La Collina

Last updated
La Collina
SireStrategic Prince
Grandsire Dansili
DamStarfish
Damsire Galileo
SexStallion
Foaled24 April 2009 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Chestnut
BreederManister House Stud
OwnerJoerg Vasicek
Trainer Kevin Prendergast
Record16: 3-3-2
Earnings£288,845
Major wins
Phoenix Stakes (2011)
Matron Stakes (2013)

La Collina (foaled 24 April 2009) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2011 she won a minor race on her debut and went on to record a 33/1 upset win over a strong field in the Phoenix Stakes. She failed to win in eleven races over the next two years before springing another surprise when taking the 2013 Matron Stakes at odds of 25/1. Apart from her wins, she was placed in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Silver Flash Stakes, Blue Wind Stakes, Gladness Stakes and Abu Dhabi Stakes.

Contents

Background

La Collina is a chestnut mare with a narrow white blaze bred in Ireland by the County Limerick-based Manister House Stud. As a yearling the filly was consigned to the Goffs sale at Doncaster in August 2010 and was bought for £42,000 by the veteran trainer Kevin Prendergast. [2] She entered the ownership of Joerg Vasicek and was taken into training with Prendergast at Friarstown, County Kildare.

She was from the first crop of foals sired by Strategic Prince who won the July Stakes and the Vintage Stakes as a juvenile in 2006. His other offspring included Roca Rojo (Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes) and Super Chic (Italian Derby). [3] La Collina's dam Starfish never ran in a race but was a great-granddaughter of the Irish mare Sorbus whose other descendants have included Oasis Dream, Zenda and Kingman. [4]

Racing career

2011: two-year-old season

In her first two seasons La Collina was ridden in all of her races by Declan McDonogh. The filly began her track career in a maiden race over seven furlongs at Limerick Racecourse on 11 June. Starting the 9/4 favourite in an eleven-runner field she was restrained towards the rear of the field before making a forward move in the straight. Despite hanging to the right (towards the inside rail) she took the lead inside the final furlong and won by one and three quarter lengths from the Dermot Weld-trained Mahaazen. [5] In the following month the filly was stepped up sharply in class to contest the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes over the same distance at Leopardstown Racecourse. Starting at odds of 10/1 in a six-runner field she made steady progress in the straight but failed by a neck to overhaul the Aidan O'Brien-trained favourite Maybe.

On 7 August at the Curragh La Collina was matched against male opponents in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs and started a 33/1 outsider. Power started favourite while the other seven runners included Parish Hall, Frederick Engels (July Stakes) and Lilbourne Lad (Railway Stakes). After racing towards the rear of the field the filly was switched to the outside to make her challenge in the straight. She entered the final furlong in fourth place and maintained her run to catch Power in the final strides to win by a neck. [6] McDonogh commented "They went hard and there was a bit of traffic at half-way. I just got out and was lucky with the clear run I got. I never got stopped. I just had to switch a couple of times... I got outpaced early and let her find her feet. She's a very good two-year-old and that was a true test. She's all heart". [7] Kevin Prendergast said "She's got a good turn of foot, a great temperament and has been working well". [8]

Three weeks after her win in the Phoenix Stakes, La Collina faced a rematch with Maybe in the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs at the same track. After settling in fourth place she made steady progress but never looked likely to win and finished third behind Maybe and Fire Lily.

2012: three-year-old season

On her three-year-old debut La Collina was sent to England to contest the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley mile at Newmarket Racecourse on 6 May and finished fifth behind Homecoming Queen, Starscope, Maybe and The Fugue. In the Irish 1,000 Guineas three weeks later she raced in second place for most of the way but faded in the closing stages and came home sixth of the eight runners behind Samitar. After a three-month break the filly came back in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Fillies' Stakes and finished third to the O'Brien-trained Up. La Collina returned to the highest class for her last two starts of the year: she ran a close fifth to Chachamaidee in the Matron Stakes and fourth to Siyouma in the Sun Chariot Stakes. [9]

2013: four-year-old season

On her first run as a four-year-old La Collina was beaten only half a length when finishing third to the colts Custom Cut and Nephrite in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes at the Curragh on 7 April. Following this race Chris Hayes took over from McDonogh as her regular jockey. In May La Collina contested two Group 3 races, taking second place in both the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas and the Abu Dhabi Stakes at the Curragh. In the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June she finished sixth of nine runners behind the British-trained Ambivalent and her losing run extended to 11 in the following month when she came home a distant sixth (beaten more than 20 lengths) to Scintillula in the Meld Stakes on heavy ground at Leopardstown. [10]

