The Revenant (horse)

Last updated
The Revenant
Sire Dubawi
Grandsire Dubai Millennium
DamHazel Lavery
Damsire Excellent Art
SexGelding
Foaled20 April 2015 [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
Colour Chestnut
BreederAl Asayl Bloodstock
OwnerAl Asayl France
Trainer Hugo Palmer
Francis-Henri Graffard
Record19: 12-3-2
Earnings£1,092,418
Major wins
Prix Altipan (2019)
Prix Edmond Blanc (2019, 2022)
Badener Meile (2019)
Prix Daniel Wildenstein (2019, 2020)
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2020)

The Revenant (foaled 20 April 2015) is a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who specialises in races over 1600 metres or one mile and excels on soft or heavy ground. He was initially trained in England before moving to France in 2018 where he won three of his four races. In the following year he was gelded and improved significantly, winning the Prix Altipan, Prix Edmond Blanc, Badener Meile and Prix Daniel Wildenstein. In 2020 he repeated his victory in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein before recording his biggest win in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Contents

Background

The Revenant is a chestnut horse with no white markings bred in England by his owner Sheikha Alyazia bint Sultan Al Nahyan's Al Asayl Bloodstock. He was initially sent into training with Hugo Palmer at Newmarket, Suffolk.

He was from the ninth crop of foals sired by Dubawi, 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 Ghaiyyath, Monterosso, Al Kazeem, Makfi, Old Persian, Lucky Nine and Night of Thunder. [2] The Revenant's dam Hazel Lavery was a high-class staying racemare who won three of her nine races including the Group 3 St Simon Stakes in 2012. [3] She was a great-great-granddaughter of the British broodmare Dawn Echo, a half-sister to Boldboy and a more distant female-line descendant of Singapore's Sister, a full-sister to the St Leger winner Singapore. [4]

Racing career

2017 & 2018: early career

The Revenant began his racing career in a novice race (for two-year-old horses for no more than two previous wins) over one mile at Haydock Park on 7 September in which he started at odds of 11/2 and recovered from a poor start to win by three quarters of a length from Global Conqueror and nine others. [5] On 1 October at Epsom Downs Racecourse he started favourite for a minor event over eight and a half furlongs and finished third behind Dee Ex Bee and Move Over.

In 2018 The Revenant was transferred to the French stable of Francis-Henri Graffard at Chantilly. On 23 September he made his French debut in a minor race over 1700 metres at La Roche Posay Racecourse, Vienne, and won by three lengths. [6] In this race he wore a hood for the first time and was equipped with headgear in most of his subsequent races. He then finished second to Aviateur over 1600 metres at Compiègne on 15 October before winning over the same distance at Marseille two weeks later. He was ridden in both races by Pierre-Charles Boudot who became his regular jockey and who was again in the saddle when The Reveneant ended his season with a victory in the Prix Gay Mecene on very soft ground at Saint-Cloud Racecourse in November. [7]

2019: four-year-old season

Before the start of the 2019 season The Revenant was gelded, making him ineligible to compete in France's two biggest mile races, the Prix Jacques Le Marois and the Prix du Moulin. He began his campaign with a step up in class for the Listed Prix Altipan over 1600 metres on heavy ground at Saint-Cloud on 10 March when he started the 2.4/1 favourite and won by two and a half lengths from the five-year-old mare Qualisaga after taking the lead 200 metres from the finish. [8] Twenty days later, over the same course and distance, he was moved up to Group 3 level for the Prix Edmond Blanc and started the 3/1 third favourite behind Graphite (winner of the Prix Quincey) and Olmedo (Poule d'Essai des Poulains). Ridden by Olivier Peslier he raced towards the rear before finishing strongly to take the lead in the final strides and won by a head from Graphite and Lunch Lady. [9]

In May The Revenant was sent to Germany to contest the Group 2 Badener Meile at Baden-Baden in which he was ridden by Ronan Thomas and went off the 2.2/1 second choice in the betting behind the Irish challenger Imaging (Gladness Stakes). After being restrained towards the back of the nine-runner field he produced a strong late run, overhauled the favourite in the last 100 metres and won by half a length. [10]

After a break of over four months The Revenant returned on 5 October for the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein over 1600 metres on very soft ground at Longchamp Racecourse and went off the 3.2/1 fourth choice behind Olmedo, Impulsif (Prix Messidor) and Shaman (Prix La Force) in a five-runner field. He tracked the leaders before going to the front approaching the last 200 meters and drew away to win "readily" by four and a half lengths. [11] Ten days later The Revenant made his first appearance in his native England for more than three years when he contested the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse and finished second of the sixteen runners, one and a quarter lengths behind the winner King of Change, after being denied a clear run inside the final furlong.

