Distant Music

Last updated
Distant Music
Sire Distant View
Grandsire Mr. Prospector
DamMusicanti
Damsire Nijinsky
SexStallion
Foaled3 February 1997 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
Breeder Juddmonte Farms
Owner Khalid Abdullah
Trainer Barry Hills
Record14: 5-1-1
Earnings£336,260
Major wins
Champagne Stakes (1999)
Dewhurst Stakes (1999)
Park Stakes (2000)
International Stakes (2001)
Awards
Top-rated British two-year-old (2000)

Distant Music (foaled 3 February 1997) is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred and owned by Khalid Abdullah he was trained throughout his racing career in England by Barry Hills. As a two-year-old in 1999 he was unbeaten in three races including the Champagne Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes and was the top-rated British-trained juvenile of the season. He began 2000 as the favourite for the 2000 Guineas but after losing his unbeaten record in the Greenham Stakes he was well-beaten in the Newmarket classic. Later in the year he won the Park Stakes and finished third in the Champion Stakes. He failed to reproduce his best form as a four-year-old but did add one more important victory in the Goffs International Stakes. He later stood as a breeding stallion in Ireland, Australia, England and Germany but had no success as a sire of major winners.

Contents

Background

Distant Music is a bay horse with a white sock on his right hind leg, [2] bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farms, the breeding organisation of his owner Khalid Abdullah. The colt was sent to race in Europe and was trained throughout his career by Barry Hills at Lambourn in Berkshire and was ridden in the first half of his racing career by Hills' son Michael.

He was from the first crop of foals sired by Abdulah's stallion Distant View who won the Sussex Stakes in 1994. Distant View's other foals have included Observatory and Sightseek. [3] Distant Music's dam Musicanti raced in France and the United States, winning one of her twelve races. [4] She was a granddaughter of Sister Shannon, an American broodmare who produced Temperence Hill and was also the female-line ancestor of Vanlandingham and Funny Moon (CCA Oaks). [5]

Racing career

1999: two-year-old season

Distant Music began his racing career in a maiden race over seven furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse on 28 July in which he started the 8/11 favourite against seven opponents. He started slowly but took the lead approaching the last quarter mile and won "very easily" by four lengths from Eternal Spring with Best of the Bests (later to win the Prix d'Ispahan) in third. [6] The colt was then stepped up in class for the Group Two Champagne Stakes over the same course and distance on 10 September. He was made the 13/8 favourite in a six-runner field with his main rivals appearing to be Ekraar (winner of the Vintage Stakes) and Rossini (Prix Robert Papin). After being restrained by Michael Hills in the early stages he overtook Rossini a furlong and a half from the finish and won in "impressive" style by two and a half lengths. [7] Barry Hills commented "I was very impressed. If anything, he got there a bit too soon, but he has a very good turn of foot... yesterday he had a seedy toe – a corn – on his near-fore and was slightly lame. It was poulticed and I told my vet the horse would only travel if he thought he was 100 per cent. He didn't travel up here until this morning and it was only at half past six that we took the decision to run him". [8]

On his final appearance of the season, Distant Music contested Britain's most prestigious race for two-year-olds, the Group One Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 16 October. He was made the 4/6 favourite ahead of King's Best, a colt who had won the Acomb Stakes on his previous start. The other three runners were the unbeaten Port Vila, and the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Brahms (third in the Middle Park Stakes) and Zentsov Street. Distant Music was held up by Hills in the early stages as Zentsov Street set the pace from Brahms before moving up and taking the lead approaching the final furlong. He was pushed out by Hills in the closing stages to defeat Brahms by a length. [9] After the race Barry Hills said "He was very impressive when he quickened up at Doncaster on his previous start and he was very impressive at one stage yesterday. He got by them very quickly, but he would have been even better on better ground. I would like to see him in a strongly run race on ground a bit truer than it was at Newmarket. Then we should see a better horse." [10]

During the winter of 1999/2000 Distant Music was the ante-post favourite for the 2000 Guineas. [11]

2000: three-year-old season

Distant Music began his second season in the Greenham Stakes (a major trial of the 2000 Guineas) over seven furlongs at Newmarket on 18 April. He recovered from a slow start to the lead inside the final furlong but was caught in the last stride and beaten a head by Barathea Guest. Despite his defeat he started 11/2 second favourite for the 2000 Guineas on 6 May but finished eighth of the twenty-seven runners behind King's Best.

