Donna Blini

Last updated
Donna Blini
Sire Bertolini
Grandsire Danzig
DamCal Norma's Lady
Damsire Lyphard's Special
Sex Mare
Foaled27 March 2003 [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
Colour Chestnut
BreederJames Thom & Sons
OwnerJayne Cunningham
Trainer Brian Meehan
Record11: 4-2-0
Earnings£175,816
Major wins
Cherry Hinton Stakes (2005)
Cheveley Park Stakes (2005)

Donna Blini (foaled 27 March 2003) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the best juvenile fillies of her generation in Britain in 2005 when she won three of her four races including the Cherry Hinton Stakes and the Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she was mainly campaigned in sprint races and won one minor race from seven starts. She was retired from racing having won four of her eleven races and exported to become a broodmare in Japan. She made an immediate impact as a dam of winners, producing the outstanding racemare Gentildonna.

Contents

Background

Donna Blini is a chestnut mare with a white blaze and three white socks [2] bred by James Thom & Sons. Her sire Bertolini was a sprinter who won the July Stakes and the European Free Handicap as well as finishing second in the Middle Park Stakes, Dubai Golden Shaheen, Haydock Sprint Cup and Nunthorpe Stakes. [3] As a breeding stallion, his other progeny included Moorhouse Lad (King George Stakes) and Prime Defender (Duke of York Stakes). [4] Donna Blini's dam, Cal Norma's Lady showed some ability as a racehorse, winning three races as a two-year-old in 1990. [5] She was descended from Fair Astronomer who finished second in the 1000 Guineas and was the ancestor of Malhub (Golden Jubilee Stakes) and Deputy Commander. [6]

As a yearling, the filly was consigned to the Doncaster sales in September 2004 and was bought for 20,000 guineas by the bloodstock agents McKeever St Lawrence. [7] She entered the ownership of Jayne Cunningham and was sent into training with Brian Meehan at the Newlands Stable in Upper Lambourn in Berkshire.

Racing career

2005: two-year-old season

Donna Blini made her racecourse debut in a five furlong maiden race at Newmarket Racecourse on 7 May in which she was ridden by Frankie Dettori she started at odds of 4/1 in a nine-runner field. After racing in second place she took the lead approaching the final furlong and won by one and a quarter lengths from the favourite Aliceinwonderland with Dettori easing her down in the final strides. [8] On 1 June, ridden by Jimmy Fortune, she started favourite for the Listed Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley Racecourse but was beaten a length into second by the 16/1 outsider Clare Hills.

Despite her defeat at Beverley, the filly was moved up in class for the Group Two Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket on 5 July. The National Stakes winner Salut d'Amour started favourite ahead of Nannina, Spinning Queen and Queen of Fire, with Donna Blini fifth in the betting on 12/1. Ridden for the first time by Mick Kinane she led from the start and stayed on well to beat Salut d'Amour by a neck, with Spinning Queen a neck away in third. [9] After the race Meehan said "Whatever happens now, she's already proved herself to be a bargain... Donna's a lovely filly who is a little bit rangy, so we thought we would give her a bit of time and give Royal Ascot a miss. The ground was against her when she finished second at Beverley last time and Jimmy (Fortune) came back and said she wouldn't have been beaten if the ground had been better. She's a tough thing, a real good galloper. She'll go on from this and she definitely wants seven furlongs already". [10]

After a break of twelve weeks, Donna Blini returned for the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in which she was again partnered by Kinane and started at odds of 12/1 in a ten-runner field. Kinane had sustained a double fracture of the wrist in August and was returning to the saddle after undergoing multiple therapy sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. [11] The undefeated Flashy Wings started favourite after wins in the Queen Mary Stakes and Lowther Stakes whilst the other runners included Nidhaal (Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes), Wake Up Maggie (winner of a valuable sales race in Ireland) and Modeeroch (Tyros Stakes). Donna Blini tracked the 100/1 outsider Dizzy Dreamer before taking the lead approaching the final furlong. She was driven out in the closing stages to win by a neck from Wake Up Maggie with Flashy Wings a neck away in third. [12] After the race Kinane said "Brian gave Donna Blini a break after I won on her in July and when I saw her today she looked marvellous and had really blossomed. We hadn't gone awfully quick, but when I asked her to quicken I knew she would be hard to peg back and she stayed on really well". [11] Meehan commented "She's a lovely filly. She proved it in the Cherry Hinton. We debated going to the Lowther Stakes and all sorts of things, the Moyglare and even the Doncaster sales race with all that money, but we felt it was best to wait and give her time. She's a tough, hardy filly and she galloped all the way to the line. Maybe the break she had made her idle a bit going to the line. We are very pleased with her." [13]

