Main Sequence (horse)

Last updated
Main Sequence
Owner Niarchos Family.svg Owner Flaxman Holdings Ltd.svg
Racing silks of
Niarchos Family and Flaxman Holdings
Sire Aldebaran
Grandsire Mr. Prospector
DamIkat
Damsire Pivotal
Sex Gelding
Foaled13 February 2009 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Flaxman Holdings
OwnerFlaxman Holdings
Trainer David Lanigan
Graham Motion
Record20:9-3-3
Earnings$3,428,666
Major wins
Lingfield Derby Trial (2012)
United Nations Stakes (2014)
Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (2014)
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (2014)
Breeders' Cup Turf (2014)
Mac Diarmida Handicap (2015)
Awards
American Champion Older Male Horse (2014)
American Champion Male Turf Horse (2014)

Main Sequence (foaled 13 February 2009) is a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. In his first three seasons he raced in Europe winning his first four races including the Lingfield Derby Trial before losing his unbeaten record when finishing second in the 2012 Epsom Derby. After failing to win in 2013 he was gelded and sent to race in the United States. In 2014 he recorded Grade I victories in his first four American starts, winning the United Nations Stakes, Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf. He extended his winning run in his first start of 2015 but was retired from racing after suffering a serious tendon injury in his third race of the season.

Contents

Background

Main Sequence is a chestnut horse with a narrow white blaze bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings an organisation which deals with the breeding and racing interests of the Niarchos family. His sire Aldebaran, a son of Mr. Prospector, began his racing career in Britain before moving to the United States where he won three Grade I races including the 2003 Metropolitan Handicap. [2] Main Sequence is the first foal of his dam Ikat, who won one race and finished second in the Group Three Prix d'Aumale. [3] Ikat's dam, Burning Sunset was a half-sister to The Oaks winner Light Shift and a granddaughter of the leading French-trained racemare Northern Trick. [4] The colt was sent to race in Europe where he was trained by David Lanigan at Upper Lambourn in Berkshire.

Racing career

2011: two-year-old season

Main Sequence began his racing career as a 50/1 outsider in a one-mile maiden race at Yarmouth Racecourse on 15 September. Ridden by George Baker he started slowly and showed his inexperience in the early stages but finished strongly to take the lead fifty yards from the finish to win by one and a quarter lengths from the favourite Almuftarris. In all his remaining European races, the horse was ridden by Ted Durcan. A month later, the colt started 7/2 favourite under a weight of 132 pounds for a Nursery over nine furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse. After being restrained towards the rear of the field he took the lead a furlong from the finish and drew away to win by three and a quarter lengths despite swishing his tail in the closing stages. [5]

2012: three-year-old season

Main Sequence began his second season in a handicap over ten furlongs at Newmarket on 17 April in which he carried 132 pounds and started the 2/1 favourite against seven opponents. He took the lead inside the final furlong and won by half a length from the filly Ahzeemah (later to win the Lonsdale Cup) although he again showed signs of temperament as he "flashed" his tail under pressure. [6] The colt was then moved up in class and distance to contest the Group Three Derby Trial over one and a half miles on the Polytrack surface at Lingfield Park. He was restrained towards the rear of the field and had to be switched to the outside in the straight to obtain a clear run. Flashing his tail as usual, he took the lead in the final furlong and won by three-quarters of a length from the favourite Shantaram, with a gap of six lengths back to Cavaleiro in third. After the race Lanigan indicated that the horse would be aimed at either the Epsom Derby or the Prix du Jockey Club whilst Durcan said that the winner would "stay a mile and a half standing on his head" and was "a lovely horse in the making." [7]

On 2 June, Main Sequence started the 9/1 fourth choice in the betting for the 233rd running of The Derby. He was restrained towards the rear of the nine runner field before making progress in the straight. He never threatened the winner Camelot, who won by five lengths, but finished strongly to take second place by a short head from Astrology. The colt was then sent overseas for the first time for the Grand Prix de Paris. In a rough race he struggled to obtain a clear run in the closing stages and appeared an unlucky loser, finishing fourth, a length and a half behind the winner Imperial Monarch. [8] Main Sequence started favourite for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York Racecourse on 22 August, but failed to quicken in the straight and was beaten a neck by Thought Worthy, with Encke in third and Noble Mission in fourth place. On his final appearance of the season, the colt started joint second favourite for the St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse, but although making progress in the straight he finished fifth of the nine runners behind Encke and Camelot.