After a break of four months, Distant Music returned in the Group Three Park Stakes at Doncaster on 7 September. He started the 4/1 third favourite behind the four-year-old Swallow Flight, a Listed race winner who had finished third in the Queen Anne Stakes. The other three runners were Barathea Guest, Valentino (runner-up in the St James's Palace Stakes) and Cape Town (third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas). He was held up by Hills in the early stages before beginning to make progress in the last quarter mile. He took the lead 150 yards from the finish and won by a neck from Valentino. [12] Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Beckett commented "There has been nothing physically wrong with Distant Music, but he just wasn't right and it was a question of giving him as much time as he needed to come back to form. Barry Hills has done a marvellous job with him". [13] On 14 October Distant Music was stepped up in class and distance and started a 20/1 outsider for the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket. After being held-up towards the rear of the fifteen-runner field he stayed on steadily in the closing stages to finish third behind Kalanisi and Montjeu. For his final appearance of 2000, Distant Music was sent to the United States to contest the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on 4 November. Ridden by the American jockey Corey Nakatani he was outpaced from the start and finished tenth of the fourteen runners behind War Chant.

2001: four-year-old season

Richard Hughes took over from Michael Hills as Distant Music's regular jockey in 2001. On his seasonal debut he started joint favourite for the Earl of Sefton Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket on 18 April and finished fourth of the six runners behind the seven-year-old Right Wing. In July the colt was sent to Ireland for the Goffs International Stakes over nine furlongs at the Curragh Racecourse and started the 5/4 favourite in a three-runner field. His two opponents were the three-year-old Bonnard (third in the Grand Prix de Paris) and the four-year-old Muakaad (Mooresbridge Stakes). In a change of tactics he led from the start and rallied after being briefly headed by Bonnard two furlongs out. He regained the lead and won "comfortably" by one and a half lengths from Muakaad, being eased down by Hughes in the final strides. [14]

Distant Music failed to win or place in his four remaining races. He finished fifth to Noverre in the Sussex Stakes and fifth again behind Sakhee in the International Stakes at York. In September he attempted to repeat his 2000 victory in the Park Stakes but finished sixth of the eight runners behind Tough Speed. On his final start he was resunited with Michael Hills for the Champion Stakes and finished sixth of the twelve runners behind Nayef.

Assessment

When the International Classifiaction for the two-year-old on 1999 was released in January 2000, Distant Music was rated the best British-trained colt, five pounds behind the Irish champion Fasliyev and level with Giant's Causeway. [11]

Michael Hills described Distant Music as "the best two-year-old I've ridden". [10]

Stud record

After his retirement from racing, Distant Music became a breeding stallion at the Morristown Lattin Stud in County Kildare. [15] He also stood at the Yallambee Stud in Victoria, Australia before being transferred to the Hedgeholme Stud in County Durham in 2007. [16] He was subsequently moved to Germany where he was based at the Gestut Helenenhof. He sired numerous minor winners but none of any major significance. The best of his offspring was probably Barongo, who won four races in France. [17]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Distant Music, bay stallion, 1997 [1]
Sire
Distant View (USA)
1991
Mr. Prospector (USA)
1970
Raise a Native Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger Nashua
Sequence
Seven Springs (USA)
1982
Irish River Riverman
Irish Star
La Trinite Lyphard
Promessa
Dam
Musicanti (USA)
1991
Nijinsky (CAN)
1967
Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Flaming Page Bull Page
Flaring Top
Populi (USA)
1975
Star EnvoyPia Star
Spy Demon
Sister ShannonEtonian
Idaliza (Family: 4-f) [5]

Related Research Articles

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

Haafhd is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse and active stallion, best known for winning the 2000 Guineas Stakes and Champion Stakes in 2004.

