| Gildoran | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Rheingold |
| Grandsire | Faberge |
| Dam | Durtal |
| Damsire | Lyphard |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 6 June 1980 [1] |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Owner | Robert Sangster |
| Trainer | Barry Hills |
| Record | 22:7-3-2 |
| Major wins | |
| Sagaro Stakes (1984) Ascot Gold Cup (1984, 1985) Goodwood Cup (1984) | |
| Awards | |
| Gilbey Racing Champion Stayer (1984) Timeform rating: 117 (1983), 123 (1984), 117 (1985) | |
Gildoran (foaled 6 June 1980) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion. A specialist stayer he won the Ascot Gold Cup in 1984 and 1985. His other wins included the Sagaro Stakes and the Goodwood Cup. In all, he won seven races in a twenty-two race career which lasted from 1983 until 1985, during which he showed an aptitude for extreme distances and fast ground. He made little impact at stud.
Gildoran was a bay horse with a white star and stripe. He was one of the best horses sired by Rheingold, the winner of the 1973 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Gildoran was the first foal of his dam Durtal, a top-class racemare who won the Cheveley Park Stakes in 1976. As a daughter of the influential broodmare Derna, Durtal was closely related to many leading racehorses including Detroit, Zabeel and Carnegie. [2] Throughout his racing career Gildoran was owned by Robert Sangster and trained at Lambourn in Berkshire by Barry Hills
Gildoran raced twice without success over seven furlongs as a two-year-old in 1982. In 1983 he ran eight times, winning a maiden race over twelve furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse, an apprentice riders' race at Bath Racecourse and a handicap race over one and three quarter mile at Goodwood. He finished unplaced in the Ebor Handicap at York Racecourse in August and was then moved up in class and distance to contest the Doncaster Cup over two and a quarter miles in September. He produced his best performance of the season, finishing second by two and a half lengths to the five-year-old Karadar. [3]
Gildoran began his third season by finishing unplaced in a handicap at Newmarket and then recorded his first important success when he won the Group Three Sagaro Stakes over two miles at Ascot Racecourse. Ridden by Steve Cauthen he started at odds of 11/2 and won from Society Boy and Another Sam. He was then assigned a weight of 139 pounds in the Chester Cup and finished unplaced behind Contester. In June Gildoran was sent to Royal Ascot where he started at odds of 10/1 for the Gold Cup over two and a half miles. The summer of 1984 was unusually hot and dry in England and the race was run on exceptionally fast ground. Gildoran overtook Karadar on the turn into the straight but was soon challenged by the six-year-old Irish runner Ore. Gildoran looked likely to be overtaken, but rallied strongly in the final furlong to win by a length from Ore in a new course record time of 4:18.81. Ridden by Cauthen and starting at odds of 9/4, Gildoran met Ore and Karadar again in the Goodwwod Cup in July. Gildoran turned the race into a procession, winning very easily by eight lengths from Ore who was in turn twelve lengths clear of Karadar in third. Gildoran then attempted to complete the Stayers' Triple Crown when he started the 1/2 favourite for the Doncaster Cup. Running on softer ground than he had encountered in the summer, Gildoran finished last of the four runners behind Petrizzo, who was controversially disqualified in favour of the runner-up Wagoner. On his final appearance of the season he ran very poorly when unplaced behind Old Country in the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket. [4]
After finishing unplaced on his debut as a five-year-old, Gildoran finished second to Longboat in the Sagaro Stakes and fourth to Destroyer in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse. On 20 June, Gildoran attempted to win a second Gold Cup at Royal Ascot against a field which included Old Country, Longboat, Destroyer and Petrizzo as well as the Yorkshire Cup winner Ilium and the Grand Prix de Paris winner Yawa. Ridden by the Australian jockey Brent Thomson, Gildoran started the 5/2 joint-favourite with Old Country. He took the lead from the start and held a three length lead turning into the straight. He was strongly challenged in the closing stages by Longboat and Destroyer but stayed on strongly to win by half a length. At Goodwood in July he led for most of the way before finishing third behind Valuable Witness. He was then aimed at the Doncaster Cup but sustained a tendon injury in training and was retired from racing. [5]
The independent Timeform organisation gave Gildoran a peak rating of 123 in 1984: he was rated 117 in 1983 and 1985. In 1984 he was named Champion Stayer by Gilbey Racing. [4]
In their book A Century of Champions, based on a modified version of the Timeform system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Gildoran as a "poor" winner of the Gold Cup. [6]
Gildoran was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion. He had little success a sire of winners on the flat, but did produce several good National Hunt horses including Well Ridden (Arkle Novice Chase) and Macs Gildoran (Johnstown Novice Hurdle). [7]
| Sire Rheingold (IRE) 1969 | Faberge (FR) 1961 | Princely Gift | Nasrullah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Gem | |||
| Spring Offensive | Legend of France | ||
| Batika | |||
| Athene (GB) 1960 | Supreme Court | Precipitation | |
| Forecourt | |||
| Necelia | Nearco | ||
| Cecily | |||
| Dam Durtal (IRE) 1974 | Lyphard (USA) 1969 | Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
| Natalma | |||
| Goofed | Court Martial | ||
| Barra | |||
| Derna (FR) 1961 | Sunny Boy | Jock | |
| Fille de Soleil | |||
| Miss Barberie | Norseman | ||
| Vaneuse (Family 16-c) [2] |
Ardross was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Racing at age three, he got his first significant win in the Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh. He also lost by a head to Akiyda in the 1982 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the final race of his career. Ardross first raced for Ireland's Paddy Prendergast and, after his death, was bought by Charles St. George and trained by Henry Cecil in England, winning fourteen of his twenty-four starts, thirteen of them coming at Pattern level. He twice won the Ascot Gold Cup and the Yorkshire Cup. His other major successes came in the Prix Royal-Oak, the Doncaster Cup, and the Goodwood Cup. Before moving to Newmarket, he was runner-up to the Henry Cecil-trained Le Moss in the Ascot Gold Cup.