2013: four-year-old season

Main Sequence failed to win in six races in 2013. In May he was beaten ten and half lengths into third place by Ektihaam when favourite for the Buckhounds Stakes at Ascot and then finished second to Mukhadram in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse. In the latter race he again flashed his tail under pressure and was described by the Racing Post as never looking "wholehearted". [9] He was dropped in class in June for a race at Pontefract and started favourite, but finished fourth to Brown Panther, beaten thirteen lengths by the winner. Lanigan described the performance as "too bad to be true" and it was later revealed that the horse had "scoped dirty" indicating a respiratory infection. [10] In September Main Sequence returned to finish third in both the September Stakes at Kempton and the Arc Trial at Newbury. He ended his season by finishing eighth of the ten runners behind Farhh, when a 66/1 outsider for the Champion Stakes.

At the end of the year, Main Sequence, by now a gelding was sent to be trained in the United States by Graham Motion.

2014: five-year-old season

Main Sequence took time to acclimatise to his new base and did not race until July 6, when he conteted the Grade I United Nations Stakes over eleven furlongs on turf at Monmouth Park. Ridden by Rajiv Maragh he started at odds of 8/1 in a nine-runner field headed by the Canadian colt Kaigun and the Tom Albertrani=trained Twilight Eclipse. Main Sequence made his customary slow start and was at the back of the field for most of the way before producing a run on the outside in the straight. Flashing his tail as usual he overtook Twilight Eclipse in the final strides to win by a neck, recording his first win at the highest level and his first win of any kind for more than two years. After the race Motion said He got quite sick over the winter, so we really waited until he was ready to run. Ravij did a great job with him. We did not want him to get to the front too early and he has a tremendous turn of foot." [11] At Saratoga Race Course in August, Main Sequence was matched against the Man o' War Stakes winner Imagining and the Louisville Handicap winner War Dancer in the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap over one and a half miles. Maragh held up the slow-starting gelding and was still in sixth place approaching the final furlong. In the closing stages, the gelding produced a sustained run to catch Imagining in the final stride and won by a head in a time of 2:24.72 with Twilight Eclipse in third. Motion admitted that he thought that the horse had been beaten, saying "I really didn't think he got there, so when I saw the rerun, I thought it was unbelievable" while Maragh commented "Coming off the turn, he was like, 'Let's go,' so we went. He was full of run. I know we were catching two good horses, and they weren't going to go down too easily. But he was full of run, and it seemed like we might have just gotten there right on time." [12]

On September 27, Main Sequence attempted to gain his third consecutive Grade I victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. As well as Twilight Eclipse and Imagining, his opponents included Big Blue Kitten (winner of the United Nations Stakes and the Sword Dancer Invitational in 2013) and Real Solution (winner of the Arlington Million and the Manhattan Handicap). The gelding raced in fifth before moving up into third on the outside on the final turn. He took the lead inside the final furlong and held off the renewed challenge of Twilight Eclipse to win by head. The racecourse stewards held an inquiry into interference caused when Main Sequence hung to the left in the closing stages and bumped the runner-up, but allowed the result to stand. Maragh admitted that on this occasion, he may have sent the horse into the lead too early saying "When he made the lead, it was a little sooner than we wanted. He started loafing a little bit; I tried to make him see the other horse and a little contact happened. I felt like I was going to be OK on the inquiry, but it was nerve-wracking." [13]

