Jack Hobbs (horse)

Last updated
Jack Hobbs
036 Epsom Derby 2015 - Jack Hobbs and William Buick going to post (18401224558).jpg
Jack Hobbs at the 2015 Epsom Derby
Sire Halling
Grandsire Diesis
DamSwain's Gold
Damsire Swain
Sex Colt
Foaled2 March 2012 [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
Colour Brown
BreederMinster Stud
OwnerBailey, Hall & Hood
Godolphin & Partners
Trainer John Gosden
Record10: 5-2-2
Earnings£4,165,045
Major wins
Irish Derby (2015)
September Stakes (2015)
Sheema Classic (2017)
Last updated on 25 March 2017

Jack Hobbs (foaled 2 March 2012) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a juvenile, he established himself as a potentially top-class colt with a twelve length win in a race at Sandown on his three-year-old debut. He finished second to his stable companion Golden Horn in both the Dante Stakes and The Derby before winning the Irish Derby by five lengths. He ran twice more in 2015, winning the September Stakes before being beaten when favourite for the Champion Stakes. His 2016 season was badly disrupted by injury and he ran only twice, failing to complete his first start and being beaten on his eventual reappearance. However, he rebounded in 2017 by winning the Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup Night.

Contents

Background

Jack Hobbs is a brown colt with a small white star and three white socks bred in the United Kingdom by Willie Carson's Gloucestershire-based Minster Stud. [2] [3] He was sired by Halling, a top-class performer who won two editions of both the Eclipse Stakes and the International Stakes. Before Jack Hobbs, Halling's best offspring included Opinion Poll (Dubai Gold Cup), Cavalryman (Grand Prix de Paris) and Norse Dancer (Earl of Sefton Stakes). [4] Jack Hobbs's dam Swain's Gold was a Kentucky-bred mare who won three races at Turf Paradise in 2004. [5] Swain's Gold was daughter of the Orchid Handicap winner Golden Pond [6] who was in turn a granddaughter of Connaught's half-sister Daffodil Day. [7] Before foaling Jack Hobbs, Swain's Gold had produced the successful handicapper Niceofyoutotellme [8] and a mare named Mrs Greeley who won three minor races.

As a yearling in October 2013, the colt was consigned to the Tattersalls sale where he was bought for 60,000 guineas by Blandford Bloodstock. [9] He then entered the ownership of Bailey, Hall & Rachel Hood and was sent into training with Hood's husband, John Gosden, at Newmarket, Suffolk. [3]

The colt is named after the Surrey and England cricketer Jack Hobbs. [10]

Racing career

2014: two-year-old season

Jack Hobbs made his racecourse debut in an eight and a half furlong maiden race on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Wolverhampton Racecourse on 27 December. Ridden by Robert Havlin, he started favourite in a twelve-runner field and won by three lengths from Dutch Uncle. [11]

2015: three-year-old season

On his first appearance as a three-year-old, Jack Hobbs carried a weight of 125 pounds in a ten furlong handicap race at Sandown Park Racecourse on 24 April. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, he started the 10/11 favourite against eight opponents. After pulling hard in the early stages he settled into second place behind the leader Rotherwick before taking the lead approaching the final furlong. He quickly accelerated clear of the field and won by twelve lengths despite being eased down by Dettori in the closing stages. [12] Although his pre-race handicap rating of 85 suggested that he had a great deal of improvement to make to reach the highest standard he was immediately regarded as a serious contender for The Derby. Gosden described the winner as a "big, rangy boy" and added "He's a lovely, progressive horse and we’ll see where he goes from here". [13] Three weeks later the colt was moved up in class for the Dante Stakes (a major trial race for the Epsom Derby) over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse. He was made the 2/1 favourite ahead of Elm Park, John F Kennedy and Golden Horn (also trained by Gosden). After tracking leaders he moved up to challenge Elm Park for the lead in the last quarter mile. He got the better of Elm Park but proved no match for his stablemate Golden Horn, who accelerated past him in the closing stages to win by two and three quarter lengths. [14] Dettori reportedly felt that Jack Hobbs was still a "big baby", and much less mature than his stablemate. [15] After the race a half-share in the colt was bought by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation. [16]

On 6 June, Jack Hobbs was one of twelve colts to contest the 236th running of the Derby Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Gosden had expressed some doubts about risking the colt on the prevailing firm ground but decided to run after Jack Hobbs performed well in a training gallop at the track. [17] Ridden by Godolphin's retained jockey William Buick, he started the 4/1 second favourite behind Golden Horn. He turned into the straight in fifth place and moved up to take the lead approaching the final furlong before being overtaken by Golden Horn. He stayed on well in the closing stages to finish second, three and a half lengths behind his stablemate and four and a half lengths clear of Storm The Stars, who took third place ahead of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Giovanni Canaletto.

