 as a yearling he was sent to race in Europe where he had his greatest success as a two-year-old in 1978. Following a narrow defeat on his debut he won twice in Ireland before traveling to England and winning the Group One Middle Park Stakes in record time. He failed on his only appearance in the following year and was retired from racing. He stood as a breeding stallion in Ireland and Japan but had little impact as a sire of winners.

Sharp Edge was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred and owned by Sir John Jacob Astor and trained by Dick Hern he showed great promise a two-year-old in 1972 when he won his first three races before looking a somewhat unlucky loser when finishing third in the Royal Lodge Stakes. In the following year he improved to become a top-class miler with a marked preference for soft ground. He finished third in the 2000 Guineas and then recorded back-to-back Group One successes in the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Prix Jean Prat. When matched against older horses he was well-beaten when favourite for the Eclipse Stakes before ending his season by finishing third in a strongly-contested edition of the Champion Stakes. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in Europe and Australia and had some success as a sire of winners.

Bluebird was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He fetched $1.1 million as a yearling and spent his racing career in Europe. He showed promise as a juvenile in Ireland in 1986 when he won on his debut and finished third in his only other race that year. In the following spring he finished second in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes before being dropped to sprint distances to win the Ballyogan Stakes and subsequently recording an emphatic victory in the Group One King's Stand Stakes. He failed to win in three subsequent starts and was retired at the end of the season. He later stood as a breeding stallion in Ireland and Australia and had considerable success as a sire of winners.

Lady Capulet was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Her brief track career consisted of only three races in May and June 1977. She won the Irish 1000 Guineas on her debut before finishing second in the Coronation Stakes and third in the Pretty Polly Stakes. She was retired from racing to become a broodmare and made a major impact as the dam of the leading stallion El Prado.

Nikoli was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After winning his only race as a juvenile he won the McCairns Trial Stakes on his three-year-old debut and then recorded his biggest win in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He started favourite for the 1980 Epsom Derby but finished seventh and ran poorly on his only subsequent start. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in the United States and Uruguay but had little success as a sire of winners.

Furry Glen was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was one of the best Irish two-year-olds of 1973 when he won the Marble Hill Stakes and the Mullion Stakes as well as finishing third in the Coventry Stakes. In the following year he was narrowly beaten in the Vauxhall Trial Stakes before recording his biggest success in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He was beaten in his next three races when tried over longer distances before ending his career with a win in the Whitehall Stakes. After his retirement from racing he became a very successful sire of National Hunt horses.

Ballymore was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A talented although somewhat fragile horse, who was difficult to train, he made only five racecourse appearances but recorded two major victories. Unraced as a juvenile he made a notable racecourse debut by winning the Irish 2000 Guineas by three lengths in May 1972. He was beaten in a slowly-run edition of the Gallinule Stakes and then finished third in the Irish Derby before missing the rest of the season. He ran poorly on his first run as a four-year-old but then defeated Roberto at level weights in the Nijinsky Stakes in May. He never ran again and was retired from racing at the end of the year. He had some success as a breeding stallion in Ireland.

Prince of Birds was an American-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a brief racing career he won three of his four races between June 1987 and June 1988. He won his only race as a two-year-old in 1987, won the Tetrarch Stakes on his three-year-old debut and then recorded his biggest win in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He finished fifth in the St James's Palace Stakes on his only subsequent start and was retired from racing at the end of the year. He had little success as a breeding stallion.

Leading Counsel was an American-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed great promise when winning the Leopardstown Stakes on his only start as a two-year-old in 1984 and was regarded as a leading contender for the following year's Epsom Derby. In 1985 he won the Minstrel Stakes and started favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas but recorded his biggest success on his final run of the year when he won the Irish St Leger. He won one of his three races as a four-year-old before being retired from racing. As a breeding stallion he had considerable success as a sire of National Hunt horses.

Achieved was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won four of his nine races in a track career which lasted from July 1981 to September 1982. As a two-year-old he was undefeated in three starts including the Phoenix Stakes and the Champagne Stakes and was rated the best horse of his generation in Ireland. In the following year he won the Tetrarch Stakes and later finished third in both the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He was retired at the end of the year to become a breeding stallion but had no success as a sire of winners.

References

  1. 1 2 "Cellini pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Timeform staff (1975). Racehorses of 1974. Timeform.
  3. "Round Table profile". Racingmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  4. "Leading Sires of America". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  5. Jay Hovdey (25 May 2005). "Gamely sure had a nose for racing". Daily Racing Form .
  6. 1 2 "Ann of the Forest – Family 5-h". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  7. 1 2 3 Timeform staff (1974). Racehorses of 1973. Timeform.
  8. Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN   978-1-873626-15-3.
  9. "Cellini Top Colt". Sydney Morning Herald . 21 October 1973.
  10. "Cellini – Statistics". Equibase.