On November 1 Main Sequence started at odd of 6.2/1 for the thirty-first running of the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park. He was matched against Twilight Eclipse, Imagining and the Arlington Million winner Hardest Core as well as several major winners from Europe including Telescope, Flintshire (runner up to Treve in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) and Brown Panther (Irish St. Leger). With Maragh sidelined by injury, the gelding was ridden by the Puerto Rican jockey John R. Velazquez. As usual, Main Sequence was restrained in the early stages as Imagining set a steady pace before Hardest Core took over after half a mile. Hardest Core maintained his advantage until the straight when he was overtaken by Telescope and Flintshire, but Main Sequence produced his customary late run on the outside, took the lead inside the final furlong and won by half a length from Flintshire, with Twilight Eclipse third ahead of Telescope. After the race Motion said "He did everything so well and so easily today. He broke really well and went on from there and did everything great. It really was a team effort and the horse has been spectacular. He's really suited to American racing and he just gets better and better. He's a very impressive horse. I hadn't even thought about Horse of the Year now, but I think he should be. Horses don't win four grade I races in a row like that. How many horses can do that? He has to be one of the best I've trained". [14]

2015: six-year-old season

On his first appearance in 2015, Main Sequence started the 3/5 favourite for the Grade II Mac Diarmida Handicap over eleven furlongs at Gulfstream Park. He won his fifth consecutive race, producing his customary late run to win by three-quarters of a length from the 2014 winner, Twilight Eclipse. In March, the gelding was sent to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse. Starting the 9/2 third favorite he recovered from a slow start and was in contention three furlongs out but faded in the straight to finish seventh of the nine runners behind the French filly Dolniya. In July he attempted to repeat his 2014 success in the United Nations Stakes He was made the 8/5 favourite but finished seventh behind Big Blue Kitten. Veterinary examinations revealed that the gelding had suffered a torn tendon and his retirement from racing was announced eight days later. Graham Motion commented "It is an injury a horse can come back from. It is a matter of rest. But the horse doesn't owe anyone anything, and the family would like to see him retire a champion. He would be capable of doing other things, but it is all to be decided." [15]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Main Sequence (GB), chestnut stallion, 2009 [1]
Sire
Aldebaran (USA)
1998
Mr. Prospector (USA)
1970
Raise a Native Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger Nashua
Sequence
Chimes of Freedom (USA)
1987 
Private Account Damascus
Numbered Account
Aviance Northfields
Minnie Hauk
Dam
Ikat (IRE)
2004
Pivotal (GB)
1993
Polar Falcon Nureyev
Marie d'Argonne
Fearless Revival Cozzene
Stufida
Burning Sunset (GB)
1997
Caerleon Nijinsky
Foreseer
Lingerie Shirley Heights
Northern Trick (Family: 4-m) [4]

Related Research Articles

Ouija Board (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ouija Board is a British Thoroughbred racehorse 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, 7 of them Group 1s, including The Oaks in 2004 and the Hong Kong Vase in 2005. In 2004, she won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and came 2nd to Intercontinental the following year in the same race. In 2006, the Dunlop team took her back to the US, where she regained her crown in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Ouija Board has amassed over £3 million in prize money. Also, she is only the second horse ever to win Breeders' Cup races in non-consecutive years, along with Da Hoss, who won the Breeders' Cup Mile in 1996 and 1998.

Singspiel (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Singspiel was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for a series of wins in major international races in 1996 and 1997. In a racing career which lasted from September 1994 until August 1997 he won nine of his twenty races and finished second on eight occasions. After showing good, but unexceptional form in his first two seasons he emerged as a world class performer in 1996 when he won the Canadian International Stakes and Japan Cup and was named U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse. In the following season he added victories in the Dubai World Cup, Coronation Cup and International Stakes before his career was ended by injury. After his retirement from racing he had considerable success as a sire of winners before his death in 2010.

Al Kazeem British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Al Kazeem is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed promise as a two-year-old in 2010 and became a consistently successful performer in the following year. In 2012 he won the Jockey Club Stakes on his seasonal debut but was then sidelined by injury for almost a year. In 2013 he won the Gordon Richards Stakes on his comeback and then took three consecutive Group One races: the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prince of Wales's Stakes and Eclipse Stakes. After an unsuccessful spell at stud he returned to racing in 2014 to win the Winter Hill Stakes and finish a close second in the Champion Stakes. He began his 2015 season by winning the Prix d'Harcourt and went on to win a second Tattersalls Gold Cup before being retired for the second time in August.

