Kissing Cousin (horse)

Last updated
Kissing Cousin
Sire Danehill
Grandsire Danzig
DamFirst Kiss
Damsire Kris
Sex Mare
Foaled1 April 1991 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Bay
Breeder Sheikh Mohammed
OwnerSheikh Mohammed
Trainer Henry Cecil
Record10: 4-1-1
Earnings£163,417
Major wins
Coronation Stakes (1994)

Kissing Cousin (foaled 1 April 1991) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she showed progressive form, winning two minor races before finishing second in the May Hill Stakes and third in the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she ran poorly on her seasonal debut but won then won a minor stakes race before ending her racing career with a win in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was then retired from racing. She had little success as a broodmare, producing only two minor winners.

Contents

Background

Kissing Cousin was a bay mare with a small white star and a white sock on her left hind leg bred in Ireland by her owner Sheikh Mohammed. She was from the first crop of foals sired by Danehill a sprinter who won the Cork and Orrery Stakes and the Haydock Sprint Cup in 1989. Danehill went on to become and exceptionally successful breeding stallion producing the winners of more than a thousand races, including one hundred and fifty-six at Group One/Grade I level. Among his best offspring are Duke of Marmalade, Dylan Thomas, Rock of Gibraltar, George Washington and North Light. [2] Her dam First Kiss won two minor races as a three-year-old in 1986 [3] and was the granddaughter of Pistol Packer, a leading racemare who won the Prix de Diane and finished second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She was also a distant relative of Noblesse who won The Oaks and later became an influential broodmare. [4]

The filly was sent into training with Henry Cecil at his Warren Place stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Racing career

1993: two-year-old season

As a two-year-old, Kissing Cousin showed little early promise, finishing unplaced in maiden races at Newbury in May and Nottingham in June. In July, she recorded her first success when winning a six furlong maiden at Haydock Park Racecourse and followed up two weeks later in a minor race at Thirsk winning by six lengths at odds of 4/6. [5] On her next appearance, the filly was moved up in class and distance for the Group Three May Hill Stakes over one mile at Doncaster Racecourse on 9 September. Ridden by Michael Roberts, she started the 5/2 joint-favourite and led for most of the way before being overtaken in the final furlong and was beaten two lengths into second place by the Michael Stoute trained Hawajiss. Later in the month she was moved up to the highest class for the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot Racecourse and started the 7/1 third favourite in the eleven-runner field. Roberts again sent her into the lead from the start and she maintained her advantage until the final furlong when she was overtaken and finished third behind Fairy Heights and Dance To The Top. [6] The tactics were repeated when Kissing Cousin ended her season in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in October. She led till the last quarter mile but tired in the closing stages to finish sixth of the nine runners behind the Luca Cumani-trained Relatively Special.

1994: three-year-old season

Kissing Cousin made her first appearance as a three-year-old in the seven furlong Fred Darling Stakes (a trial race for the 1000 Guineas) at Newbury on 15 April. Ridden for the first time by Mick Kinane she raced in second before fading in the last quarter mile and finished last of the seven runners behind Bulaxie. The filly missed the 1000 Guineas and reappeared in a minor stakes race at Leicester Racecourse on 23 May in which she was ridden by Willie Ryan. Starting at odds of 3/1 in a four-runner field she took the lead from the start and drew away in the last quarter mile and drew away in the last two furlongs to win by twenty lengths from Miss Kristin. [7]

On 15 June, Kissing Cousin was moved back up to Group One class for the 145th running of the Coronation Stakes over one mile at Royal Ascot. With Kinane in the saddle, she started at odds of 13/2 (having been backed down from 20/1 on the morning of the race) [8] in a nine-runner field, with the 1000 Guineas winner Las Meninas being made the 9/4 favourite. The other contenders included Relatively Special, Mehthaaf (Irish 1,000 Guineas), Lemon Souffle, Prophecy and the unbeaten Zafaaf. Kinane sent the filly into the lead from the start and she maintained her advantage into the straight ahead of Lemon Souffle and the French-trained outsider Eternal Reve. In the final furlong Kissing Cousin was strongly challenged by Eternal Reve but ran on "gamely" to win by a short head, with Mehthaaf two and a half lengths back in third ahead of Lemon Souffle. [9] After the race Henry Cecil commented "She's very genuine but she just has her days. I told Sheikh Mohammed that she would either win or finish last. I haven't worked out any plans for her, but at least she's won a Group One, even if she never wins anything else". [8]

Kissing Cousin never raced again and was retired at the end of the year.