In the 2019 World's Best Racehorse Rankings The Revenant was rated on 119, making him the 57th-best racehorse in the world. [12]

2020: five-year-old season

The 2020 flat racing season in Europe was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic: most of the major spring races were either cancelled or rescheduled and subsequent events were held behind closed doors. The Revenant was reserved for an autumn campaign and did not make his seasonal debut until 3 October when he attempted to repeat his 2019 success in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein and started the 0.7/1 favourite against six opponents. He was restrained towards the rear of the field by Boudot before gaining the advantage 200 metres out and winning by one and three quarter lengths from the three-year-old Ziegfeld. [13]

As in the previous year, The Revenant attempted to follow up his success at Longchamp in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on 17 October. He started the 5/1 second favourite behind Palace Pier in a fourteen-runner field which also included Circus Maximus, Nazeef, Lord Glitters, Veracious, Century Dream (Celebration Mile) and Molatham (Jersey Stakes). He was in contention from the start, moved up to challenge for the lead in the last quarter mile and got the better of a sustained struggle with the front-running outsider Roseman to win by a head. [14] After the race Graffard said "it was a magnificent performance, the horse was brilliant... This has been the plan ever since he was second last year, and everything was geared around coming back. I had him ready to run in the spring, but when lockdown came I decided to send him out to grass and he had a good spell", while Boudot commented "Today I was very confident with his trainer, and the horse did it well on the track. He loved the ground and the trip has been perfect... and when I asked him, he gave me a nice and long turn of foot. He has been courageous in the last furlong." [15]

In the 2020 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, The Revenant was rated on 119, making him the equal 57th best racehorse in the world. [16]

Pedigree

Pedigree of The Revenant (GB), chestnut gelding, 2015 [1]
Sire
Dubawi (IRE)
2002		 Dubai Millennium (GB)
1996		 Seeking The Gold (USA) Mr. Prospector
Con Game
Colorado Dancer (IRE) Shareef Dancer (USA)
Fall Aspen (USA)
Zomaradah (GB)
1995		Deploy Shirley Heights
Slightly Dangerous (USA)
Jawaher (IRE) Dancing Brave (USA)
High Tern
Dam
Hazel Lavery (IRE)
2009		 Excellent Art (GB)
2004		 Pivotal Polar Falcon (USA)
Fearless Revival
Obsessive (USA)Seeking The Gold
Secret Obsession
Reprise (GB)
2000		 Darshaan Shirley Heights
Delsy (FR)
Rapid Repeat (IRE)Exactly Sharp (USA)
Silver Echo (Family: 8-c) [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solow (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Solow is a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing moderate form in his first two seasons, he won five of his six races as a four-year-old in 2014 including the Prix Quincey and the Prix Daniel Wildenstein. In 2015, he emerged as one of the best racehorses in the world with a win in the Dubai Turf and followed up with victories in the Prix d'Ispahan, Queen Anne Stakes, Sussex Stakes, and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Bay</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

New Bay is a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old in 2015 he won the Prix du Jockey Club, Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and Prix Niel before finishing third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esoterique</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Esoterique is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old she won the Prix Vanteaux and finished second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches but then missed the second half of the season. At four she won the Dahlia Stakes in England and the Group One Prix Rothschild in France and in 2015 she added further Group One victories in the Prix Jacques Le Marois and the Sun Chariot Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make Believe (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Make Believe is a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning both his races as a two-year-old he developed into a top-class performer in 2015, recording Group One victories in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Prix de la Forêt.

Valixir is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was trained for most of his career in France where he won two minor races and finished second in the Prix des Chênes as a juvenile in 2003. When campaigned over middle distances in 2004 he won the Prix Matchem, Prix Eugène Adam and Prix Niel as well as being placed in both the Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix Lupin. He was even better when brought back to shorter distances in the following year and recorded Group One victories in the Prix d'Ispahan and the Queen Anne Stakes. He transferred to the Godolphin stable in 2006 but showed no worthwhile form in three starts. Valixir was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion in Australia.

