Prince Bishop | |
---|---|
Sire | Dubawi |
Grandsire | Dubai Millennium |
Dam | North East Bay |
Damsire | Prospect Bay |
Sex | Gelding |
Foaled | 10 February 2007 [1] |
Country | Ireland |
Colour | Chestnut |
Breeder | Thurso Ltd |
Owner | Sheikh Mohammed Godolphin Racing Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum |
Trainer | André Fabre Saeed bin Suroor |
Record | 28:11-3-3 |
Earnings | $7,061,632 |
Major wins | |
Prix du Prince d'Orange (2010) Prix du Conseil de Paris (2010) Floodlit Stakes (2011) September Stakes (2013, 2014) Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 2 (2014) Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 3 (2014) Dubai World Cup (2015) |
Prince Bishop (foaled 10 February 2007) is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He began his racing career in France as a three-year-old where he won the Prix du Prince d'Orange and the Prix du Conseil de Paris in 2010. He was later transferred to Dubai where he was based at Meydan Racecourse. He made occasional returns to compete in Europe and won the September Stakes in both 2013 and 2014. In March 2015 he won the world's most valuable race, the Dubai World Cup.
Prince Bishop is a chestnut gelding bred in Ireland by Thurso Ltd. He was sired by Dubawi a top-class son of Dubai Millennium, whose wins included the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Prix Jacques Le Marois. At stud, Dubawi has been a highly-successful breeding stallion, siring major winners such as Monterosso, Al Kazeem, Makfi, Lucky Nine and Night of Thunder. [2] Prince Bishop's dam North East Bay was a North American-bred mare who finished unplaced in her only race. [3] North East Bay was descended from Topsy, a half-sister to The Derby winner Teenoso and a close relative of Sir Percy, Harayir and Rule of Law. [4]
As a foal, Prince Bishop was consigned to the Tattersalls sale in November, where he was bought for 80,000 guineas by Meadowlands Bloodstock. [5] He entered the ownership of Sheikh Mohammed and was sent into training in France with André Fabre.
Prince Bishop made his racecourse debut at Chantilly Racecourse on 3 May 2010 when he finished third in a maiden race over 1600 metres. He finished unplaced in his next two starts before recording his first success over 2000 metres at Vichy Racecourse, winning by ten lengths on heavy ground. After winning at odds of 3/5 at Deauville-Clairefontaine Racecourse in August Prince Bishop was moved up in class to contest the Group Three Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp Racecourse on 18 September. Ridden as in all of his previous races by Maxime Guyon he appeared outpaced in the early stages but produced a strong late run to win a four-way photo finish from Wealthy, Rajamah and Lancelot. [6] Commenting on the winner, Guyon said "He's a very progressive colt and the soft ground suited him". [7] Olivier Peslier took over the ride when Prince Bishop was matched against older horses for the first time in the Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp on 17 October. he raced in fifth before taking the lead 200 metres from the finish and holding off the challenge of the favourite Cirrus des Aigles to win by a short neck. [8]
In early 2011, Prince Bishop was transferred to Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin in Dubai where he was trained by Saeed bin Suroor. He made little impact on the Tapeta surface at Meydan Racecourse, finishing fifth in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge and tenth behind Victoire Pisa in the 2011 Dubai World Cup. Later that year he returned to Europe and finished unplaced in the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor Racecourse and the Stand Cup at Chester. On his final appearance of the season he was dropped in class and started at odds of 6/1 for the Listed Floodlit Stakes on the Polytrack surface at Kempton on 2 November. Ridden by Silvestre De Sousa he took the lead two furlongs from the finish, went clear of the field and won by three and three quarter lengths from Parlour Games. [9]
In 2012, Prince Bishop was campaigned exclusively at Meydan, and recorded his first win at the track when carrying top weight of 132 pounds to a five and a quarter length victory in a handicap race on 20 January. He finished fifth in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge and third in the third round of the series before running for the second time in the Dubai World Cup. Starting a 33/1 outsider he finished seventh of the thirteen runners, seven and a half lengths behind his stablemate Monterosso. [10]
As a six-year-old, Prince Bishop finished third to his stablemate Hunter's Light in the second and third rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge. On Dubai World Cup Night he was moved up in distance to contest the Dubai Sheema Classic over one and a half miles on turf. Ridden by Mickael Barzalona he never looked likely to make a serious challenge and finished tenth of the eleven runners behind St Nicholas Abbey. Prince Bishop made his first appearance in Europe for twenty-two months when he contested the Group Three September Stakes at Kempton on 7 September. Ridden by Kieren Fallon started 7/1 fourth choice in the betting behind Royal Empire (winner of the Geoffrey Freer Stakes), Main Sequence and Masterstroke (Grand Prix de Deauville, third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe). He tracked the leaders before producing a sustained run in the straight to catch Main Sequence in the final strides and win by a head. [11] On his final run of the year, Prince Bishop ran very poorly in the St Simon Stakes on heavy ground at Newbury Racecourse, finishing tailed-off last of the eight runners.