Three weeks after his defeat at Epsom, Jack Hobbs was sent to Ireland for the Irish Derby at the Curragh on 27 June. It was the 150th running of the event and the Irish Turf Club invited many previous winning owners, trainers and jockeys to the race which was regarded as the most competitive renewal for several years. [18] Giovanni Canaletto and Storm The Stars were again in opposition, as well as The Oaks winner Qualify, the Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Highland Reel and the previously undefeated Radanpour. Starting the 10/11 favourite he was settled in third place by Buick before moving into second behind Storm The Stars in the straight. He took the lead a furlong and a half from the finish and drew away to win by five lengths from Storm The Stars, with a further five and a half lengths back to Giovanni Canaletto in third. [19] He was the first British-trained colt to win the race since Commander in Chief 1993. After the race Buick commented "I had a lot of belief in him before Epsom and he was even better today. He's a horse that's improving all the time. It's fantastic to win an Irish Derby, but it's just great to ride horses like him. He's been handled brilliantly by John. He's obviously a late maturing horse, but he's really coming to himself now and he's a serious horse." [20] Announcing his plans for the winner, Gosden said "We'll put him away for the Prix Niel at Longchamp and go for the Arc after. He'll be better at four because he's quite light framed and needs to fill out." [21]

Despite Gosden's prediction, Jack Hobbs returned on 5 September for the September Stakes on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Kempton Park Racecourse. Matched against older horses for the first time he started the 1/5 favourite ahead of six opponents including Zetland Gold Cup winner Fire Fighting and the John Smith's Cup winner Arab Dawn. Buick settled the colt in second place before sending the favourite into the lead approaching the final quarter mile. Jack Hobbs quickly went clear of the field and won very easily by three and a quarter lengths from the 66/1 outsider Sweeping Up. [22] Gosden commented "He has won well and I am happy to get a nice prep race into him at home rather than travelling for it and then having to come back to travel again". [23]

Jack Hobbs bypassed the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and reappeared in the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Ascot two weeks later and was made favourite despite an unfavourable outside draw. William Buick tracked the pacemaker Maverick Wave before taking the lead in the straight but was never able to establish a decisive advantage. He was overtaken in the final furlong and finished third behind Fascinating Rock and Found. Gosden commented "He ran a great race today and this is no surprise to me... He is a big, overgrown kid and I couldn't be more thrilled with him today. This horse will be bigger and stronger next year and I am not in the slightest bit disappointed in him." [24]

2016: four-year-old season

Jack Hobbs began his third season in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on 30 April and started odds-on favourite against five opponents headed by the St Leger winner Simple Verse. He started slowly, appeared to be struggling half a mile from the finish and quickly dropped out of contention. He was pulled up and dismounted by Buick over a furlong out. It was subsequently announced that the colt had sustained a stress fracture of the pelvis and would be off the racecourse until autumn.

The colt returned in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on 14 October in which he started at odds of 7/1 in a ten-runner field. After racing towards the rear of the field in the early stages he stayed on strongly in the straight to finish third behind Almanzor and Found.

2017: five-year-old season

On his first appearance as a five-year-old Jack Hobbs was sent to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Dubai Sheema Classic over 2400 metres at Meydan Racecourse on 25 March, and was equipped with blinkers for the first time. His six opponents included Highland Reel, Postponed and Seventh Heaven. Ridden by Buick he raced in third place behind Highland Reel before taking the lead in the straight and won by two and a quarter lengths from Seventh Heaven with Postponed in third. Commenting on the decision to run the hore in headgear for the first time Gosden said "He's dreamy. He won’t focus. He's like a kid in a school room looking out the window. I brought him out here in the lights, I put them on and did a work, and he just worked sensationally away from his lead horse. I thought, ‘I’m going to leave these on.’" [25]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Jack Hobbs (GB), brown colt 2012 [1]
Sire
Halling (USA)
1991
Diesis (GB)
1980
Sharpen Up Atan
Rocchetta
Doubly Sure Reliance
Soft Angels
Dance Machine (GB)
1982
Green Dancer Nijinsky
Green Valley
Never A LadyPontifex
Camogie
Dam
Swain's Gold (USA)
2001
Swain (IRE)
1992
Nashwan Blushing Groom
Height of Fashion
Love SmittenKey to the Mint
Square Angel
Golden Pond (IRE)
1993
Don't Forget Me Ahonoora
African Doll
Golden BloomMain Reef
Daffodil Day (Family: 4-h) [7]

Related Research Articles

Benny the Dip American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Benny the Dip (1994–2003) was an American-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse and sire. In a career which lasted from 1996 to 1997 he ran eleven times and won five races, most notably the 1997 Epsom Derby. Benny the Dip was retired to stud at the end of his three-year-old season. He died after sustaining an injury in a paddock accident in 2003.