Two years and one month after her last victory, La Collina started a 25/1 outsider for the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on 7 September. The French-trained Kenhope (Prix de la Grotte) started favourite while the other ten runners included Fiesolana (Fairy Bridge Stakes), Chigun (Abu Dhabi Stakes), Caponata (Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes), Say (Dance Design Stakes), Just Pretending (Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial), Scintillula, Wannabe Better (Ruby Stakes), Lily's Angel (Chartwell Fillies' Stakes) and Magical Dream (C L Weld Park Stakes). La Collina raced towards the rear of the field but made steady progress in the last quarter mile and was in fourth place when Hayes switched her to the outside approaching the final furlong. The filly produced a strong late run, gained the advantage in the final strides, and won by half a length and a short head from Lily's Angel and Say. [11] Hayes, who was winning his first Group 1 race said "She just coasted around. It's just unbelievable. She has been in great form and I am glad that the owners and trainer stuck by me", while Prendergast commented "She's very genuine and everything went right for her today. She's only run one bad race and that was last time here when the ground was heavy." [12]

On her final racecourse appearance, La Collina ran for the second time in the Sun Chariot Stakes and finished fifth behind Sky Lantern.

Breeding record

After her retirement from racing La Collina became a broodmare at her owner's Kenilworth House Stud in County Tipperary.

Her first foal, a bay filly sired by Dubawi, was born in January 2015 and fetched 625,000 guineas as a yearling. Named Piccola Collina, she finished seventh on her debut in July 2017. [13] La Collina's second foal was a chestnut filly by Shamardal. She produced a bay colt by Oasis Dream in 2017 and was then covered by Dark Angel. [14]

Pedigree

Pedigree of La Collina (IRE), chestnut mare, 2009 [1]
Sire
Strategic Prince (GB)
2004
Dansili (GB)
1996
Danehill Danzig
Razyana
Hasili Kahyasi
Kerali
Ausherra (USA)
1988
Diesis Sharpen Up
Doubly Sure
Princess of ManGreen God
White Legs
Dam
Starfish (IRE)
2003
Galileo (IRE)
1998
Sadler's Wells Northern Dancer
Fairy Bridge
Urban Sea Miswaki
Allegretta
Silver Skates (IRE)
1998
Slip Anchor Shirley Heights
Sayonara
Klarifi Habitat
Sorbus (Family: 19) [4]

Related Research Articles

Maybe (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Maybe is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She was undefeated in five races in 2011 including the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes and was awarded the title of European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2011 at the Cartier Racing Awards. She was the winter favourite for the 2012 1000 Guineas.

Blue Wind Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Blue Wind was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the classic Oaks Stakes in 1981. She showed promising form as a two-year-old in 1980 when she won two of her five races including the Silken Glider Stakes. In the following year she finished second in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and then showed her best form when moved up in distance, winning the Oaks by seven lengths and following up in the Irish Oaks a month later. In 1982 she was campaigned in the United States without success. She made no impact as a broodmare.

Tarascon was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1997 she was one of the leading fillies of her generation in Ireland winning two of her four races including the Moyglare Stud Stakes. In the following season she became rather temperamental and ran poorly in the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks Stakes, but produced her best form to win the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She retired after winning three of her nine races and had some success as a broodmare.

Saoirse Abu was an American-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the leading European two-year-old fillies of her generation, winning three of her eight races including two of Ireland's most important races for juveniles: the Phoenix Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She raced three times as a three-year-old in 2008, producing her best effort when a close third in the 1000 Guineas. She was sold for over £2 million at the end of her racing career and became a broodmare in the ownership of Sheikh Mohammed.

Legatissimo British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Legatissimo is a British-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing some promise as a juvenile, she showed marked improvement in the spring of 2015 and recorded her first major success in the 1000 Guineas. On her next appearance she was narrowly beaten when favourite for The Oaks. After another narrow defeat in the Pretty Polly Stakes she returned to top form to win the Nassau Stakes and the Matron Stakes

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.

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.

Alice Springs (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Alice Springs is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2015 she failed to win a group race but showed consistently high-class form, winning a valuable sales race, finishing second in the Silver Flash Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and fourth in the Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she was beaten in her first four races but finished third in both the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes. She then won three Group One races in her next four starts taking the Falmouth Stakes, Matron Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes.

Classic Park was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After winning on her racecourse debut she was beaten in her other seven races as a two-year-old although she was placed in the Marble Hill Stakes, Silver Flash Stakes and Round Tower Stakes. In the following spring she won the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial before recording her biggest success when taking the Irish 1,000 Guineas as a 20/1 outsider. She thus became the first Classic race winner trained by Aidan O'Brien. Classic Park did not win again despite running well in important races over one mile and was retired at the end of the year. As a broodmare she was best known as the dam of Walk In The Park who finished second in The Derby and became a successful National Hunt sire.