Tirol was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career that lasted from July 1989 to September 1990 he ran nine times in Britain, Ireland and France. Beginning in September 1989, he won five consecutive races, culminating the following spring with successes in the Classic 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. After two defeats later in 1990 Tirol was retired to stud, where he had some success as a sire of winners. He died in India in 2007.

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

Power is a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Coventry Stakes and the National Stakes as a two-year-old in 2011. In May 2012 he won the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Huntingdale was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was rated the best two-year-old of 1985 by Timeform after finishing second in his first two races and then recording an upset victory in the Dewhurst Stakes. In the following year he finished third to Dancing Brave in the 2000 Guineas but his subsequent performances were disappointing. The Dewhurst was his only success in a career of seven races which lasted from August 1985 until April 1987. After his retirement from racing he was retired to stud but had very little success as a sire of winners.

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

Outstrip is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the leading two-year-old in Britain in 2013 when he won the Champagne Stakes and was placed in both the Vintage Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. In November he was sent to the United States where he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Turtle Island was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was one of the leading British two-year-olds of 1993 when he won four of his seven races including the Norfolk Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes. In the following year he won the Greenham Stakes before winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas by fifteen lengths. He was beaten in his three remaining races and was retired to stud, where he had some success as a sire of winners.

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

Belardo is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. A son of Lope de Vega, he is owned in partnership by Prince A. A. Faisal and Godolphin Racing and trained in Nemarket by Roger Varian. In 2014 he won two of his first four races, including the Washington Singer Stakes, before recording an upset victory in the Dewhurst Stakes. He was rated the best two-year-old to race in Europe that year. He failed to win as a three-year-old in 2015 but returned to winning form on his first start of 2016 with victory in the Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes and went on to take the Lockinge Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elm Park (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Elm Park is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old he became regarded as a leading contender for the 2015 British Classic Races after wins in the Royal Lodge Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. In 2015 he finished third to Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs in the Dante Stakes but finished unplaced in The Derby. He later won the listed Fortune Stakes.

Excellent Art was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he was trained in England and showed good form, winning the National Stakes and the Mill Reef Stakes and being placed in both the Prix Morny and the Railway Stakes. In the following year he was moved in Ireland and was even better: he won the St James's Palace Stakes, finished second in the Sussex Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf and was rated one of the best three-year-old colts in the world. He was then retired to stud and had some success as a sire of winners before being exported to India in 2013.

Shaadi was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed very promising form as a two-year-old in 1988 when he won both of his races. In the following year he won the Craven Stakes but then ran very poorly in the 2000 Guineas. He produced his best form in his next two races, recording decisive wins in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes. He was unplaced in his two remaining races and was retired from racing at the end of the season. He stood as a breeding stallion in Europe and Japan, having limited success as a sire of winners.

Distant View was an American-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He raced only as a three-year-old in 1994 when he won twice and finished second twice in seven races. In the spring of that year he was beaten on his debut but showed promise when finishing fifth in the 2000 Guineas and then won a minor race on his next start. After a narrow defeat in the St James's Palace Stakes he recorded his biggest win when defeating a strong field of milers in the Group One Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse. He was beaten in his next two races and was retired after being injured in 1995. He had considerable success as a breeding stallion before being retired from stud duty in 2006 and Died on 12 June 2018.

Distant Relative was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After running fifth on his debut he never finished unplaced again ending his racing career with a record of eight wins and nine places from eighteen starts. He emerged as top-class miler in 1989, recording wins in the Phoenix International Stakes, Hungerford Stakes, Celebration Mile and Challenge Stakes. He was even better as a four-year-old in 1990, winning the Sussex Stakes and the Prix du Moulin. He was also placed in many important races including the Irish 2000 Guineas, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois. On his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion and had some success as a sire of winners. He died in Turkey in 2005 at the age of nineteen.