Prince Bishop began his fifth season in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan. Ridden by Fallon, he started at 14/1 and was the least fancied of the three Godolphin runners behind African Story and Hunter's Light. The other runners included Dunaden, Heavy Metal (Durban July Handicap), and Battle of Marengo (Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial). Fallon sent Prince Bishop into the lead 700 metres from the finish and stayed on in the straight to win by one and a quarter lengths from African Story. [12] Prince Bishop faced African Story again in the third round of the challenge on 8 March and started 5/1 second favourite behind his stablemate. He raced in mid-division before taking the lead in the straight and winning by one and a quarter lengths from Sanshaawes with Joshua Tree in sixth and African Story in eighth. [13] Three weeks later, Prince Bishop started at odds of 8/1 in his third bid for the Dubai World Cup. He started slowly, never looked likely, and finished ninth of the sixteen runners behind African Story. On his only European run of 2014, Prince Bishop attempted to repeat his 2013 success in the September Stakes at Kempton. He started at odds of 15/2 in a field headed by his stablemate Secret Number (winner of the Cumberland Lodge Stakes), with the other runners including Red Cadeaux ,(Hong Kong Vase) and Dandino (winner of the race in 2012). Ridden by Frederik Tylicki and carrying top weight of 138 pounds he took the lead a furlong out and won by two lengths from Secret Number. [14] After the race Tylicki said, "He's not run for 161 days but he felt like there was a lot left. It was a very smart performance giving weight away in what was probably one of the best Group 3s you'll see". [15]
Before the start of the 2015 season, the Tapeta surface at Meydan was removed and replaced with a dirt track. For the fifth year in succession, Prince Bishop began his campaign by contesting the Al Maktoum Challenge, finishing second by a head to Frankyfourfingers in the second round on 5 February. He started 6/4 favourite for the third leg on 7 March but failed by a neck to overhaul African Story with Frankyfourfingers in fourth place.
On 28 March, Prince Bishop, ridden by William Buick, ran for the fourth time in the Dubai World Cup. The return to dirt saw a strong challenge from North America, and the betting was headed by the American Horse of the Year California Chrome at odds of 5/4 with the Donn Handicap winner Lea next in the market on 4/1. Japan was represented by the Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia and the Japanese dirt champion Hokko Tarumae. African Story was made an 8/1 chance to repeat his 2014 success whilst Prince Bishop started at odds of 14/1. He raced towards the rear of the field and appeared to be struggling as Hokko Tarumae set a strong pace from African Story and California Chrome. He began to make progress at half distance and moved up on the outside to challenge for the lead on the final turn. He overtook California Chrome 300 metres from the finish and drew away to win by two and three quarter lengths. [16] After the race, Buick said, "I don’t go numb very often but I can’t explain what I’m feeling right now. He has a very unorthodox was of racing so I took him out of the kickback in the back and when I got onto California Chrome's tail, he picked up the bridle and ran on well in the end. He likes the surface now that he has the experience, he is better than he was. This is just nuts." [17]
On 23 April, it was announced that Prince Bishop would be retired from racing. African Story was retired on the same day, and Saeed bin Suroor paid tribute to the pair, saying, "They were very tough and reliable racehorses... they could adapt quickly to their environment no matter where in the world they were taken to race." [18]
Sire Dubawi (IRE) 2002 | Dubai Millennium (GB) 1996 | Seeking the Gold | Mr. Prospector |
---|---|---|---|
Con Game | |||
Colorado Dancer | Shareef Dancer | ||
Fall Aspen | |||
Zomaradah (GB) 1995 | Deploy | Shirley Heights | |
Slightly Dangerous | |||
Jawaher | Dancing Brave | ||
High Tern | |||
Dam North East Bay (USA) 2001 | Prospect Bay (CAN) 1992 | Crafty Prospector | Mr. Prospector |
Real Crafty Lady | |||
Baltic Sea | Danzig | ||
Renounce | |||
Wassifa (GB) 1988 | Sure Blade | Kris | |
Double Lock | |||
Rye Tops | Ile de Bourbon | ||
Topsy (Family: 3-c) [4] |
Dubai Millennium was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. The colt was trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai during his racing career from 1998 and 2000. He is notable for winning a series of major races in 1999 and 2000, including the Dubai World Cup. He died after contracting grass sickness at the age of five.