Saoire is a Welsh-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1000 Guineas in 2005. After being sold cheaply as a foal she was eventually sent into training with Frances Crowley in Ireland. In four races as a two-year-old in 2004 she showed very promising form, winning a maiden race and finishing placed in both the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the C L Weld Park Stakes. In the following spring she finished sixth in the 1000 Guineas before recording her biggest victory in the Irish equivalent three weeks later. Her victory made her the first Irish Classic Race winner to be trained by a woman. She was well beaten in three subsequent races and was retired from racing at the end of the year.

Bethrah is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2010. After finishing unplaced on her only run as a two-year-old she reached her peak in the following spring, winning a maiden race and the Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial before taking the Irish 1000 Guineas. She was well beaten in her only subsequent race and was retired at the end of the year.

Rebelline was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She won six of her eleven races in a racing career which lasted from October 2000 until May 2002. As a juvenile she won on her debut and then finished second to Vinnie Roe in the Eyrefield Stakes. In the following year she won the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial and the Pretty Polly Stakes as well as finishing third in the Prix de l'Opéra. She reached her peak as a four-year-old in 2002 when she was undefeated in three starts, taking the Gladness Stakes, Mooresbridge Stakes and Tattersalls Gold Cup. After her retirement from racing she had considerable success as a dam of winners.

Termagant is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Ireland, winning both of her races including the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. She failed to win again and ran only four more times over the next two years before being retired from racing.

Miss Beatrix is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2006 she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Ireland when she won three of eight races including the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Goffs Million as well as finishing third in the Phoenix Stakes. She ran unplaced in the 1000 Guineas in the following spring and was retired from racing later that year.

Chelsea Rose is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a track career which lasted from June 2004 until September 2006 she raced in four different countries and won five races over distances ranging from six furlongs to one and a half miles. She showed very promising form as a juvenile in 2004 when she won two of her three races including the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. In the following year she failed in the Irish Oaks, her principal objective but recorded victories in the Silver Stakes, Ballyroan Stakes and Dance Design Stakes. As a four-year-old in 2006 she failed to win a race but finished second in the Glencairn Stakes, Pretty Polly Stakes and Royal Whip Stakes. After her retirement from racing she became a successful broodmare.

Qemah is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed considerable promise as a juvenile in 2015 when she won one minor race and finished third in the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following spring she took the Prix de la Grotte and went on to record Group 1 victories in the Coronation Stakes and Prix Rothschild. The highlight of her four-year-old season was a win in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

Hydrangea (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Hydrangea is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She spent much of her early career being overshadowed by her more illustrious stablemates Rhododendron and Winter. In August 2017 she defeated an exceptionally strong field to win the Matron Stakes and went on to take the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.

Skitter Scatter American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Skitter Scatter is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2018, she won one minor race in her first four starts but then made rapid improvement to win the Silver Flash Stakes, Debutante Stakes and Moyglare Stud Stakes. At the end of the season she was named Cartier Champion Two-year-old Filly.

Champers Elysees Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Champers Elysees is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed modest racing ability as a juvenile in 2019 when she won one minor race from five attempts. In the following year she made rapid progress, winning her first four races including the Corrib Fillies Stakes, Fairy Bridge Stakes and Matron Stakes.

References

  1. 1 2 "La Collina pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Doncaster Premier Yearlings 2010 – Catalogue". Racing Post .
  3. "Strategic Prince – Progeny". Racing Post.
  4. 1 2 "Davill's Old Woodcock Mare – Family 19". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  5. "Irish Stallion Farm EBF 2yo Fillies Median Auction Maiden result". Racing Post. 11 June 2011.
  6. "Phoenix Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 August 2011.
  7. "Collina has the power to land Phoenix". RTÉ. 7 August 2011.
  8. Paul Eacott (7 August 2011). "CURRAGH La Collina gets up late for Phoenix surprise". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 21 October 2017.
  9. "Sun Chariot Stakes result". Racing Post. 29 September 2012.
  10. "Meld Stakes result". Racing Post. 25 July 2013.
  11. "Matron Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 September 2013.
  12. Myra Lewyn (7 September 2013). "La Collina Halts Winless Skid in Matron Upset". The Blood-Horse .
  13. "Piccola Collina – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  14. "Kenilworth House Stud – stock list". Kenilworth House Stud.