Key Change

Last updated
Key Change
Sire Darshaan
Grandsire Shirley Heights
DamKashka
Damsire The Minstrel
Sex Mare
Foaled10 May 1993 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Bay
Breeder Aga Khan IV
OwnerLady Clague
Trainer John Oxx
Record9: 4-2-1
Earnings£170,693
Major wins
Ballysax Stakes (1996)
Yorkshire Oaks (1996)

Key Change (foaled 10 May 1993) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Yorkshire Oaks in 1996. After winning one of her two starts as a juvenile she improved when moved up to longer distances as a three-year-old, winning the Ballysax Stakes on her seasonal debut. She was placed in both the Ribblesdale Stakes and the Irish Oaks before winning the Group One Yorkshire Oaks in August. She went on to finish second in the Irish St Leger but failed on her only start in 1997. After her retirement from racing she had success as a dam of winners.

Contents

Background

Key Change was a bay mare bred in Ireland by the Aga Khan. She was sired by Darshaan who won the Prix du Jockey Club for the Aga Khan in 1984 before becoming a successful breeding stallion. The best of his other offspring included Dalakhani, Mark of Esteem and Kotashaan. [2] Key Change dam Kashka was a daughter of Kalkeen, whose other descendants have included Kahyasi and Milan. [3]

She was owned during her racing career by Lady Clague (born Margaret Isolin Cowley), the widow of the entrepreneur Douglas Clague. [4] The filly was trained in Ireland by John Oxx and was ridden in all but two of her races by Johnny Murtagh.

Racing career

1995: two-year-old season

Key Change began her racing career in a one mile race for juvenile fillies at Navan Racecourse on 18 October. She started the 7/4 favourite but finished fourth of the eighteen runners behind the Kevin Prendergast-trained Anwaar. Twelve days later she contested a maiden race over the same distance at Leopardstown Racecourse and recorded her first success, beating the colt Clear Blue Water by a short head. [5]

1996: three-year-old season

On her three-year-old debut, Key Change was matched against colts and started a 12/1 outsider for the Listed Ballysax Stakes over ten furlongs at Leoprdstown on 12 April. With Murtagh on the Oxx stable's more fancied runner Harghar (the 2/1 favourite), the filly was partnered by Dermot Hogan. Key Change recorded her first significant victory as she came home six lengths clear of Harghar. [6] Two weeks later she started favourite for the Avonmore Classic Trial at Gowran Park and won by one and a half lengths from the Aidan O'Brien-trained His Excellence. [7]

The filly was sent to England and moved up sharply in class to contest the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on 20 June in which she was ridden by Christy Roche she started the 13/2 third choice in the betting behind the Musidora Stakes winner Magnificent Style. After starting poorly she made steady progress in the straight and finished second, beaten a neck by the French-trained Tulipa, with Shemozzle in third. At the Curragh Racecourse on 14 July she was one of six fillies to contest the Irish Oaks and finished third, beaten a short head and two lengths by Dance Design and Shamadara, with The Oaks winner Lady Carla in fourth. [8]

In the Group One Yorkshire Oaks at York Racecourse on 21 August, Key Change started at odds of 7/1 in a nine-runner field. Before the race John Oxx had been pessimistic about her chances as he felt that the going would be too firm for her to show her best form. [9] Shamadara started favourite ahead of the Prix de Diane winner Sil Sila and the 1995 Prix de Royallieu winner Russian Snows. The other runners were Shemozzle, Papering (runner-up in the Nassau Stakes), Whitewater Affair (Lupe Stakes) as well as Mezzogiorno and Quota (first and second in the Fillies' Trial Stakes). Murtagh positioned her just behind the leaders as first Russian Snows, then Quota, then Shemozzle set the pace before sending the filly to the front at half way. She stayed on strongly up the long York straight and won by one and three quarter lengths and a neck from Papering and Mezzogiorno. [10] After the race Oxx said "I knew she was better today than before the Irish Oaks but I didn't really believe she would win. But she has won so well that we will have to consider the Irish St Leger or Prix Vermeille". [11] When asked about running the filly in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a race for which she had not been initially entered, he added "We'd be happy to supplement if she won another race and had put some more money in the bank, Her owner loves to tackle big races". [9]

On 21 September Key Change was matched against colts and older horses in the Irish St Leger over fourteen furlongs at the Curragh and was made the 11/4 favourite. After tracking the leaders she took the lead entering the straight but was overtaken approaching the final furlong and was beaten into second by the four-year-old Oscar Schindler.

1997: four-year-old season

Key Change remained in training as a four-year-old but made only one appearance when she was sent to France for the Prix Jean de Chaudenay over 2400 metres at Saint-Cloud Racecourse on 18 May. She began to struggle before entering the straight and was eased down by Murtagh to finish tailed-off last of the five runners. [12] She reportedly returned from the race "a sick horse" [13] and despite recovering later in the year she did not race again.