2006: three-year-old season

In 2006, Meehan moved his horses to Manton in Wiltshire. On her three-year-old debut Donna Blini started a 16/1 outsider in the 193rd running of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on 7 May. She was among the leaders of the group that raced up the centre of the wide Rowley Mile course but faded quickly in the final quarter mile and finished last of the thirteen runners behind Speciosa. She reappeared in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and finished thirteenth of the fifteen runners behind Nannina.

Donna Blini was dropped in class and distance for the Group Three Summer Stakes over six furlongs at York Racecourse on 14 July and finished second to La Chunga having led until the final furlong. A week later she was dropped to five furlongs for a minor race at Newmarket and started 11/4 second favourite behind the five-year-old Majestic Missile whose wins included the Cornwallis Stakes and the Scarbrough Stakes. Ridden by Dettori, she was amongst the leaders from the start and won by three quarters of a length from Majestic Missile with The Trader (Prix du Gros Chêne) in third. [14] Dettori was again in the saddle when the filly contested the Group Three King George Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on 3 August and finished sixth of the eighteen runners behind the five-year-old mare La Cucaracha.

In September Donna Blini made two further appearances but failed to recover her best form. She finished sixth behind Dixie Belle in the World Trophy at Newbury and eleventh of thirteen behind Fantasy Believer in the Listed Rous Stakes at Newmarket.

Breeding record

At the end of her racing career, Donna Blini was offered for sale at Tattersalls in November 2005 and was bought for 500,000 guineas by Katsumi Yoshida  [ ja ]. [15] She was exported to become a broodmare at the Northern Farm in Japan, where she has produced fourteen foals and nine winners:

Pedigree

Pedigree of Donna Blini (GB), chestnut mare, 2003 [1]
Sire
Bertolini (USA)
1996
Danzig (USA)
1977 
Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Pas de NomAdmiral's Voyage
Petitioner
Aquilegia (USA)
1989 
Alydar Raise a Native
Sweet Tooth
Courtly Dee Never Bend
Tulle
Dam
Cal Norma's Lady (IRE)
1988
Lyphard's Special (USA)
1980
Lyphard Northern Dancer
Goofed
My BupersBupers
Princess Revoked
June Darling (IRE)
1983
Junius Raja Baba
Solid Thought
Beau DarlingDarling Boy
Fair Astronomer (Family: 16-f) [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouija Board (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse (2001–2022)

Ouija Board was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She was owned by Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby, and trained by Ed Dunlop and Chris Hinson. In a career spanning four seasons, she won 10 of her 22 races, seven of them Group 1s, including the Oaks in 2004 and the Hong Kong Vase in 2005, while amassing over £3 million in prize money. In 2004, she won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and came second to Intercontinental the following year. In 2006, she regained her crown, becoming the second horse to win Breeders' Cup races in non-consecutive years.

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

Blue Bunting is an American-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse which won the classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse in 2011. In a racing career which lasted from July 2010 until September 2011 she won five of her eight races. After winning two of her three races in 2010, she was an upset winner of the 1000 Guineas on her first start as a three-year-old. She was beaten when favourite for The Oaks but returned to record further Group One successes in the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks. She ran poorly in the St Leger in autumn and was retired from racing after sustaining an injury early in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gentildonna</span> Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Gentildonna is a retired Japanese thoroughbred racehorse. In 2012 she won the Japanese Fillies Triple Crown and was voted Japanese Horse of the Year. She was also the first three-year-old filly to win the Japan Cup, in 2012, and the following year became the first two-time winner of that race. In 2014 she added victories in the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Arima Kinen earning her a second Horse of the Year award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harp Star</span> Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Harp Star is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the leading two-year-old fillies in Japan in 2013 when she won the Niigata Nisai Stakes and was narrowly beaten in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. In the following year she won the Tulip Sho and the Oka Sho before rebounding from a surprise defeat in the Yushun Himba to beat Gold Ship in the Sapporo Kinen.