Mutafaweq is a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in England, Germany, and Canada.

Arctic Cosmos is an American-bred, British-trained racehorse and sire best known as the winner of the 2010 St. Leger Stakes.

Island Sands Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Island Sands was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from August 1998 to June 2001 he ran nine times and won four races. His most notable success came in his first race as a three-year-old in 1999, when he won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. His subsequent career was restricted by injury and he won only one minor race in the next two years. He retired to a stud career in China.

Rule of Law, is a retired World Champion Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in the United States but trained in Britain. In a career which lasted from June 2003 until September 2004, he ran nine times and won four races. He recorded his most important victory when winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes on his final racecourse appearance. He had previously finished second in the 2004 Epsom Derby.

Nedawi British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Nedawi, is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. In a career that lasted from June 1998 until July 1999, he ran seven times and won three races. He recorded his most important success by winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes as a three-year-old in 1998, the same year that he won the Gordon Stakes. In the following season he finished second in the Dubai Turf Classic and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes before being retired to stud.

Classic Cliche Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Classic Cliche, is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland and trained in Britain and the United Arab Emirates. In a career which lasted from August 1994 until September 1997, he ran sixteen times and won six races. He recorded his most important success when winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes as a three-year-old in 1995, the same year in which he won the Dante Stakes. In the following season he became the first Classic winner in fifty years to win the Ascot Gold Cup.

Encke (horse) American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Encke was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse on 15 September 2012 when he defeated the Triple Crown bid of Camelot. In spring of 2013 Encke was banned from racing after failing a drug test. He returned to racing in 2014 and was placed in three races including the Irish St. Leger. He sustained a fatal injury in training in October 2014.

2015 Epsom Derby 236th annual running of the Derby horse race

The 2015 Epsom Derby was the 236th annual running of the Derby horse race and took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 6 June 2015. The race was won by the favourite, Golden Horn, a British-bred bay colt, owned by Anthony Oppenheimer, trained in Newmarket, Suffolk by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori. The colt's win was the first for his owner, the second for Dettori and the second for Gosden.

Golden Horn (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Golden Horn is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won The Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2015. In a racing career which lasted 367 days from October 2014 until October 2015 he won seven of his nine races and was never beaten by a male horse. He was bred in England by his owner Anthony Oppenheimer and was trained throughout his racing career by John Gosden.

Postponed Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Postponed is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won one minor race as a two-year-old before establishing himself as a useful middle-distance performer in the following year with wins in the Glasgow Stakes and the Great Voltigeur Stakes. In July 2015, he recorded his biggest victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse and followed up with a success in the Prix Foy. After a change of trainer he returned in 2016 to win the Dubai City of Gold, Dubai Sheema Classic, Coronation Cup and International Stakes. He was retired from racing in May 2017 having won 9 of his 20 races and earned nearly £5,000,000 in win and place prize money.

So Factual was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was bred in Kentucky by Khalid Abdullah and sent to race in Europe where he proved to be one of the leading sprinters of his time. As a juvenile he ran three times, winning on his debut and finishing second in the Coventry Stakes. In the following year he won the European Free Handicap but was well beaten in his next two races and was then sold and sent to compete in the United Arab Emirates. In 1994 he won three races in Dubai and was then returned to Europe in the ownership of Godolphin Racing. He reached his peak as a five-year-old in 1995 when he recorded victories in the Cork and Orrery Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes. He was retired to stud at the end of the year.

The 2016 Epsom Derby was the 237th annual running of the Derby horse race and took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 4 June 2016. The race was won by the Aga Khan's Harzand, ridden by Pat Smullen and trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld. Harzand's victory was the first in the race for his jockey and trainer, and the fifth for his owner, who had prior wins with Shergar, Shahrastani, Kahyasi and Sinndar.

Galileo Gold British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Galileo Gold is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old he won the Vintage Stakes and finished third in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. On his three-year-old debut he won the classic 2000 Guineas and went on to finish second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before winning the St James's Palace Stakes.