Breeding record

Key Change was retired from racing to become a broodmare for Lady Clague's Newberry Stud. She produced at least six winners from eight foals:

Pedigree

Pedigree of Key Change (IRE), bay mare, 1993 [1]
Sire
Darshaan (GB)
1981		 Shirley Heights (GB)
1975		 Mill Reef Never Bend
Milan Mill
HardiemmaHardicanute
Grand Cross
Delsy (FR)
1972		Abdos Arbar
Pretty Lady
KeltyVenture VII
Marilla
Dam
Kashka (USA)
1983		 The Minstrel (CAN)
1974		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Fleur Victoria Park
Flaming Page
Kalkeen (IRE)
1974		 Sheshoon Precipitation
Noorani
Gioia Crepello
Bara Bibi (Family: 5-e) [3]

Related Research Articles

Look Here (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Look Here was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the 2008 Epsom Oaks. In a racing career which lasted from October 2007 to October 2009 the filly ran nine times and won two races. After winning her only race as a two-year-old, Look Here finished second on her three-year-old debut. She then won the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom, in which she was a 33/1 outsider. Look Here never won another race, but finished third in the St Leger Stakes, Coronation Cup and Pretty Polly Stakes.

Jet Ski Lady American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Jet Ski Lady was an American-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning The Oaks in 1991. In a racing career which lasted from June 1990 to October 1991 the filly ran ten times and won four races. After winning twice as a two-year-old, Jet Ski Lady competed against colts with mixed success in early 1991 before winning the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Her winning margin of ten lengths was the second-widest in the race's history and her starting price of 50/1 made her the equal longest-priced winner of the Oaks on record. She subsequently finished second in both the Irish Oaks at the Curragh and the Yorkshire Oaks at York. She was retired to stud after finishing unplaced in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Fair Salinia Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Fair Salinia was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the classic Oaks Stakes in 1978. In a racing career which lasted from September 1977 until September 1978 she won four of her eight races. As a two-year-old in 1977 she won on her debut before finishing second in the Cheveley Park Stakes. As a three-year-old she finished second in the 1000 Guineas before being moved up in distance and winning the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. She was retired to stud at the end of the season and had some influence as a broodmare. She died in 2004 at the age of twenty-nine.

Sarah Siddons was a French-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She was a well-bred mare, being descended from a half-sister of the outstanding Irish racehorse Ragusa. As a two-year-old in 1975 she showed promise when winning her only race of the season. In the following year she was rated the best three-year-old filly trained in the British Isles in a division which was otherwise dominated by French-trained horses. She recorded Group One wins in the Irish 1000 Guineas and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as finishing second to Lagunette in both the Irish Oaks and the Prix Vermeille. She failed to win as a four-year-old, but became a very successful broodmare.

My Emma was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was lightly campaigned, making only eight racecourse appearances in three seasons. After finishing unplaced on her only start as a two-year-old she began her second season by finishing unplaced in the Lancashire Oaks before winning a minor race at Newmarket. She was then sent to France where she finished third in the Prix de Psyché before recording an upset win in the Group One Prix Vermeille. My Emma returned in 1997 and after finishing third on her seasonal debut she recorded a second Group One success in the Yorkshire Oaks. She was retired from racing at the end of the year and has had some success a broodmare.

Pure Grain was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In 1994 she won two of her five races including the Prestige Stakes as well as finishing third in the Princess Margaret Stakes and fourth when favourite for the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she emerged as one of the best middle distance fillies of her generation in Europe with wins in the Musidora Stakes, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. She also finished third in The Oaks and fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. After her retirement from racing she had some success as a dam of winners.

Magnificent Star was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her win in the 1991 Yorkshire Oaks. She was unraced as a two-year-old and was beaten on her first two starts of 1991 before winning the Listed Fillies' Trial Stakes. She then finished fifth in The Oaks and second in the Glorious Stakes before recording an upset victory over a strong field in the Yorkshire Oaks. She never won again and was retired from racing at the end of 1992. She had modest success as a dam of winners.

Sunspangled was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 1998 until September 1999, she won twice and finished second twice in ten starts. As a two-year-old, she won on her debut but was beaten in her next two races before recording her most important victory in the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot Racecourse. In the following year, she was campaigned exclusively in Group One events and failed to win, although she did finish second in the Irish Oaks. She has made little impact as a broodmare.

Listen is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed her best form as a two-year-old in 2007 she won the Listed Saoire Stakes on her debut, finished second in both the Debutante Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes and then recorded her biggest success in the Group One Fillies' Mile. Her subsequent racing career was compromised by injury and she made little impact in two races as a three-year-old. She has had some success as a broodmare in Japan.

Yesterday was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed considerable promise as a two-year-old in 2002, winning a maiden race and being placed in the Debutante Stakes and the Rockfel Stakes before taking the Eyrefield Stakes. In the following spring she won the Irish 1000 Guineas and appeared an unlucky loser when narrowly beaten in The Oaks. She failed to win again but finished placed in the Prix Vermeille, Prix de l'Opéra and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Helen Street was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she was rated the best British-trained filly of her generation after winning the Prix du Calvados and finishing second under top weight in the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she was a top-class performer over middle distances, winning the Irish Oaks, finishing third in the Yorkshire Oaks and fourth in both the Champion Stakes and the Washington, D.C. International Stakes. After her retirement from racing she had a successful career a broodmare, producing Street Cry and Helsinki, the dam of Shamardal.

