Together Forever (horse)

Last updated

Together Forever
Owner Mrs John Magnier.svg
Racing silks of Sue Magnier
Sire Galileo
Grandsire Sadler's Wells
DamGreen Room
Damsire Theatrical
Sex Mare
Foaled19 March 2012 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Bay
BreederVimal and Gillian Khosla
Owner Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith
Trainer Aidan O'Brien
Record9: 3-2-1
Earnings£201,658
Major wins
Staffordstown Stud Stakes (2014)
Fillies' Mile (2014)

Together Forever (foaled 19 March 2012) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. After being beaten in her first three races she showed significant progress in the autumn of her two-year-old season winning three races of increasing prestige. She followed up a win in a maiden race with a victory in the Listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes before ending her season by taking the Group One Fillies' Mile. She failed to win as a three-year-old but finished second in the Musidora Stakes and fourth in the Irish Oaks. As a broodmare she is the dam of the 2024 Epsom Derby winner City Of Troy.

Contents

Background

Together Forever is a bay mare with a white star and a white sock on her left hind leg bred in Ireland by the entrepreneur Vimal Khosla and his wife Gillian. She was sired by Galileo, who won the Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001. Galileo became one of the world's leading stallions and has been champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland five times. His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle and Ruler of the World. [2] Her dam Green Room an unraced daughter of the Breeders' Cup Turf winner Theatrical and had previously produced Lord Shanakill, a horse whose wins included the Mill Reef Stakes, Prix Jean Prat and Lennox Stakes. [3] Green Room's dam Chain Fern was full-sister of the leading racehorse and broodmare Al Bahathri. [4]

As a yearling the filly was consigned to the Goffs sale in October 2013. She was bought for 680,000 by Michael Magnier, acting on behalf of the Coolmore Stud organisation. [5] The filly was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Like many of the Coolmore racehorses the details of her ownership changed from race to race: she was sometimes listed as being owned by Susan Magnier whilst on other occasions she was described as the property of a partnership involving Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.

Racing career

2014: two-year-old season

Together Forever was ridden in all six of her races as a two-year-old by her trainer's son Joseph O'Brien. The filly began her racing career by finishing fourth to Legatissimo in a seven furlong maiden race at Galway Races on 29 July. At the Curragh on 23 August she started 11/10 favourite for a similar event over one mile but after leading for most of the way she was overtaken and beaten three quarters of a length by her stable companion Found. Eight days later she turned out again for the Listed Flame of Tara Stakes over the same course and distance. She led until the final furlong before being overtaken and finished third behind Jack Naylor (a filly despite her name) and Legatissimo. In September the filly was dropped back in class for a maiden race over one mile at Gowran Park and started the 8/13 favourite against fifteen opponents. Together Forever tracked the leaders before taking the lead two furlongs out and drew away from the field to win "easily" by five lengths. [6] Together Forever moved back up to Listed level for the Staffordstown Stud Stakes over one mile at the Curragh on 12 October. Starting the 11/10 favourite she took the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish, repelled a challenge from her stablemate Cocoon and won by three lengths. [7]

Five days after her win at the Curragh, Together Forever was sent to England to contest the Group One Fillies' Mile at Newmarket Racecourse. The Rockfel Stakes winner Lucida started favourite ahead of the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes runner up Marsh Hawk and the May Hill Stakes winner Agnes Stewart with Together Forever fourth choice in the betting at odds of 7/1. The other three runners were Forte from the Ralph Beckett stable and the Godolphin pair Good Place and Winters Moon. O'Brien positioned the filly before behind the pacemakers before moving up to take the lead approaching the final furlong at which point the early leader Marsh Hawk was engaged in a "barging match" with Lucida. Together Forever kept on well in the closing stages and won by half a length and a short head from Agnes Stewart and Winters Moon. [8] [9] Explaining the filly's improvement, Joseph O'Brien said "In the early part of the season we made use of her massive stride in her maiden and it just didn't seem to work. Then at Gowran I tucked her in and got her to relax and I felt a turn of foot that I hadn't felt before and she's done nothing but improve since. I think she has plenty of pace and there is no reason why she couldn't start at a Guineas and go on to an Oaks". [10]

2015: three-year-old season

Although Together Forever was expected to contest the 1000 Guineas [11] the filly bypassed the race and made her three-year-old debut in the Musidora Stakes (a trial race for The Oaks) over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse on 13 May. Ridden by Ryan Moore she chased the leaders and stayed on well in the straight but failed by a head to overhaul the favourite Star of Seville. In the 237th running of the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 5 June the filly started 9/1 fourth choice in the betting behind Legatissimo, Jack Naylor and Lady of Dubai. After reaching second place in the straight she was badly hampered and finished seventh behind her stable companion Qualify. [12] Seamie Heffernan took the ride when the filly contested the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on 18 July. In a change of tactics Together Forever went to the front soon after the start and opened up an eight length advantage over her rivals. She faded in the straight however, lost the lead a furlong out and finished fourth behind Covert Love.

Stud career

As of 2024, Together Forever has foaled 5 horses. Her most successful is City of Troy (by Justify), who has won 4 Group 1 races in 2023 and 2024 including the Epsom Derby. [13]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Together Forever (IRE), bay filly, 2012 [1]
Sire
Galileo (IRE)
1998
Sadler's Wells (USA)
1981
Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Fairy Bridge Bold Reason
Special
Urban Sea (USA)
1989
Miswaki Mr. Prospector
Hopespringseternal
Allegretta Lombard
Anatevka
Dam
Green Room (USA)
2002
Theatrical (IRE)
1982
Nureyev Northern Dancer
Special
Tree of Knowledge Sassafras
Sensibility
Chain Fern (USA)
1986
Blushing Groom Red God
Runaway Bride
Chain StoreNodouble
General Store (Family 9-e) [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramruma</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ramruma is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in the United States, but trained in the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from September 1998 until September 2000. In 1999, Ramruma won five of her six races including three Group One races: The Oaks and the Irish Oaks against other three-year-old fillies and the Yorkshire Oaks in which she also defeated older fillies and mares. Her performances led to Ramruma being named European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly at the Cartier Racing Awards. She was retired after failing to win in three starts as a four-year-old in 2000.

