Summoner (horse)

Last updated
Summoner
Sire Inchinor
Grandsire Ahonoora
DamSumoto
Damsire Mtoto
SexGelding
Foaled2 March 1997 [1]
Country United Kingdom
Colour Bay
BreederHascombe & Valiant Studs
OwnerMichael Pescod
Godolphin
Haya of Jordan
Trainer Roger Charlton
Saeed bin Suroor
Ali Rashid Al Rayhi
Record25: 6-3-1
Earnings£258,625
Major wins
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2001)

Summoner (foaled 2 March 1997) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his upset win in the 2001 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In his early career the horse showed good, but unexceptional form, winning four races but looking to be overmatched when tried against top class opposition. In the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes he was employed as a pacemaker but after he established a big lead his more fancied opponents were unable to catch him and he won at odds of 33/1. He later raced with little success in the United Arab Emirates and was gelded at the end of his racing career.

Thoroughbred Horse breed developed for racing

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile, and it is scheduled to take place as part of British Champions Day each year in October.

United Arab Emirates Country in Western Asia

The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a country in Western Asia at the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing maritime borders with Qatar to the west and Iran to the north. The sovereign constitutional monarchy is a federation of seven emirates consisting of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. Their boundaries are complex, with numerous enclaves within the various emirates. Each emirate is governed by a ruler; together, they jointly form the Federal Supreme Council. One of the rulers serves as the President of the United Arab Emirates. In 2013, the UAE's population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates.

Contents

Background

Summoner was a bay horse bred in England by Anthony Oppenheimer's Hascombe and Valiant Stud. In December 1998 the yearling was offered for sale at Tattersalls and bought for 50,000 guineas by the bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington. [2] He entered the ownership of Michael Pescod and was sent into training with Roger Charlton at Beckhampton in Wiltshire.

Anthony Ernest Oppenheimer is a British diamond dealer and racehorse owner.

Yearling (horse) A young horse of either sex that is between one and two years old

A yearling is a young horse either male or female that is between one and two years old. Yearlings are comparable in development to a very early adolescent and are not fully mature physically. While they may be in the earliest stages of sexual maturity, they are considered too young to be breeding stock.

Tattersalls auctioneer of race horses

Tattersalls is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

As a son of the Hungerford Stakes winner Inchinor, Summoner was a representative of the Byerley Turk sire line, [3] unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian. [4] Inchinor, who died in 2003, sired over five hundred other winners including Notnowcato, the Prix de Diane winner Latice and the sprinter Cape of Good Hope. [5] Summoner's dam Sumoto won two of her six races, before becoming a successful broodmare whose other foals included Compton Admiral, Twyla Tharp (dam of The Fugue) and So Admirable (grand-dam of Limato). [6]

The Hungerford Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 7 furlongs, and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.

Byerley Turk 17th and 18th-century stallion and one of the foundation stallions of the Thoroughbred breed

The Byerley Turk, also spelled Byerly Turk, was the earliest of three stallions that were the founders of the modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock.

Darley Arabian one of three dominant foundation sires

The Darley Arabian was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock, whose arrival in England during the reign of Queen Anne was the event which "forms the great epoch from which the history of the Turf should be dated". The other two founders were the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo, Syria, by Thomas Darley in 1704 and shipped back to Aldby Park in England, as a present for his brother.

Racing career

1999: two-year-old season

On his racecourse debut Summoner contested a maiden race for two-year-olds over six furlongs on good to firm ground at Lingfield Park Racecourse on 25 August in which he started at odds of 7/1 and finished sixth of the sixteen runners. On 6 November the colt started at 8/1 in a similar event on soft ground at Doncaster Racecourse in which he was ridden by Richard Hughes. He led from the start went clear of his opponents and won by three lengths from Royal Cavalier despite being eased down by Hughes in the closing stages. [7]

In horse racing a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the sex or age of the horse. Races may be handicaps, set weights, or weight for age. In many countries, maiden races are the lowest level of class and represent an entry point into a racing career. In countries such as the United States, maiden special weight races rank above claiming races, while maiden claiming races allow the horse to be claimed (bought) by another owner.