La Cucaracha was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Bred and owned by the Yorkshire businessman Guy Reed she was trained by Barry Hills at Lambourn. She was a specialist sprinter, who won both of her races as a juvenile but injury restricted her career to five races in two years until she emerged as a top class sprinter as a four-year-old. In 2005 she won four of her seven races including the Cammidge Trophy and Ballyogan Stakes before recording her biggest win in the Nunthorpe Stakes. La Cucaracha remained in training at five and recorded another major victory on her final racecourse appearance when she won the King George Stakes.

Lochangel was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She raced for the connections of her more famous older sister Lochsong and while never matching the achievements of her sibling she became a top-class racemare who excelled in sprint races on firm ground. As a juvenile she was beaten on her debut before winning at Ascot Racecourse in the sixth of what became known as Frankie Dettori's "Magnificent Seven". After failing to win in four attempts in 1997 she reached her peak as a four-year-old in 1998 when she won two races including the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse in August. She failed to win again and was retired from racing in 1999.

Punctilous is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Bred in England by Björn Nielsen she showed very promising form as a juvenile in 2003, winning her first two starts before finishing third in the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she developed into a top-class middle distance performer, winning the Musidora Stakes and the Ribblesdale Stakes as well as finishing second in the Irish Oaks and the E. P. Taylor Stakes, third in The Oaks and fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks. In 2005 she made little impact in her first two starts but then won the Chalice Stakes before recording her biggest victory in the Yorkshire Oaks. She was retired from racing at the end of the year to become a broodmare.

Seazun is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from April 1999 until September 2000 she won two of her ten races. As a two-year-old she was one of the best juvenile fillies of her generation, recording a victory over a strong field in the Cheveley Park Stakes after finishing second in the Sirenia Stakes. She failed to win in the following year but finished second in the Fred Darling Stakes and fourth in both the 1000 Guineas and the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Since her retirement from racing she has had some success as a dam of winners in Japan.

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

Serious Attitude was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. A specialist sprinter, she won five of her twelve races in a racing career which lasted from August 2008 until October 2010. As a two-year-old in 2008 she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Britain, winning all three of her races including the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes and the Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she disappointed in the 1000 Guineas, but won the Summer Stakes before her season was ended by injuries sustained in the Prix Maurice de Gheest. As a four-year-old she struggled to find her best form and was beaten in her first five races, before being sent to Canada where she ended her career with a win in the Nearctic Stakes. At the end of the year she was sold and exported to become a broodmare in Japan.

Teggiano was an Irish-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 1999 until July 2000 she won three of her six races. As a two-year-old she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Britain when she won three races including the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies' Mile. After a change of stable she made two appearances in the following year, producing the better of her efforts when finishing second in the Ribblesdale Stakes. She has had some success as a broodmare.

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

Hibaayeb is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2009, when trained by Clive Brittain, she was beaten in her first three races before winning the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot Racecourse. In the following year she entered the Godolphin stable and recorded further major victories in the Ribblesdale Stakes in England and the Yellow Ribbon Stakes in California. As a four-year-old she was based in the United States and won the Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Belmont Park.

Lailani is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from October 2000 until October 2001 she won seven of her ten races including Group One/ Grade I races in three countries. After showing little ability in two races as a juvenile she made relentless progress as a three-year-old, winning seven consecutive races including the Irish Oaks in Ireland, the Nassau Stakes in England and the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes in the United States. After her retirement from racing she had some success as a broodmare.

Zahrat Dubai is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After running unplaced in her only race as a juvenile she wintered in Dubai and returned to Britain to record an impressive victory in the Musidora Stakes. She finished third when favourite for The Oaks but then defeated a strong field in the Nassau Stakes. She failed to reproduce her best form in two subsequent races and was retired at the end of the year. Zahrat Dubai became a broodmare and produced two winners from eleven foals.