Oratorio (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Oratorio is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 2004 he won four of his seven races including the Anglesey Stakes, Futurity Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère as well as finishing second in the Phoenix Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. He showed his best form when tried over a mile and a quarter in 2005, when he defeated strong international fields in the Eclipse Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes, beating The Derby winner Motivator on both occasions. He was retired to stud at the end of 2005 and has had some success as a sire of winners.

Telescope (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Telescope is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won one minor race as a two-year-old but was highly regarded by his connections and was considered a leading contender for the following year's Epsom Derby. His three-year-old campaign was severely restricted by injury, but he won two of his three races, including the Great Voltigeur Stakes. At four, he was beaten in his first two races before recording an impressive seven-length win in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. He added a win in the Aston Park Stakes in 2015 before his racing career was ended by injury. Apart from his wins, he finished second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, third in the International Stakes and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Pasty was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was the leading two-year-old filly of her generation in Britain in 1975 when she was undefeated in five races including the Lavant Stakes, Lowther Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes. She failed to progress as a three-year-old and finished no better than fourth in her five races. She was then retired to become a broodmare and produced at least three minor winners.

Flintshire (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Flintshire is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who has been trained in France and the United States. Unraced as a juvenile, he was one of the best three-year-old colts in France in 2013, winning the Prix du Lys and the Grand Prix de Paris. In 2014 he finished second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup Turf before recording his biggest win in the Hong Kong Vase. As five-year-old he won the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap and again finished second in the Arc. At the start of his six-year-old season in 2016 he was sent to be trained in the United States. He began the season with victories in the Manhattan Handicap, Bowling Green Handicap and Sword Dancer Stakes, before finishing second in his last two starts, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and Breeders' Cup Turf.

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.

Jack Hobbs (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Jack Hobbs 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.

Big Blue Kitten is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who specialises in turf races. Unraced as a juvenile, he finished third on his debut in 2011 and then went on a five race winning streak, culminating in a victory in the Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. After winning one minor race as a four-year-old he emerged as a top-class turf performer in 2013 when his wins included the United Nations Stakes and the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes. His only win of consequence in 2014 came in the Lure Stakes but he returned to his best as a seven-year-old in 2015 winning the Fort Marcy Handicap, a second United Nations Stakes and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes. Apart from his victories he finished second in the Arlington Million and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf. His performances earned him the title of American Champion Male Turf Horse for 2015.

Markab is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. Originally trained in France, he did not race as a juvenile and won one minor race from six attempts as a three-year-old in 2006. He was then sold to race in England where he won three small handicap races in 2008 and the Great St. Wilfrid Stakes in the following year. After being transferred to the stable of Henry Candy he belatedly emerged as a top-class performer at the age of seven in 2010 when he won the Greenlands Stakes in Ireland before recording his biggest win in the Group One Betfred Sprint Cup. He remained in training for two more years, winning the Leisure Stakes in 2012 at the age of nine.

Limato Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Limato is a retired Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a sprinter who produced his best performances over six and seven furlongs on good or firm ground. In a racing career lasting from June 2014 to September 2020 he ran 33 times and won 14 races, including two at Group One level. He achieved the feat of winning at least one Group or Listed race in each of his seven racing seasons.

Twilight Son British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Twilight Son is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred and owned by Caroline and Godfrey Wilson and trained by Henry Candy he was a specialist sprinter who won six of his ten races in a racing career which lasted from August 2014 until October 2016. He won both of his races as a two-year-old and his first three races as a three-year-old including a victory in the Group One Betfred Sprint Cup. As a four-year-old in 2016 he recorded his second Group One success when he defeated a strong international field in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. He was retired at the end of the season to become a breeding stallion.

Barney Roy British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Barney Roy is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a juvenile in 2016 he emerged as a top-class performer in the following year. He won the Greenham Stakes and finished second in the 2000 Guineas before recording his biggest victory in the St James's Palace Stakes. He went on to finish second in the Eclipse Stakes and third in the International Stakes before being retired to stud at the end of the year. His spell at stud proved unsuccessful and he returned to racing in the 2019 season. As a gelding in 2020 he recorded victories in the Al Rashidiya, Jebel Hatta, Bayerisches Zuchtrennen and Grosser Preis von Baden.