Wings of Desire (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Wings of Desire is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a juvenile he made a considerable impact in the spring of 2016 by winning the Dante Stakes on his third appearance. He finished fourth when second favourite for the 2016 Epsom Derby. This was followed by a second place in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Highland Reel Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Highland Reel is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career running from June 2014 to December 2017 he raced in Ireland, Britain, France, the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai, and recorded seven victories at Group 1 or Grade 1 level in the Secretariat Stakes, Hong Kong Vase (twice), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf, Coronation Cup and Prince of Wales's Stakes. He was also placed in the Prix du Jockey Club, Cox Plate, International Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Champion Stakes. He holds the record for the greatest amount of prize money earned by a racehorse trained in Europe.

The 2018 Epsom Derby was the 239th annual running of the Derby horse race and took place at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 2 June 2018. The winner was Masar, ridden by William Buick, at odds of 16/1. The race was sponsored by Investec and the first prize was £920,000.

Cracksman (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Cracksman is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed promise when winning his only race as a two-year-old in 2016 before developing into a top class middle distance performer in the following year. As a three-year-old he won the Investec Derby Trial before running third when favourite for the 2017 Epsom Derby and then finishing runner up in the Irish Derby. He went on to win the Great Voltigeur Stakes and Prix Niel before recording an emphatic success in the Champion Stakes. He ended the year as the top-rated three-year-old in the world. In 2018 he won the Prix Ganay and the Coronation Cup before taking a second Champion Stakes.

Masar (horse) Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Masar is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2018 Epsom Derby. He was highly tried as a two-year-old, finishing third in the Chesham Stakes and winning the Solario Stakes before contesting major races in France and the United States. After racing unsuccessfully in Dubai he returned to Europe in the spring of 2018 to win the Craven Stakes and then ran third when favourite for the 2000 Guineas. After winning the Derby in June he had injury problems and was off the course for over a year before returning as four-year-old in 2019. He failed to recover his form in two starts and was retired from racing.

Logician (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Logician is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was unraced as a two-year-old in 2018 but in the following year he established himself as a top-class performer as he won his first five races including the Great Voltigeur Stakes and the St Leger Stakes.

References

  1. 1 2 "Jack Hobbs pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  2. "Minster Stud". Directory of the Turf.
  3. 1 2 Greg Wood (20 May 2015). "Derby hope Jack Hobbs to race in Godolphin colours in future". The Guardian.
  4. "Halling – Stud Record". Racing Post.
  5. "Swain's Gold – Statistics". Equibase.
  6. "Golden Pond – Statistics". Equibase.
  7. 1 2 "Poinsettia – Family 4-h". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  8. "Niceofyoutotellme – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  9. "Tattersalls October Sale 2013 (Book 2)". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30.
  10. "Jack Hobbs wins Irish Derby at the Curragh for John Gosden". BBC Sport.
  11. "32Red Maiden Stakes result". Timeform. 27 December 2014.
  12. "Bet 365 Handicap result". Timeform. 24 April 2015.
  13. Chris Cook (24 April 2015). "Frankie Dettori completes Sandown four-timer on Derby plunge Jack Hobbs". The Guardian .
  14. "Dante Stakes result". Timeform. 14 May 2015.
  15. James Burn (14 May 2015). "York Dante glory for Gosden as Horn stumps Hobbs". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 20 May 2015.
  16. Andrew Dietz (20 May 2015). "Godolphin buy into Derby hope Jack Hobbs". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  17. Lee Mottershead. "Jack Hobbs likely to run at Epsom after workout". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 2015-06-30.
  18. Greg Wood. "Jack Hobbs hot favourite for the 150th running of the Irish Derby". The Guardian .
  19. "Irish Derby result". Timeform. 27 June 2015.
  20. Myra Lewyn (27 June 2015). "Jack Hobbs Dominant in Irish Derby Win". BloodHorse.com.
  21. James Burn (27 June 2015). "Hobbs hits rivals for six in runaway Irish Derby success". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  22. "September Stakes result". Timeform. 5 September 2015.
  23. Stuart Riley (5 September 2015). "Jack Hobbs trimmed for Arc glory after win". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 6 September 2015.
  24. Stuart Riley (17 October 2015). "Weld and Smullen Rock at Ascot". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 17 January 2017.
  25. Marcus Hersh (25 March 2017). "Jack Hobbs relishes soft turf in Sheema Classic". Daily Racing Form.