Breeding record

After her retirement from racing, Kissing Cousin became a broodmare for her owner's Darley Stud. She produced at least five foals and two minor winners between 1996 and 2001:

Pedigree

Pedigree of Kissing Cousin (IRE), bay mare, 1991 [1]
Sire
Danehill (USA)
1986		 Danzig (USA)
1977		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma*
Pas de NomAdmiral's Voyage
Petitioner
Rayzana (USA)
1981		 His Majesty Ribot
Flower Bowl
Spring Adieu Buckpasser
Natalma*
Dam
First Kiss (GB)
1983		 Kris (GB)
1976		 Sharpen Up Atan
Rocchetta
Doubly Sure Reliance
Soft Angels
Primatie (FR)
1975		 Vaguely Noble Vienna
Noble Lassie
Pistol Packer Gun Bow
George's Girl (Family: 14-f) [4]

Related Research Articles

Sleepytime is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from September 1996 to April 1998 she ran six times and won two races. In two races as a two-year-old she won one race, and finished third in the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot. On her three-year-old debut she was beaten in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury but then won the Classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse. On her only subsequent appearance that year she finished third in the Coronation Stakes. After one unsuccessful run in 1998 she was retired from racing to become a successful broodmare.

Shahtoush Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Shahtoush was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning The Oaks in 1998. In a racing career which lasted from August 1997 to September 1998 the filly ran eleven times and won three races. Shahtoush won only one minor race as a two-year-old, but showed top-class form when she finished third in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. In 1998 she finished second in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse and then returned to England to win the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She was beaten in her two remaining races, finishing unplaced in the Yorkshire Oaks and the Irish Champion Stakes.

Exclusive was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a juvenile, she won a strongly-contested race on her debut and the finished third in the Fillies' Mile. As a three-year-old in 1998 she finished third in the classic 1000 Guineas before recording her biggest win in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. After her retirement from racing, she became a very successful broodmare, being the ancestor of major winners including Chic and Integral.

Lillie Langtry (horse) Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Lillie Langtry is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Bred at a small stud in County Cork she was sold as a yearling and raced for the Coolmore organisation. As a two-year-old, she was one of the best juvenile fillies in Ireland winning three of her seven races including the Fillies' Sprint Stakes, Debutante Stakes and Tattersalls Timeform Fillies' 800 as well as finishing third in both the Albany Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She was injured when finishing unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In 2010 she recorded her biggest wins when recording Group One victories in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. She was retired at the end of the year with a record of five wins from eleven races.

Sophisticat was a Kentucky-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. A daughter of Storm Cat out of the champion filly Serena's Song she was sold for $3.7 million as a yearling and raced in Europe for the Coolmore Stud organization. Racing as a two-year-old, she won only one minor race but was placed in the Queen Mary Stakes, Silver Flash Stakes, Lowther Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she won the Prix de la Grotte and finished second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches before recording her biggest success in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was retired at the end of the year and had some success as a broodmare.

Golden Opinion was an American-bred French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted less than six months she won four of her six races. As a three-year-old in 1996 she won a Listed race on her debut and then finished third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains before winning the Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was narrowly beaten in the July Cup and ended her career with a six length win in the Prix du Rond Point. After being retired from racing she came a broodmare and produced several minor winners.

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.

Wannabe Grand was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from May 1998 until November 1999, she won four races and was placed five times from sixteen starts. She was one of the best juvenile fillies in Britain in 1998 when she won the Empress Stakes, Cherry Hinton Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes as well as finishing second in the Lowther Stakes. In the following year she finished second in the 1000 Guineas on her seasonal debut and went on to win the Flying Fillies' Stakes, as well as being placed in the Coronation Stakes, Oak Tree Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes. She was retired from racing to become a broodmare and produced at least seven winners.