Sadeem was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist stayer, he won consecutive runnings of the Ascot Gold Cup in 1988 and 1989. His other victories included the Sagaro Stakes, Goodwood Cup, Prix Gladiateur and Henry II Stakes.
Longboat was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist over extreme distances, who produced his best form on fast ground, he completed the "Stayers' Triple Crown" in 1986 when he won the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup. In all he won nine of his eighteen races between October 1983 and September 1986, with his other major wins coming in the Alycidon Stakes, Sagaro Stakes and Henry II Stakes. He was exported to Australia where he was retired from racing following an injury. He proved a failure as a breeding stallion.
Paean was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist over long distances he was ideally suited by soft ground on which he won the 1987 Ascot Gold Cup by a modern record margin of fifteen lengths. He had previously finished second on his only start as a two-year-old in 1985 and won five times as a three-year-old in 1986. Paean broke down with an injury after his Gold Cup win and never raced again. In a brief stud career he showed some promise as a sire of steeplechasers.
Little Wolf was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was best known for his performances in staying races, but was also capable of winning important races over middle distances. Little Wolf was lightly campaigned, running sixteen times between October 1980 and May 1984 and winning seven races. After winning his only race as a two-year-old he won two of his five races including the Scottish Derby and St Simon Stakes in 1981. In the following year he won the Prix Jean de Chaudenay in France before establishing himself as a high-class stayer with an emphatic win in the Jockey Club Cup. In 1983 he won Britain' most prestigious long-distance race, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and followed up with a record-breaking win in the Goodwood Cup. He was injured in his only subsequent race and was retired to stud where he made no impact as a sire of winners.
Buckskin was a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Unraced as a two-year-old, he was trained in France in 1976 and 1977 before being transferred to race the United Kingdom in 1978 and 1979. A specialist stayer, he overcame serious physical problems to win several major long-distance races including the Prix du Cadran (twice), Prix de Barbeville, Prix Jean Prat, Doncaster Cup, Jockey Club Cup and Henry II Stakes. He was also the beaten favourite in three successive runnings of the Ascot Gold Cup. After his retirement from racing, he became a very successful sire of National Hunt horses.
Durtal was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was the best British-trained two-year-old filly of 1976 when she won three of her five races including the Cheveley Park Stakes, and finished second in both the Lowther Stakes and the Champagne Stakes. In the following year she won the Fred Darling Stakes and finished second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches before being injured shortly before the start of the Oaks Stakes, a race for which she had been favourite. After one more race she was retired from racing and became a successful broodmare, producing the dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Gildoran and the Royal Hunt Cup winner True Panache.
Shangamuzo was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the Ascot Gold Cup in 1978. A specialist stayer, he won eight of his thirty-four races, finished second nine times and third on five occasions.
Boldboy was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He raced for eight seasons in the 1970s and was one of the most popular and successful racehorses of his era. As a two-year-old he showed ability, but his ungovernable temperament led to him being gelded. In the following year he won the Greenham Stakes, Prix de la Porte Maillot, Diadem Stakes and Challenge Stakes. In 1974 he won the Lockinge Stakes and recorded the first of his four wins in the Abernant Stakes. After failing to win in 1975 he returned to form in 1976 to win the Abernant Stakes and the Sanyo Stakes. He reached his peak in 1977, when he repeated his previous wins in the Abernant Stakes, Sanyo Stakes and Challenge Stakes as well as taking the Vernons Sprint Cup. He won a fourth Abernant Stakes in 1978 and was retired in the following year. Apart from his wins he was placed in many important races but, as a gelding, was unable to compete in European Group One events under the rules which prevailed at the time.
Be My Chief was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the leading British two-year-old in 1989 when he was undefeated in six races including the Chesham Stakes, Bernard Van Cutsem Stakes, Lanson Champagne Vintage Stakes, Solario Stakes and Racing Post Trophy, starting odds-on favourite on each occasion. He finished unplaced on his only run in 1990 and was retired to stud. He had some success as a sire of winners.
