Roly Poly (horse)

Last updated
Roly Poly
Sire War Front
Grandsire Danzig
Dam Misty For Me
Damsire Galileo
SexMare
Foaled2 February 2014 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
BreederMisty For Me Syndicate
OwnerDerrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor
Trainer Aidan O'Brien
Record18: 6-4-0
Earnings£710,142
Major wins
Grangecon Stud Stakes (2016)
Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (2016)
Falmouth Stakes (2017)
Prix Rothschild (2017)
Sun Chariot Stakes (2017)

Roly Poly (foaled 2 February 2014) is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she won three of her eight races including the Grangecon Stud Stakes and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes as well as finishing second in the Cheveley Park Stakes and the Lowther Stakes. In the following year she proved herself to be a top-class performer over one mile, recording Group 1 victories in the Falmouth Stakes, Prix Rothschild and Sun Chariot Stakes and running second in both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes.

Contents

Background

Roly Poly is a bay mare with a white blaze bred in Kentucky by the Misty For Me Syndicate. As a yearling in September 2015 she was offered for sale at Keeneland but failed to reach her reserve price of $575,000. [1] She was then sent to Europe and entered training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. She is owned by John Magnier's Coolmore Stud partnership (officially Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith).

She was sired by War Front who won the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap in 2006. Since retiring War Front has also sired War Command, Declaration of War, and Air Force Blue. [2] Roly Poly's dam Misty For Me was an outstanding racemare whose wins included the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Prix Marcel Boussac, Irish 1,000 Guineas and Pretty Polly Stakes. As a broodmare, she has also produced Roly Poly's full brother U S Navy Flag. Misty For Me's dam Butterfly Cove was a half-sister to Fasliyev. [3]

Racing career

2016: two-year-old season

Roly Poly made a successful racecourse debut on 25 April when she won a maiden race over five furlongs at Naas Racecourse, starting at odds of 10/1 and prevailing by a short head from the David Wachman-trained Gone To Russia. [4] The filly was immediately stepped up in class and matched against male opposition for the Listed Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh in which she finished fourth behind her stablemate Caravaggio. She was then sent to England for the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot on 15 June but proved no threat to the American filly Lady Aurelia and came home in eighth place. Eleven days after her run at Ascot Roly Poly was made 3/1 favourite for the Grangecon Stud Stakes over six furlongs on yielding ground at the Curragh. Ridden by Ryan Moore she settled behind the leaders before making steady progress in the last quarter mile, gaining the advantage in the final strides and winning by a neck from the English challenger Seafront. [5]

On 8 July Roly Poly was back in England for the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse and started the 6/1 third choice in the betting behind Bletchley (runner-up in the Albany Stakes) and the Godolphin representative Nasimi. With Moore again in the saddle she was among the leaders from the start and went to the front inside the final furlong despite hanging left under pressure. She kept on well in the final strides to win by half a length, a head and a short head from Magical Fire, Nations Alexander and Kilmah. [6] After the race Moore said "I’m delighted with her. It was too soft for her at Ascot and it was a fast race. She was very brave at the Curragh and she's backed up in under two weeks. She's very tough and genuine and has plenty of pace". [7] The filly's busy schedule continued in August when she was sent to York Racecourse for the Lowther Stakes and finished second to Queen Kindly having led until well inside the final furlong.

In the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket Roly Poly started third favourite behind Lady Aurelia and Queen Kindly in a six-runner field. After tracking the front-running Lady Aurelia she overhauled the American filly 50 yards from the finish but was caught on the line and beaten a short head by her unfancied stablemate Brave Anna. Roly Poly ended her season with a trip to California to contest the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park on 4 November. She started but never looked likely to win and finished ninth of the fourteen runners behind Good Money Honey.

2017: three-year-old season

Spring

On her three-year-old debut Roly Poly started favourite for the Nell Gwyn Stakes (a trial race for the 1000 Guineas) over seven furlongs at Newmarket but finished only seventh behind Daban. In the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches run that year at Deauville Racecourse on 13 May, Roly Poly briefly took the lead 300 metres from the finish but was outpaced in the closing stages and came home sixth behind Precieuse. Two weeks later in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh she produced a better effort as she stayed on well in the closing stages to take second place, four and three quarter lengths behind her stablemate Winter with Hydrangea in third place.

Summer

The filly continued her progress in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June as she finished two and a quarter lengths second to Winter with Hydrangea in third and Precieuse in seventh. On 14 July Roly Poly started 6/4 favourite for the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes over one mile at Newmarket. Her six rivals were Wuheida (Prix Marcel Boussac), Sea of Grace (runner-up in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches), Arabian Hope (Ganton Stakes), Delectation (Schwarzgold-Rennen), Opal Tiara (Balanchine) and the Argentinian Grade I winner Greta G. In a tactical change, Moore sent the favourite into the lead from the start and Roly Poly was never seriously challenged, establishing a clear advantage in the final furlong and winning "comfortably" by one and a quarter lengths from Wuheida. [8] After the race her co-owner Michael Tabor commented "It was pretty straightforward. She loves this ground, that's for sure. Ryan said when he came into the paddock that he thought the best thing would be to take her to the front, and she did it well. She's a tough, hardy filly; she's small but she battles well and this surface really suits her". [9]