Twice Over is British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a top-class middle-distance performer whose wins included the Eclipse Stakes, the International Stakes and two runnings of the Champion Stakes.
Monterosso is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was originally trained in Britain, where he won three handicap races and the King Edward VII Stakes as a three-year-old in 2010. After being moved to the United Arab Emirates he recorded his most important success when he won the Dubai World Cup on 31 March 2012.
Mastery is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from October 2008 until 2010 he ran thirteen times and won five races. As a three-year-old in 2009 he won the Derby Italiano and the St Leger. In 2010 he won the Hong Kong Vase.
African Story is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. Originally trained in France, he showed promise when racing on turf by winning twice and being placed in several important races before being transferred to race on Tapeta in Dubai in 2012. He won the Godolphin Mile in 2012 and the Burj Nahaar in both 2012 and 2013 before recording his most important success in the 2014 Dubai World Cup.
The 2015 Dubai World Cup was a horse race held at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday 28 March 2015. It was the 20th running of the Dubai World Cup. It was the first running of the race since the synthetic Tapeta surface was replaced by a dirt track.
Dylan Mouth is an Irish-bred, Thoroughbred racehorse who was trained in Italy and England. After winning both of his races as a juvenile he improved to become the best horse of his generation in Italy, taking the Premio Emanuele Filiberto, Derby Italiano Premio Federico Tesio and Gran Premio del Jockey Club. In 2015 he won the Premio Carlo d'Alessio, Gran Premio di Milano, Premio Federico Tesio and Premio Roma. After being transferred to race in England in 2106 he won a second Gran Premio di Milano but failed to reproduce his best form in his subsequent races that year. He went on to win the Old Newton Cup in 2017 and the John Smith's Silver Cup Stakes in 2018 before being retired to stud.
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.
Crowded House is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 2008 he won two of his four races including an impressive victory in the Group One Racing Post Trophy and was rated the season's best British-trained juvenile. He started the following year as a leading contender for the British Classic Races but ran poorly in the Dante Stakes before finishing sixth in The Derby. He subsequently raced in Dubai and the United States but never won another race although he finished second in the Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 2 and the Pacific Classic. He was retired from racing in 2011 having won two of his nineteen races and became a breeding stallion in Australia.
Fly to the Stars is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for his win in the 1999 Lockinge Stakes. He competed in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, winning six of his twenty-four starts in a racing career which lasted from October 1996 to September 2000.
Prohibit is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse who excelled over sprint distances, producing most of his best performances over five furlongs. In his first three seasons he was trained by John Gosden and showed useful form, winning three minor races but appearing to be some way short of top class. After being sold and transferred to the stable of Robert Cowell he showed improved form, winning the sprint race at the 2010 Shergar Cup and winning a strongly contested edition of the Scarbrough Stakes. He reached his peak as a six-year-old in 2011 when he won a handicap race in Dubai, the Group One King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix du Petit Couvert in France as well as running prominently in several other major sprints including the Prix de Saint-Georges, Temple Stakes, Prix du Gros Chêne and Nunthorpe Stakes. He remained in training for three more seasons but never won again and was retired in 2014 with a record of nine wins from fifty-nine starts.