Speedy Boarding is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After finishing third on her only appearance as a juvenile in 2014 she won the Ballymacoll Stud Stakes in the following spring but was beaten in her other five starts and appeared to be a few pounds below the best fillies of her generation. She finally emerged as a top class racemare in 2016 when she recorded three major victories in France, taking the Prix Corrida, Prix Jean Romanet and Prix de l'Opéra. She was retired to become a broodmare at the end of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darjina</span> French Thoroughbred racehorse

Darjina was a French Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning her only race as a juvenile she improved to become one of the best three-year-old fillies in Europe in 2007, winning the Prix de la Grotte, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Prix d'Astarte and Prix du Moulin. In 2008 she compiled an unusual record: competing exclusively at the highest level she finished second in all of six of her races. She was rated the best horse of her age and sex in Europe in both 2007 and 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldgeist</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Waldgeist is a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He has raced in six countries, namely France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and Hong Kong. He showed top-class form as a two-year-old in 2016 when he won two of his three races including the Group 1 Critérium de Saint-Cloud. He failed to win in the following year but ran second in the Prix du Jockey Club and fourth in the Irish Derby. In 2018 he won four consecutive races, namely the Prix d'Hédouville, Grand Prix de Chantilly, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Prix Foy. In 2019 he won a third Group 1 race when he took the Prix Ganay and recorded his biggest win in October when he took the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghaiyyath</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

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.

Watch Me is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2018 she showed promise as she won the Listed Criterium du Languedoc on the second of her two starts. In the following year she won the Prix Imprudence and recorded her biggest win when she took the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. In 2020 she was unbeaten in two starts, namely the Prix de la Calonne and the Prix Rothschild.

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. In 2020 she won the Oak Tree Stakes and took the Prix de la Forêt for a record third time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channel (horse)</span> Irish-bred racehorse

Channel is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old in 2019 she finished second on her debut and then won two minor races before recording her biggest success in the Group 1 Prix de Diane. She was well beaten in two subsequent races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alson (horse)</span> German-bred racehorse

Alson is a German-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the best German juveniles of 2019 when he won four of his six races including the Group 3 Zukunfts-Rennen and the Group 1 Critérium International as well as finishing second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. In the following year he ran second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and won the Prix Matchem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persian King (horse)</span> Irish-bred racehorse

Persian King is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed very promising form as a two-year-old in 2018 when he won three of his four races including a very competitive edition of the Autumn Stakes. In the following year he won the Prix de Fontainebleau and Poule d'Essai des Poulains before finishing second in the Prix du Jockey Club. He reached his peak as a four-year-old in 2020 when he won the Prix du Muguet, Prix d'Ispahan and Prix du Moulin de Longchamp as well as running third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Blues</span> Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sealiway</span> French Thoroughbred racehorse

Sealiway is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the best two-year-olds in Europe in 2020 when he won four of his seven races including an eight length victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. He was beaten in his first four races as a three-year-old but returned to winning form in autumn to take the Champion Stakes.

Order of Australia is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He ran fifth on his only start as a juvenile in 2019 and in the following year he showed promising but unremarkable form over long distances, winning two minor races and finishing fourth in the Irish Derby. In November he was dropped back in distance and recorded an upset victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Skalleti is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a gelding who shows his best form on soft ground and usually races over distances from 1600 metres to 2000 metres. He has raced in France, England, Italy, Germany and Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baaeed</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Baaeed is a British retired Thoroughbred racehorse. He began his racing career as a three-year-old in 2021 and was undefeated in six races that year, including the Prix du Moulin and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In the following year he took his unbeaten run to ten with victories in the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, Sussex Stakes and International Stakes, before losing his final race in the Champion Stakes.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Revenant pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ↑ "Dubawi Stud Record". Racing Post.
  3. ↑ "Hazel Lavery – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  4. 1 2 "Woodbine – Family 8-c". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  5. ↑ "32Red.com EBF Novice Stakes result". Racing Post. 16 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Prix des Benevoles result". Racing Post. 16 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "Prix Gay Mecene result". Racing Post. 9 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "Prix Altipan result". Racing Post. 10 March 2019.
  9. ↑ "Prix Edmond Blanc result". Racing Post. 30 March 2019.
  10. ↑ "Badener Meile result". Racing Post. 30 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "Prix Daniel Wildenstein result". Racing Post. 5 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "The 2019 World Thoroughbred Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  13. ↑ "Prix Daniel Wildenstein result". Racing Post. 3 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes result". Racing Post. 17 October 2020.
  15. ↑ Butler, Matt (3 October 2020). "The Revenant Upsets Palace Pier to Take QEII". The Blood-Horse .
  16. ↑ "The 2020 World Thoroughbred Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
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.