Sea Chimes was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Originally trained in the United Kingdom, he was beaten in all four of his races as a juvenile in 1978 and lost on his three-year-old debut. He won his four remaining races in 1979 including the King George V Stakes. In 1980 he took his winning sequence to eight with wins in the City and Suburban Handicap, Doncaster Spring Handicap, Clive Graham Stakes and Coronation Cup. He never won again, losing both his starts in Britain in 1981 and failing to win in twelve races after being transferred to the United States. He made no impact at stud and died in 1984.
Shady Heights was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In four seasons on the racecourse he competed in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan and the United States, winning seven of his twenty-nine contests.
Fearless Lad was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Trained throughout his racing career in Yorkshire, he showed considerable promise as a juvenile in 1981, winning two of his four races including the Doncaster Stakes. In the following year he emerged as a top-class sprinter, recording his biggest win in the Group One King's Stand Stakes and finishing second in the Prix de l'Abbaye. He was almost as good as a four-year-old when he won the Temple Stakes. He was retired from racing at the end of the year and stood as a breeding stallion in Britain and South Africa but had no success as a sire of winners.
Ashal was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a specialist stayer best known for his upset victory in the 1990 Ascot Gold Cup. After finishing unplaced on his only start as a two-year-old he spent the following year competing in minor races at Redcar Racecourse, winning three times. In 1990 he began his campaign by finishing second to Sadeem at Salisbury Racecourse and then won the Group Three Oleander-Rennen in Germany. At Ascot, he coped with the wet conditions better than his opponents and won the Gold Cup by four lengths. He was beaten in his three remaining races although he did finish third in the Jockey Club Cup on his final appearance. He has been described as one of the worst horses to win the Gold Cup.
Arcadian Heights was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who recorded his biggest win in the 1994 Ascot Gold Cup. He was unraced as a two-year-old but developed into a useful stayer as a three-year-old when he won the Chester Stakes, finished second in the March Stakes and ran prominently for a long way in the St Leger. In 1992 he failed to win but ran well to take second place in the Ormonde Stakes, Henry II Stakes and Ascot Gold Cup. His prospects however became compromised by his difficult and aggressive temperament as he attempted to attack other horses during his races. An attempt to curb his behaviour by fitting him with a muzzle was only partially successful and he was gelded before the end of the year.
Mountain Lodge was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. A specialist stayer she finished unplaced on her only start as a juvenile in 1981 but in the following year she won four races culminating with a victory in the Cesarewitch Handicap over two and a quarter miles. As a four-year-old she struggled for form early in the season but returned to her best in autumn to record her biggest victory in the Irish St Leger. Her win in Ireland made her the first older horse to win an Irish classic race. As a broodmare she produced several winners, the best of them being Compton Ace who won the Gordon Stakes and finished third in the Ascot Gold Cup. Through her daughter Beacon, she is the female-line ancestor of The Oaks winner Sariska.
Protection Racket was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He failed to win in three starts as a two-year-old in 1980 but made relentless progress over extended distances in the following year, taking two minor races before winning the Ebor Handicap, Doncaster Cup and Irish St Leger on his last three starts. He remained in training for two more seasons, racing over shorter distances in France and the United States but never won again. He made no impact as a breeding stallion.
Mistigri was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist stayer who competed in at least five countries, he was campaigned for four seasons from 1973 to 1976 and won four of his 24 races. His two major successes came when he won the Irish St. Leger as a three-year-old and the Desmond Stakes a year later. He was placed in several other good races and looked unlucky to be disqualified after finishing second in the Ascot Gold Cup. After his retirement from racing he had some success as a sire of steeplechase horses.
Risk Me was a French-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a juvenile in 1986 he won his first two races including the National Stakes and later finished second in both the Middle Park Stakes and the Prix de la Forêt.His performance in the latter race saw him rated the best two-year-old colt to race in France that year. In the following year he won the Greenham Stakes in England but had his biggest success in France where he won the Prix Jean Prat and the Grand Prix de Paris. He failed to win again and was retired from racing at the end of the year. He had modest success as a breeding stallion.
San Sebastian was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who excelled over extended distances. Originally trained in Ireland he showed modest ability in his early career but improved steadily and recorded his first big win as a four-year-old when he took the Ascot Stakes. He returned to Ascot a year later to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes and was transferred to England at the end of the year. As a six-year-old he recorded his most prestigious win when he took the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp Racecourse. He failed to win in 2001 and was then moved to France where he won over hurdles in Autumn. He shifted base for a final time when he was exported to New Zealand, where he won three steeplechases. Apart from his twelve victories the gelding was placed in several high-class races including the Prix Royal Oak, Goodwood Cup, Sagaro Stakes, Saval Beg Stakes and New Zealand Grand National. San Sebsatian died in his paddock in New Zealand at the age of 11 in December 2005.