Sixteen days after her win in the Falmouth, Roly Poly was sent to France for the Group 1 Prix Rothschild over 1600 metres at Deauville and started the 3.2/1 second favourite behind Qemah. The other eight runners included Usherette (Duke of Cambridge Stakes), Persuasive, Dame du Roi (Prix Miesque), Via Ravenna (Prix Imprudence), Siyoushake (Prix Perth) and Furia Cruzada (Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 2). Roly Poly was up with the leaders from the start and took the advantage 500 metres out. She kept on strongly in the closing stages and held on to win in a four-way photo-finish from Via Ravenna, Siyoushake and Qemah. [10] Ryan Moore commented "All through the season she has continued to progress and this was her best-ever performance. She tries so hard and is a high-class filly who seems to thrive on her racing". [11]

Autumn

On 9 September Roly Poly started 13/2 fourth choice in a strongly contested edition of the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. After leading for most of the way she was overtaken approaching the final furlong and faded in the closing stages to finish sixth behind Hydrangea, Winter, Persuasive, Wuheida and Qemah. Four weeks after her run in the Matron the filly had her eighth run in England when she started 4/1 second favourite behind Persuasive in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. The other eleven fillies and mares included Qemah, Usherette, Siyoushake, Aljazzi (Atalanta Stakes) and Muffri'Ha (Darley Stakes). After leading for most of the way she was overtaken by the outsider Dawn of Hope but rallied to regain the advantage inside the final furlong. She drew away from her rivals in the last strides and won by one and quarter lengths from Persuasive. [12] Her win brought took Aidan O'Brien's total of Group 1 wins for the season to 23, two behind Bobby Frankel's record. The trainer commented "She's a great filly, with a great heart. She's tactical and tough, amazing really". [13]

As in the previous year, Roly Poly produced a disappointing run in the Breeders Cup. On this occasion she started third favourite for the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar Racetrack on 4 November but finished unplaced behind World Approval. She ended the season with a trip to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse on 10 December but came home last of the fourteen runners.

Assessment and awards

In the Cartier Racing Awards for 2016, Roly Poly was nominated for the Champion Two-year-old Filly award. [14] In the following year, Roly Poly was one of four nominees for the Champion Three-year-old Filly [15] title, but lost out to Enable. [16]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Roly Poly, bay filly, 2014 [1]
Sire
War Front (USA)
2002		 Danzig (USA)
1977		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Pas de NomAdmiral's Voyage
Petitioner
Starry Dreamer (USA)
1994		Rubiano Fappiano
Ruby Slippers
Lara's Star Forli
True Reality
Dam
Misty For Me (IRE)
2008		 Galileo (IRE)
1998		 Sadler's Wells Northern Dancer
Fairy Bridge
Urban Sea Miswaki
Allegretta
Butterfly Gold (USA)
2001		 Storm Cat Storm Bird
Terlingua
Mr P's Princess Mr. Prospector
Anne Campbell (Family: 16-h) [3]

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.

Found (horse) Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Found is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Galileo out of the mare Red Evie, she represents the Coolmore Stud organisation and is trained by Aidan O'Brien. In 2014 she won a strong maiden race on her debut and then finished third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes before winning the Prix Marcel Boussac. She was rated the equal-best two-year-old filly to race in Europe in 2014.

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

Minding (horse) Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Minding is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She was among the leading two-year-old fillies of her generation in Europe in 2015 when she won three of her five races including the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland and the Fillies' Mile in England. On her first appearance of 2016 the filly posted a decisive victory in the classic 1000 Guineas but was subsequently beaten when favourite for the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She went on to win a second classic in The Oaks in June, the first filly to complete the Guineas-Oaks double since Kazzia in 2002. She went on to take her fifth and sixth Group One races with wins in the Pretty Polly Stakes and the Nassau Stakes. She then defeated male opposition to take the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. At the end of the year she was named Cartier Horse of the Year and the world's best three-year-old filly. She won on her reappearance in 2017 but subsequently suffered an injury which led to her retirement later that year without racing again.

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.

Amazing Maria Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Amazing Maria is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed great promise as a two-year-old when winning the Prestige Stakes but failed to win or place in the following season when she made only three appearances. After a change of training stable she returned as a four-year-old ad reached her peak in the summer of 2015. She won the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and then recorded Group One victories in the Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Rothschild. She remained in training in 2016 but failed to win in five races and was retired at the end of the season.

Brave Anna American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Brave Anna is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she was rated the joint-best filly of her generation trained in Europe, inferior only to the American filly Lady Aurelia. After running moderately on her racecourse debut she won a maiden race before taking the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was unplaced in her next two races before ending her season with a win in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

Rhododendron (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Rhododendron is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she was rated the joint-best filly of her generation trained in Europe, inferior only to the American filly Lady Aurelia. After finishing second on her racecourse debut she won a maiden race at Goodwood Racecourse and then recorded her first important success when taking the Group Two Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in August. She was slightly disappointing when finishing third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes but returned to her best in October to win the Fillies' Mile. As a three-year-old she finished second in both the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks before winning the Prix de l'Opéra. As a four-year-old i 2018 she added another major win in the Lockinge Stakes.