Going (horse racing)

Going (UK), track condition (US) or track rating (AUS) are the track surface of a horse racing track prior to a horse race or race meet. The going is determined by the amount of moisture in the ground and is assessed by an official steward on the day of the race.

Lingfield Park Racecourse horse racing venue in England

Lingfield Park Racecourse is a horse racing course at Lingfield in Surrey, United Kingdom. It is owned by the ARC Racing and Leisure Group, formerly Arena Leisure Plc.

2000: three-year-old season

Summoner began his second season in a minor race over one mile at Doncaster on 25 March in which he was ridden by Seb Sanders. Starting the 9/2 third choice in a nine-runner field he took the lead approaching the final furlong and drew away to win by three lengths from the favourite Zyz. [8] The colt was then stepped up sharply in class for the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on 6 May in which he started a 25/1 outsider and came home ninth of the 27 runners behind King's Best.

Seb Sanders is a former flat race jockey.

Newmarket Racecourse horse racing venue in England

Newmarket Racecourse is a British Thoroughbred horse racing venue in the town of Newmarket, Suffolk, comprising two individual racecourses, the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Newmarket is often referred to as the headquarters of British horseracing and is home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations, including Tattersalls, the National Horseracing Museum and the National Stud. Newmarket hosts two of the country's five Classic Races - the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, and numerous other Group races. In total, it hosts 9 of British racing's 36 annual Group 1 races.

Kings Best was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2000 Guineas Stakes. He was described by his trainer Michael Stoute as the best miler he'd ever trained.

After a break of two months he returned in a minor race over one mile at Sandown Park on 7 July and finished fourth. Twelve days later he contested a similar event at Doncaster in which he was ridden by Hughes and stated the 7/1 third favourite behind the Henry Cecil-trained Pythio who had won the Britannia Stakes in 1999. Summoner took the lead approaching the last quarter mile and stayed on well to win by two lengths from Pythios. [9] On 5 August the colt was moved back up in class and started the 11/10 favourite for the Listed Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse. He took the lead two furlongs out and opened up a clear lead but was caught in the final strides and beaten a neck by Adilabad.

Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil was a British flat racing horse trainer. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest trainers in history. Cecil was Champion Trainer 10 times and trained 25 domestic Classic winners, comprising four winners of The Derby, eight winners of The Oaks, six winners of the 1,000 Guineas, three of the 2,000 Guineas and four winners of the St. Leger Stakes. His success in The Oaks and the 1,000 Guineas made him particularly renowned for his success with fillies. He was the master trainer at Royal Ascot, where he successfully trained 75 winners.

The Britannia Stakes is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile on the straight course, and it is scheduled to take place each year in June on the third day of the Royal Ascot meeting.

The Thoroughbred Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.

At the end of the year Summoner was bought by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation and was transferred to the training stable of Saeed bin Suroor.

2001: four-year-old season

On his first run as a four-year-old Summoner was tried over ten furlongs for the first time in a minor race at Doncaster on 9 June. Partnered by Darryll Holland he started at odds of 1/3 and came home four lengths clear of his rivals, having taken the lead three furlongs out. [10] After an absence of almost three months he returned to the track for the Listed Strensall Stakes over nine furlongs at York Racecourse on 9 September. Starting the 15/8 favourite he led for most of the way but was caught inside the final furlong and beaten a neck by Momentum.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over one mile on rain-softened ground at Ascot Racecourse on 29 September attracted a field of eight runners. Summoner, who started the 33/1 outsider and was ridden by Richard Hills, had not been among the original entries for the contest and was supplemented for a fee of £25,000 to act as a pacemaker for his stablemate Noverre, the 2/1 favourite. [11] The other runners were Vahorimix (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Prix Jacques le Marois), Proudwings (Falmouth Stakes), Bach (Royal Whip Stakes), Hawkeye (Desmond Stakes), Tamburlaine (second in the 2000 Guineas) and Bocelli (Singapore Derby). He was ridden by Richard Hills who had created a huge upset in the race seven years earlier when he rode the supposed pacemaker Maroof to victory at 66/1. Hills sent Summoner to the front from the start and quickly opened up a big lead, leading to comments that he had failed in his pacemaker role as he had been ignored by the other jockeys. [12] Entering the straight he was still six lengths clear of his rivals and showed no signs of weakening. Although his lead was steadily reduced in the closing stages he never appeared to be in any danger of defeat and came home two lengths in front of Noverre. [13]