Possessive Dancer was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from November 1990 until May 1992 she competed in four countries and won five of her eight races. After winning her only start as a juvenile in 1990, she showed relentless improvement in the first half of the following year, winning two handicap races before taking the Oaks d'Italia and the Irish Oaks. She failed to reproduce her best form in her three subsequent races and was retired from racing in 1992. She had some success as a broodmare.

Ebadiyla was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Bred and owned by the Aga Khan an trained by John Oxx she was unraced as a two-year-old in 1996 but quickly established herself as a very promising filly in the following spring with an emphatic win on her racecourse debut followed by a narrow defeat in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. After finishing sixth in The Oaks she won the Irish Oaks and ended her season with a six length win in the Prix Royal-Oak. She remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to win in three races although she did finish third in a strong renewal of the Coronation Cup. After her retirement from racing she had considerable success as a dam of winners.

Winona was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her win in the Irish Oaks. In a racing career which lasted from July 1997 until November 1998 she raced in four different countries and compiled a record of two wins one second and one third from nine starts. As a two-year-old in 1997 she showed considerable promise when winning on her first appearance and later finished second in the Group 3 C L Weld Park Stakes. In the following year she finished fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and third in the Coronation Stakes before being stepped up in distance and recording an emphatic win in the Irish Oaks. She was well beaten in her last two races and was retired from racing at the end of the year. Her record as a broodmare was poor.

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.

Eurobird was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. A specialist stayer who was well-suited by soft or heavy ground, she was the third Classic race winner produced by the broodmare Irish Bird. As a three-year-old in 1987 she made steady improvement, winning the Kinderhill Oaks Trial, Blandford Stakes and Irish St Leger by wide margins as well as finishing third in the Irish Oaks. At the end of the year she was rated the best filly in Europe over fourteen furlongs and further. She failed to win as a four-year-old but ran several good races in defeat. She later had considerable success as a broodmare, being the dam of at least ten winners.

Dark Lomond was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed promise when finishing second on her only run as a juvenile in 1987 and developed into a high-class middle-distance performer and stayer in the following year. She won the Phoenix Oaks Trial and the Pretty Polly Stakes in June 1988 and returned in October to record her biggest victory in the Irish St Leger. After her racing career ended she became a broodmare and had some success as a dam of winners.

Kastoria is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her upset victory over Yeats in the 2006 Irish St Leger. Bred and owned by Aga Khan IV and trained by John Oxx she was a specialist stayer who competed in five different countries and won six of her thirteen races. Unraced at two or three years she began her racing career in 2005 when she won the Galtres Stakes and finished second in the Give Thanks Stakes, Park Hill Stakes and Prix de Royallieu. In the following year she won the Vintage Crop Stakes, Curragh Cup and Ballyroan Stakes before recording her biggest win in the Irish St Leger. She also finished second in the Hong Kong Vase on her final racecourse appearance. As a broodmare she has produced some minor winners.

Timarida was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare bred and owned by the Aga Khan, who competed in six different countries and won major races in five of them. In a racing career which lasted from March 1995 until December 1996 she ran sixteen times, recording ten wins, two seconds and two third places.

Zee Zee Top is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She did not race until the autumn of her three-year-old season when she won a minor race on her debut and then finished second in the Severals Stakes. In the following year she showed top-class form to win the Middleton Stakes and Prix de l'Opéra as well as being placed in the Pretty Polly Stakes and Nassau Stakes. As a broodmare she produced Izzi Top and Jazzi Top.

References

  1. 1 2 "Key Change pedigree". equineline.com.
  2. ↑ "Darshaan - Stud Record". Racing Post.
  3. 1 2 "Belvoirina - Family 5-e". Thoroughbred Bloodlinest.
  4. ↑ "Prominent owner and breeder Lady Clague dies". Racing Post.
  5. ↑ "EBF Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post . 30 October 1995. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  6. ↑ "Ballysax Stakes result". Racing Post . 20 April 1996. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  7. ↑ "Avonmore Classic Trial result". Racing Post . 5 May 1996. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  8. ↑ "Irish Oaks result". Racing Post . 14 July 1996. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  9. 1 2 Greg Wood (23 October 2011). "Clerkenwell puts Lynch on map". The Independent .
  10. ↑ "Yorkshire Oaks result". Racing Post . 21 August 1996. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  11. ↑ "Oxx lands Yorkshire Oaks with Key Change victory". The Irish Times . 22 August 1996.
  12. ↑ "Prix Jean de Chaudenay result". Racing Post . 18 May 1997. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  13. ↑ Peter O'Hehir (22 August 1997). "Doctor in good order". Daily Mirror .
  14. ↑ "Calorando - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  15. ↑ "Carenage - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  16. ↑ "Sandtime - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  17. ↑ "Interchange - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  18. ↑ "Pittoni - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  19. ↑ "Keyaza - Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
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.