Winter (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Winter is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She won one minor race from three starts as a two-year-old in 2016, but made considerable improvement in the following spring and won the 1000 Guineas on her fifth racecourse appearance. She went on to record further Group 1 victories in the Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes.

Bracelet is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She won the second of her two starts as a two-year-old in 2013 and developed into a top-class filly in the following year, taking the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial and Ribblesdale Stakes. She recorded her biggest victory on her sixth and final appearance when she won the Irish Oaks. She was retired from racing at the end of the season and became a broodmare for the Coolmore Stud.

Happily (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Happily is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2017 she was one of best of her generation in Europe, winning four of her seven races including two at Group 1 level. After finishing unplaced on her debut she won a maiden race and the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes before running second to her stablemate Magical in the Debutante Stakes. She reversed the form to beat Magical in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and then defeated male opposition to take the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. At the end of the season she was voted Cartier Champion Two-year-old Filly. In the following year she was placed in the 1000 Guineas, Irish 1,000 Guineas and Sun Chariot Stakes.

Persuasive (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Persuasive is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning her only race as a juvenile she ran up four consecutive wins in the following season including the Sandringham Handicap and the Atalanta Stakes before her winning streak was ended by Alice Springs in the Matron Stakes. In 2017 she was placed in both the Matron Stakes and the Sun Chariot Stakes before recording her most significant victory when she became the first horse of her age and sex in more than 40 years to take the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Alpha Centauri (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Alpha Centauri is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2018 she recorded four consecutive Group 1 races, namely the Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois.

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.

Wuheida British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Wuheida is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. As a juvenile she made an immediate impact, winning the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac on her second start and being rated the best filly of her generation trained in England. In the following year she missed the first half of the season through injury and then ran well in several major races before ending her season by winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. In 2018 she won the Dahlia Stakes on her only appearance before her racing career was ended by injury.

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.

Clemmie Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Clemmie is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2017 she was beaten in her first two races but then won the Grangecon Stud Stakes, Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes, ending the year as the highest-rated juvenile filly in Europe. She failed to win in six starts in the following year and was retired at the end of the season.

Magical (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Magical is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who excelled over middle distances and was rated in the top twenty racehorses in the world in 2018 and 2019. She showed considerable ability as a juvenile in 2017, winning the Debutante Stakes and finishing second in the Moyglare Stud Stakes as well as running fourth in both the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she won the Kilboy Estate Stakes but did not produce her best form until autumn when she took the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes and was narrowly beaten in the Breeders' Cup Turf. In 2019 she won the Alleged Stakes, Mooresbridge Stakes, Tattersalls Gold Cup, Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes as well as finishing second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, Eclipse Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks.

Hermosa (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Hermosa is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed very good form as a juvenile in 2018 when she won two of her seven races including the Weld Park Stakes as well as finishing second in both the Fillies' Mile and the Critérium International and third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She improved in the following spring to record Group 1 victories in the 1000 Guineas and the Irish 1000 Guineas.

One Master is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She did not race until she was a three-year-old when she won two of her three races including the Listed October Stakes. In the following year she was beaten in her first three starts before taking the Group 3 Fairy Bridge Stakes in Ireland and the Group 1 Prix de la Forêt in France. As a five-year-old in 2019 she repeated her victory in the Prix de la Forêt as well as being placed in the Queen Anne Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and British Champions Sprint Stakes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Roly Poly pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ↑ "War Front". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  3. 1 2 "Lily Agnes – Family 16-h". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  4. ↑ "Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden result". Racing Post . 25 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Grangecon Stud Stakes result". Racing Post . 26 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Duchess of Cambridge Stakes result". Racing Post . 8 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Roly Poly lands Duchess of Cambridge Stakes for Aidan O'Brien". The Irish Times .
  8. ↑ "Falmouth Stakes result". Racing Post . 14 July 2017.
  9. ↑ Greg Wood (14 July 2017). "Roly Poly keeps Aidan O'Brien on track for all-time record of top-flight wins". The Guardian .
  10. ↑ "Prix Rothschild result". Racing Post . 30 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Press Association staff (30 July 2017). "Ryan Moore guides Roly Poly to thrilling victory in the Prix Rothschild". The Guardian.
  12. ↑ "Sun Chariot Stakes result". Racing Post . 7 October 2017.
  13. ↑ "Roly Poly gives Aidan O'Brien a 23rd success at the top level this year". ITV Racing. 7 October 2017.
  14. ↑ "Nominees for the 2016 Cartier Racing Awards unveiled". www.ascot.co.uk.
  15. ↑ "Nominees for the 2017 Cartier Racing Awards unveiled". www.ascot.co.uk.
  16. ↑ "Cartier Racing Awards 2017: Enable named Horse of the Year". BBC. 14 November 2017.
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.