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

Mujahid is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred and owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum he was trained throughout his racing career in England by John Dunlop. As a two-year-old in 1998 Mujahid won three of his four races and was rated the best of his generation in Europe after recording an upset win in the Dewhurst Stakes. He never won another race although he did finish third in the 2000 Guineas in 1999. After his retirement from racing he became a successful breeding stallion.

In Command is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred and owned by Maktoum Al Maktoum he was trained in England by Barry Hills. He showed his best form as a two-year-old in 1996 when he was placed in the Acomb Stakes, Champagne Stakes and Middle Park Stakes before recording his biggest success in the Dewhurst Stakes. He failed to win in four subsequent races and was retired from racing in 1998. He had no success as a breeding stallion.

Dashing Blade was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who won major races in Ireland, England, France and Italy. As a two-year-old in 1989 he was one of the best colts of his generation in Europe winning four of his five races including the biggest races for juveniles in Ireland and England. In the following year he showed modesrate form in England in spring but went on to win the Prix Eugène Adam in France and the Gran Premio d'Italia in Milan.

Prince of Dance was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 1988 he showed outstanding promise and was rated one of the best colts of his generation in Europe, finishing first in all four of his races including the Washington Singer Stakes, Champagne Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. In the following spring he won the Newmarket Stakes but ran badly when third favourite for the 1989 Epsom Derby. He was euthanised later that year after he was found to be suffering from cancer of the spine.

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.

Milk It Mick is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a juvenile in 2003 he was highly tried, running twelve times and winning five races including the Somerville Tattersall Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. In the same year he was placed in the Chesham Stakes, Washington Singer Stakes and Solario Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U S Navy Flag</span> Thoroughbred racehorse trained in Ireland

U S Navy Flag is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2017 he became the first horse in 35 years to win both the Middle Park Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. As two-year-old he was beaten in his first four racecourse appearances, including the Coventry Stakes before winning a maiden race in July. He then finished second in the July Stakes and fourth in the Phoenix Stakes before recording his first significant win in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes. He won the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on 30 September and returned to the same track two weeks later to follow up in the Dewhurst Stakes. As a three-year-old in 2018 he ran in several major mile races without success before dropping back to sprint distances to win the July Cup.

Mimi was a dual classic-winning British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1890 she showed very promising form to win her first four starts but was well beaten when stepped up in class to contest the Middle Park Plate and the Dewhurst Plate. She established herself as the best filly of her generation in May 1891 with three wins in 26 days, taking the 1000 Guineas over one mile, the Newmarket Stakes over ten furlongs and the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles. She was subsequently beaten in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Leicester and was no match for Common in the St Leger. She was retired from racing at the end of the year and went on to have some success as a dam of winners.

References

  1. 1 2 "Distant Music pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. Hugh McMahon (24 July 2015). "Distant Music page". The Sport Horse Show and Breed Database.
  3. "Distant View – Stud Record". Racing Post.
  4. "Musicanti – Statistics". Equibase.
  5. 1 2 "Alice Hawthorn – Family 4-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  6. "Silver Jubilee Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. 28 July 1999.
  7. "Champagne Stakes result". Racing Post. 10 September 1999.
  8. Jon Lees (11 September 1999). "Distant Music out of the top drawer". Racing Post.
  9. "Dewhurst Stakes result". Racing Post. 16 October 1999.
  10. 1 2 Jon Lees (18 October 1999). "Hills: Music is better than this; Trainer and jockey keep total belief in Dewhurst winner". Racing Post.
  11. 1 2 Jon Lees (19 January 2000). "International Classifications Report: Fasliyev 5lb clear in juvenile rankings". Racing Post.
  12. "Park Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 September 2000.
  13. Matt Chapman (8 September 2000). "Doncaster: Music back on track. – Free Online Library". Racing Post.
  14. "Goffs International Stakes result". Racing Post. 14 July 2001.
  15. Bill Barber (1 November 2001). "Distant Music retired to Irish stud". Racing Post.
  16. Nancy Sexton (2 January 2007). "Hedgeholme to stand Danehill half-brother to Oz ace". Racing Post.
  17. "Distant Music – Stud Record". Racing Post.