According to the Irish Independent the result was greeted by a "collective gasp of disbelief" from the Ascot crowd followed by a "multiple scratching of heads". [14] Noverre's jockey Frankie Dettori claimed that "the only thing that beat me was the rain" but received a warning for excessive use of the whip. [15] Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford commented "The whole idea of pacemakers is, if you don't follow the pacemaker, the pacemaker wins because we have quality pacemakers... [Dettori] said he was close enough, but [Summoner] was going too fast for him". [11] Richard Hills said "It's great. I had it my own way and I had a good horse underneath me. I thought, in this ground, it's going to be hard to come off the pace." [16]

2002: five-year-old season

Summoner began his fourth season with two races in March over 1800 metresat Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai. He finished sixth to Divine Task in the Jebel Hatta and ninth behind Terre A Terre in the Dubai Duty Free. On his return to Europe he started a 16/1 outsider for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse and came home last of the ten runner behind Keltos.

Later career

Summoner was off the course for two and a half years before returning in November 2004. By this time his ownership had passed to Sheikh Mohammed's wife Princess Haya and he was being trained in Abu Dhabi by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi. On his second start for his new connection he won the Listed First Gulf Bank National Day Cup on 19 December [17] but he failed to win in ten subsequent races. On his last racecourse appearance he finished eleventh of the twelve runners in the Al Fahidi Fort in February 2006. He was subsequently gelded.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Summoner (GB), bay gelding, 1997 [1]
Sire
Inchinor (GB)
1990		 Ahonoora (GB)
1975		 Lorenzaccio Klairon (FR)
Phoenissa
Helen Nichols Martial (IRE)
Quaker Girl
Inchmurrin (IRE)
1985　		 Lomond (USA) Northern Dancer (CAN)
My Charmer
On Show (GB)Welsh Pageant (FR)
African Dancer
Dam
Sumoto (GB)
1990		 Mtoto (GB)
1983　		 Busted Crepello
Sans le Sou (IRE)
Amazer (FR)Mincio
Alzara (GB)
Soemba (GB)
1983		 General Assembly (USA) Secretariat
Exclusive Dancer
Seven Seas (FR) Riverman (USA)
Ya Ya (IRE) (Family:7-a) [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Summoner pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ↑ "Tatteralls December Yearling sale - Catalogue". Racing Post.
  3. ↑ "Byerley Turk Line". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  4. ↑ "95% of thoroughbreds linked to one superstud". New Scientist. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  5. ↑ "Inchinor - Stud Record". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  6. 1 2 "Vicissitude - Family 7-a". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  7. ↑ "Sureflow Median Auction Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. 6 November 1999.
  8. ↑ "Mitsubishi Diamond Vision Conditions Stakes result". Racing Post. 25 March 2000.
  9. ↑ "Arksey Conditions Stakes result". Racing Post. 19 July 2000.
  10. ↑ "Worthington Creamflow Conditions Stakes result". Racing Post. 9 June 2001.
  11. 1 2 Henwood, Robert (29 September 2001). "Rabbit Steals Queen Elizabeth II Stakes". The Blood-Horse.
  12. ↑ Brooks, Charlie (30 September 2001). "Summoner good news for some". Daily Telegraph.
  13. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes result". Racing Post. 29 September 2001.
  14. ↑ McClean, Ian (30 September 2001). "Success for Summoner". Irish Independent.
  15. ↑ "Summoner surprise at Ascot". BBC. 29 September 2001.
  16. ↑ Lane, Tom (30 September 2001). "Hills answers a shock Summons". Free Online Library. Sunday Mercury.
  17. ↑ "First Gulf Bank National Day Cup result". Racing Post. 19 December 2004.
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