Regal Rose is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was undefeated in a brief racing career which consisted of two races as a two-year-old in the summer and autumn of 2000. After winning a maiden race at Ascot Racecourse on her debut she defeated twelve opponents to take the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes in September. She remained in training in 2001 but suffered a leg injury in spring and was retired later that year without contesting another race. She has had some success as a broodmare.

Donna Blini 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.

Fairy Heights was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 1993 until April 1994 she won three of her even races. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation in Britain in 1993: after finishing unplaced on her debut she won her next three races including the Sweet Solera Stakes and the Fillies' Mile before finishing second in the Racing Post Trophy. After failing to recover her best form in 1994 she was retired from racing. She has had some success as a broodmare in the United States.

Aqaarid was an American-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who was the beaten favourite in two of the five British Classic Races. In a racing career which lasted from July 1994 until June 1995 she won three of her five starts. As a two-year-old she won a minor race on her debut and then stepped up in class to win the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot Racecourse. After winning a very strong renewal of the Fred Darling Stakes in the following spring she was beaten by Harayir when favoured to win the 1000 Guineas. A month later she started a short-priced favourite for The Oaks but finished sixth behind Moonshell.

Sunspangled was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 1998 until September 1999, she won twice and finished second twice in ten starts. As a two-year-old, she won on her debut but was beaten in her next two races before recording her most important victory in the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot Racecourse. In the following year, she was campaigned exclusively in Group One events and failed to win, although she did finish second in the Irish Oaks. She has made little impact as a broodmare.

Listen is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed her best form as a two-year-old in 2007 she won the Listed Saoire Stakes on her debut, finished second in both the Debutante Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes and then recorded her biggest success in the Group One Fillies' Mile. Her subsequent racing career was compromised by injury and she made little impact in two races as a three-year-old. She has had some success as a broodmare in Japan.

Trusted Partner was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed great promise as a two-year-old in 1987 when she won both of her races including the C L Weld Park Stakes and won the Irish 1000 Guineas on her three-year-old debut. She was beaten in her three remaining European starts and had no success when sent to race in America in 1989. After her retirement from racing she became a very successful broodmare.

Mehthaaf was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed great promise as a two-year-old in 1993, winning on her second racecourse appearance and going on to finish third in both the Lowther Stakes and the Prix Marcel Boussac. As a three-year-old she won the Nell Gwyn Stakes and ran fourth when favourite for the 1000 Guineas before winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Later in the season she produced arguably her best performance with an emphatic victory over male opponents in the Celebration Mile. She also ran third in the Coronation Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois as well as finishing fourth in the Champion Stakes. After her retirement from racing she had considerable success as a 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.

Dance Design is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She competed in five different countries and won seven times from nineteen starts in a track career which lasted from August 1995 to November 1998.

Sequoyah is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a juvenile in 2000 she showed high-class form, winning the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and being placed in both the Railway Stakes and the Debutante Stakes. In the following year she failed to win but ran well against top quality competition to finish fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Irish Oaks. After her retirement from racing she became a successful broodmare, most notably producing Henrythenavigator.

Quarter Moon was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2001 she showed considerable promise, taking the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on the second of her two starts. In the following year she failed to win but showed top class form to finish second in four Group 1 races: the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks, the Irish Oaks and the Nassau Stakes. After retiring from racing at the end of the year she became a successful broodmare whose foals have included the Pretty Polly Stakes winner Diamondsandrubies.

References

  1. 1 2 "Kissing Cousin pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  2. ↑ "Danehill Stud record". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  3. ↑ Timeform staff (1987). Racehorses of 1986. Timeform. ISBN   0-900599-44-8.
  4. 1 2 "Honoria – Family 14-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  5. ↑ "Westow Conditions Stakes result". Racing Post. 16 July 1993.
  6. ↑ "Fillies' Mile result". Racing Post. 25 September 1993.
  7. ↑ "Silver Pheasant Stakes result". Racing Post. 23 May 1994.
  8. 1 2 Greg Wood (16 June 1994). "Kinane finds perfection again with first Cousin". The Independent .
  9. ↑ "Coronation Stakes". Racing Post. 15 June 1994.
  10. ↑ "Patruel – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  11. ↑ "Realism – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  12. ↑ "Houbara – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.