Spinning Queen is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her emphatic victory over a top-class field in the 2006 Sun Chariot Stakes. As a two-year-old in 2005 she won on her debut and went on to run prominently in several major races, finishing third in the Cherry Hinton Stakes and fourth in both the Albany Stakes and the Prestige Stakes. In the spring of following year she finished second in the Nell Gwyn Stakes and sixth in the 1000 Guineas before running third in the King Charles II Stakes. She showed improved form in the summer, winning the Eternal Stakes and the Brownstown Stakes. In September 2006 she ended her racing career with a nine-length over Soviet Song, Alexander Goldrun and Red Evie in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. She was then sold for a record price of 3 million guineas and was retired from racing. She has subsequently become a successful broodmare.

Yesterday was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed considerable promise as a two-year-old in 2002, winning a maiden race and being placed in the Debutante Stakes and the Rockfel Stakes before taking the Eyrefield Stakes. In the following spring she won the Irish 1000 Guineas and appeared an unlucky loser when narrowly beaten in The Oaks. She failed to win again but finished placed in the Prix Vermeille, Prix de l'Opéra and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Flutter Away was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed her best form as a two-year-old in 1987 when she won three of her five races including the Railway Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes and was rated the best filly of her generation in Ireland. She made no impact in two races as a three-year-old and was retired from racing at the end of the year. She was then exported to become a broodmare in Japan where she produced four winners.

Confidential Lady is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a juvenile in 2005 she showed high-class form, winning four of her seven races including the Star Stakes and the Prix du Calvados. In the following year she finished second in the 1000 Guineas before recording her biggest win in the Prix de Diane. She failed to win in four subsequent races although she ran second in the Premio Lydia Tesio and was not disgraced when finishing fifth in the Champion Stakes. She has had some success as a broodmare.

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

Mother Earth is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2020 she ran eight times, winning the Fillies' Sprint Stakes and finishing placed in the Albany Stakes, Airlie Stud Stakes, Debutante Stakes, Fillies' Mile and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. On her first run of 2021 she won the 1000 Guineas.

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

Snowfall was a Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2021 Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, and Yorkshire Oaks. She showed promising but unremarkable form as a two-year-old in 2020, winning one minor race from seven starts. The following year she improved dramatically, winning the Group 3 Musidora Stakes and then taking the Epsom Oaks by a record margin of sixteen lengths. She went on to win emphatic victories in the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks over older horses.

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

Inspiral is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the leading two-year-olds in Europe in 2021 when she was unbeaten in four races, including the Fillies' Mile. As a three-year-old she won the Coronation Stakes and the Prix Jacques Le Marois, which she retained as a four-year-old in 2023 as well as winning the Sun Chariot Stakes. In November of that year, Inspiral won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and was awarded the Eclipse award as American Champion Female Turf Horse.

References

  1. 1 2 "Donna Blini pedigree". Equineline.
  2. http://www.tattersalls.com/uploads/img_Donna-Blini-Sale.jpg [ bare URL image file ]
  3. "Bertolini – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  4. "Bertolini – Stud Record". Racing Post.
  5. "Cal Norma´s Lady – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  6. 1 2 "Queen Bee – Family 16-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  7. "Doncaster Bloodstock Sale September 2004". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.
  8. "Toteexacta EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 May 2005.
  9. "Cherry Hinton Stakes result". Racing Post. 5 July 2005.
  10. "Meehan has Donna cherry-ripe". Evening Chronicle . 6 July 2005.
  11. 1 2 Jon Lees (30 September 2015). "Channon loses out as Donna makes it two for Meehan". Racing Post.
  12. "Cheveley Park Stakes result". Racing Post. 29 September 2005.
  13. Wiliam Hayler & Robert Pratt (30 September 2005). "Donna Blini shows Guineas credentials". Birmingham Post .
  14. "Davis Group Conditions Stakes result". Racing Post. 21 July 2006.
  15. "Tattersalls December Mares Sale". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.
  16. "Donau Blue(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  17. "ジェンティルドンナ、顕彰馬に". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  18. "Gentildonna(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  19. "Topaz(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  20. "Gleann Siara(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  21. "Legende(JPN)". Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  22. "Belle Dame(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  23. "Virtus(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  24. "Donna Attraente(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  25. "W Encore(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  26. "Suleyman(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  27. "Methuselah(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  28. "Istros(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  29. "Henrietta(JPN)". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  30. "__________________". JBIS-Search. Retrieved 2024-11-02.