Cezanne was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a two-year-old he showed modest form in 1992 and 1993, winning two minor races in England. After being transferred to race in Dubai he emerged as a top-class middle-distance performer as a five-year-old, taking the second and third rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge before returning to Europe to win the Magnet Cup, Spreti-Rennen and Irish Champion Stakes. Following an unsuccessful campaign in 1996 he was retired to stud but proved to be infertile. After being gelded he competed in National Hunt races and won one minor race before being retired in 2001.
Poet's Voice was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed very good form as a two-year-old in 2009 when he won two races including the Champagne Stakes. He failed to live up to his promise in the first half of the following year but then returned to form to win the Celebration Mile and then defeated a very strong field to take the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He never won again and was retired at the end of 2011. He was a headstrong and unpredictable racehorse, breaking out of the starting stalls on one occasion and biting one of his rivals on another. He made a very promising start to his stallion career, siring the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Poet's Word in his first season at stud.
Benbatl is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was unraced as a two-year-old in 2016 but in the following year he won the Hampton Court Stakes and was placed in both the Craven Stakes and the Dante Stakes as well as finishing fifth in the Epsom Derby. In 2018 he began the season in Dubai where he won the Singspiel Stakes and the Al Rashidiya before defeating a strong international field in the Dubai Turf. On his return to Europe he won the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Germany and was then sent to Australia where he took the Caulfield Stakes and ran second in the Cox Plate. In 2019 he secured the first of two victories in the Joel Stakes. He won the Singspiel Stakes for a second time in 2020, and the Joel Stakes for a second time in 2021. At the end of the 2021 season he was retired to stud.
Cavalryman was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. In eight seasons of racing he won ten times from thirty-nine starts in six countries, namely France, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Australia. Beginning his career in France he won one race as a juvenile but developed to become one of the best colts of his generation in 2009, winning the Prix Matchem, Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel as well as running third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. After being transferred to the British/Emirati stable of Saeed bin Suroor he failed to win a race for the next two years but recovered his form when switched to competing over extended distances. He won the Grand Cup and Coral Marathon in 2012, the Dubai Gold Cup in 2013 and the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, Princess of Wales's Stakes and Goodwood Cup in 2014 at the age of eight. Cavalryman was fatally injured in a race at Meydan Racecourse in February 2015.
Ghaiyyath is an Irish-bred British-trained champion Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2020 European Horse of the Year after winning the Juddmonte International Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, Coronation Cup, and Dubai Millennium Stakes.
Old Persian, is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who has raced in England, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Canada and the United States. He showed promise as a two-year-old in 2017 when he won two minor races from four starts. In the following year he showed top-class form over middle distances, winning the Fairway Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes as well as finishing second in the Newmarket Stakes and fifth in the St Leger. He improved again as a four-year-old, winning the Dubai City of Gold, Dubai Sheema Classic and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. He ran poorly in two races as a five-year-old and was retired from racing.
Space Blues is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning his only race as a two-year-old in 2018 he improved in the following year to win the Surrey Stakes and went on to be placed in the Jersey Stakes, Prix Jean Prat and Prix Maurice de Gheest. He was even better as a four-year old in 2020, winning the Spring Trophy, Prix de la Porte Maillot, Lennox Stakes and Prix Maurice de Gheest. He continued to compete at the highest level in 2021, winning the Prix de la Forêt before concluding his racing career with victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Hukum is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the second of his two starts as a juvenile in 2019 and improved to become a high-class middle-distance performer in the following year when he took the King George V Stakes and Geoffrey Freer Stakes. In 2021 he repeated his win in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes as well as taking the Tapster Stakes, John Smith's Silver Cup Stakes and Cumberland Lodge Stakes. Hukum went on to further success as a five-year-old when he won the Dubai City of Gold and the Coronation Cup.
Naval Crown is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. As a juvenile in 2020 he won only one of his five races but was placed three times in high-class races. In the following year he won the Listed Meydan Classic in Dubai as well as running fourth in the 2000 Guineas and second in the Jersey Stakes. As a four-year-old he won the Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai and recorded a Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.