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

Was is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She is best known for winning The Oaks on her third racecourse appearance.

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

Imagine was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1000 Guineas and The Oaks in 2001. In a racing career which lasted from August 2000 to June 2001 the filly ran ten times and won four races. As a two-year-old, Imagine ran six times, winning the Group Three C. L. Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh and finishing second in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. The following spring, the filly was beaten in her first two races before winning the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. Imagine recorded her most valuable success on her final appearance, winning the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She never raced again, but proved to be a successful broodmare.

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

Shahtoush was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning The Oaks in 1998. In a racing career which lasted from August 1997 to September 1998 the filly ran eleven times and won three races. Shahtoush won only one minor race as a two-year-old, but showed top-class form when she finished third in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. In 1998 she finished second in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse and then returned to England to win the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She was beaten in her two remaining races, finishing unplaced in the Yorkshire Oaks and the Irish Champion Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halfway to Heaven (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Halfway to Heaven is a retired Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and an active broodmare. After winning one minor race as a two-year-old in 2007, she emerged as one of the leading fillies in Europe the following year, recording Group One successes in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Nassau Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes. She was retired from racing at the end of the year having won four of her nine races and became a successful broodmore, producing two Group One-winning daughters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Found (horse)</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legatissimo</span> 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

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

Qualify is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. On 5 June 2015 she was a 50/1 winner of The Oaks. She ran seven times as a juvenile in 2014, winning a maiden race and the Group Three C. L. Weld Park Stakes but was well-beaten when tried against the best fillies of her generation in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In the spring of 2015 she was initially disappointing as she finished unplaced in both the 1000 Guineas and the Irish 1,000 Guineas before being stepped up in distance and winning the Oaks.

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

Minding is a champion Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2016 European Horse of the Year after winning the Epsom Oaks, 1000 Guineas, and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

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

Seventh Heaven is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed little promise as a two-year-old and was well beaten in maiden races at Leopardstown and Newmarket. As a three-year-old she showed improved form as she was moved up in distance, winning a maiden at Dundalk and the Lingfield Oaks Trial at Lingfield. She ran poorly in The Oaks but then emerged as a top-class performer with wins over strong fields in the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhododendron (horse)</span> 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 in 2018 she added another major win in the Lockinge Stakes. She made an instant impact as a broodmare, producing the dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin from her first mating.

Moonstone is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her win in the Irish Oaks. Unraced as a two-year-old, her six-race track career lasted from April to October 2008. After finishing second in a maiden race on her debut she ran fourth in the Musidora Stakes and second in The Oaks before recording her first and only victory in the Irish Oaks. She finished unplaced in two subsequent races and was retired from racing at the end of the year. As a broodmare she has produced several good winners including US Army Ranger.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happily (horse)</span> 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.

Quarter Moon was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2001 she showed considerable promise, taking the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on the second of her two starts. In the following year she failed to win but showed top class form to finish second in four Group 1 races: the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks, the Irish Oaks and the Nassau Stakes. After retiring from racing at the end of the year she became a successful broodmare whose foals have included the Pretty Polly Stakes winner Diamondsandrubies.

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

Forever Together is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2018 Epsom Oaks.

Diamondsandrubies is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After failing to win on her only start as a two-year-old in 2014 she improved to become a top-class performer in the following year. She won a minor race on her seasonal debut and went on to win the Cheshire Oaks before finishing an unlucky fourth in the Epsom Oaks. She recorded her biggest success on her next start when she took the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, but failed to reproduce that form in three subsequent races and was retired from the track at the end of the year.

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

Love is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed top-class form as a juvenile in 2019 when she won three of her seven races including the Silver Flash Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes as well as running third in the Fillies' Mile. On her first appearance as a three-year-old she won the 1000 Guineas, following up with a facile victory in the Oaks Stakes and a similar win in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Even So is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. After demonstrating promise as a juvenile in 2019 she showed top-class form in 2020, taking both the Naas Oaks Trial and the Irish Oaks.

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

Snowfall was a Japanese-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2021 Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, and Yorkshire Oaks. She showed promising but unremarkable form as a two-year-old in 2020, winning one minor race from seven starts. The following year she improved dramatically, winning the Group 3 Musidora Stakes and then taking the Epsom Oaks by a record margin of sixteen lengths. She went on to win emphatic victories in the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks over older horses.

References

  1. 1 2 "Together Forever pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Galileo stud record". Racing Post. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  3. "Lord Shanakill – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  4. 1 2 "Maid Of Masham – Family 9-e". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  5. "Goffs Orby Yearling Sale 2013". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  6. "Gowran Park maiden race result". Racing Post. 21 September 2014.
  7. "Staffordstown Stud Stakes result". Racing Post. 12 October 2014.
  8. "Fillies' Mile result". Racing Post. 17 October 2014.
  9. "Belardo Among Juvenile Standouts at Newmarket". BloodHorse.com. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  10. Tony Smurthwaite (17 October 2014). "Together Forever trumps Lucida in Fillies' Mile". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 17 October 2014.
  11. Tony O'Hehir (2 April 2015). "Found and Together Forever on course for 1 000 Guineas". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  12. "Epsom Oaks result". Racing Post. 5 June 2015.
  13. "Together Forever | Progeny". Racing Post . Retrieved 26 August 2024.