Firdaussi was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed very good form as a two-year-old in 1931 when he won three of his five races including the Dewhurst Stakes. In the following year his progress was interrupted by illness in spring but he won his last four races, taking the Gordon Stakes before recording his biggest win in the St Leger and then defeating top-class older horses in the Jockey Club Stakes. He ran consistently as a four-year-old in 1933 but won only one minor race. Apart from his victories, Firdaussi was placed in the Eclipse Stakes (twice), Greenham Stakes, Lingfield Derby Trial and Great Jubilee Handicap. After his retirement from racing Firdaussi stood as a breeding stallion in Britain, France and Ireland, but had limited success as a sire of winners.

Mustashry is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He finished fourth on his only run as a juvenile and won two minor races in the following year. As a four-year-old in 2017 he improved to win two races including the Group 3 Strensall Stakes. After being gelded he returned in 2018 to win the Gala Stakes, Park Stakes and Joel Stakes. In 2019 he won the Lockinge Stakes and the Challenge Stakes.

Lord Glitters is a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained in France where he won four races before being sold, gelded, and sent to race in England as a four-year-old where he won the valuable Balmoral Handicap in October 2017. In 2018 he showed very good form over one mile, winning the Strensall Stakes and being placed in the Lincoln Handicap, Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes. As a six-year-old he finished third in the Dubai Turf before recording his biggest victory when he took the Queen Anne Stakes at the second attempt.

Zabeel Prince is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was unraced as a juvenile and finished second on his only start at three. As a four-year-old he won a maiden race and two handicap races. In 2018 he won the Doncaster Mile Stakes in spring but missed most of the season before returning in autumn to finish second in the Joel Stakes. He reached his peak as a six-year-old in 2019 when he won the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes and the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan. He failed to win in three starts in 2020.

Lord North (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Lord North is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a juvenile in 2018 he won again on his three-year-old debut but ran poorly on his next start and was subsequently gelded. He returned to the track in the autumn of 2019 and recorded victories in the Cambridgeshire Handicap and the James Seymour Stakes. The gelding made further progress in 2020 when he won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes and the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Regal Parade, is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a track career which lasted from January 2007 until October 2016 he contested 104 races, winning 13 times and being placed on 27 occasions. He won three minor races as a three-year-old in 2007 and improved in the following year to win the Buckingham Palace Stakes and the Ayr Gold Cup. In the next two years he showed top class form over sprint distances, taking the City Plate and Haydock Sprint Cup in 2009 and the Hackwood Stakes and Prix Maurice de Gheest in 2010. He remained in training until the age of twelve but never returned to the highest class and won only three minor races before being retired from racing,

References

  1. 1 2 "Main Sequence pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Aldebaran – Record By Race Type". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  3. "Ikat – Record By Race Type". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Magnolia – Family 4-m" . Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  5. "Results From The 5.20 Race At Newmarket – 19 October 2011". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  6. "Results From The 5.50 Race At Newmarket – 19 April 2012". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  7. "Main Sequence 16 1 for Derby after Lingfield win – Horse Racing News". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  8. "Results From The 6.50 Race At Longchamp (FR) – 14 July 2012". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  9. "Results From The 7.50 Race At Sandown – 30 May 2013". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  10. "Pontefract Brown Panther floors Main Sequence – Horse Racing News". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  11. Evan Hammonds (6 July 2014). "Main Sequence Scores in United Nations Stakes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  12. Jack Shinar (17 August 2014). "Main Sequence Stays Sharp in Sword Dancer". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  13. Jack Shinar (27 September 2014). "Main Sequence Times Turf Classic Just Right". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  14. Claire Novak (1 November 2014). "Main Sequence Sews Up Breeders' Cup Turf". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  15. Blood-Horse Staff (13 July 2015). "Champion Main Sequence Retired Due to Injury". BloodHorse.com.