Pipalong

Last updated
Pipalong
Sire Pips Pride
Grandsire Efisio
DamLimpopo
Damsire Green Desert
SexMare
Foaled26 January 1996 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Bay
BreederYeomanstown Stud
OwnerTom Bennett
Trainer Tim Easterby
Record37: 10-7-4
Earnings£421,698
Major wins
Two-Year-Old Trophy (1998)
Great St. Wilfrid Stakes (1999)
Wentworth Stakes (1999)
Palace House Stakes (2000)
Cecil Frail Stakes (2000)
Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup (2000)
Duke of York Stakes (2001)
Honours
Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract Racecourse

Pipalong (foaled 26 January 1996) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was sold cheaply as a yearling but developed into a top-class specialist sprinter who excelled on soft ground. Trained in Yorkshire by Tim Easterby, she was highly tried throughout her racing career, running thirty seven times between April 1998 and October 2001.

Contents

She showed very good form as a juvenile in 1998, winning the Two-Year-Old Trophy after finishing second in both the Queen Mary Stakes and the Cherry Hinton Stakes. In the following year she won the Great St. Wilfrid Stakes and the Wentworth Stakes as well as finishing placed in several other good sprint races. She reached her peak as a four-year-old in 2000 when she won the Palace House Stakes and the Cecil Frail Stakes before recording her biggest win in the Group One Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup. In the same year she finished third in the July Cup, Nunthorpe Stakes and Prix de l'Abbaye. Pipalong failed to reproduce her best form in 2001 but did win the Duke of York Stakes and again finished third in the Prix de l'Abbaye.

After her retirement from racing she became a broodmare and had some success as a dam of winners.

Background

Pipalong is a bay mare with a narrow white blaze [2] bred in Ireland by the County Kildare-based Yeomanstown Stud. She was the most successful horse sired by Pips Pride, who recorded his biggest win in the Phoenix Stakes. [3] Her dam Limpopo showed little ability, failing to win in five races. [4] She was distantly descended from the British broodmare Merry Devon, whose other descendants have included Jeune and Lord At War. [5]

In October 1997 the yearling filly was consigned to the Tattersalls sale and was sold for 7,000 guineas. [6] Throughout her racing year she was owned by Tom Bennett in partnership with Marjorie Easterby [7] and trained in North Yorkshire by Marjorie's son Tim Easterby at his Habton Grange stable. In her first two seasons of racing Pipalong was ridden in all but one of her races by Lindsay Charnock.

Racing career

1998: two-year-old season

Pipalong began her racing career in a five furlong maiden race at Ripon Racecourse on 16 April and starting at odds of 5/1 in a thirteen-runner field. Running on soft ground she took the lead at half way and won by twelve lengths from College Music despite being eased down by Charnock in the final strides. [8] In the following month she started favourite for a race over the same distance at York Racecourse and won by a neck from the Mick Channon-trained Bint Allayl. [9] Kieren Fallon took the ride when Pipalong moved up in class to contest the Group Three Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. She recovered from a slow start to finish strongly but was beaten two lengths into second place by Bint Allayl. Charnock resumed the mount in the six furlong Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in July in which the filly set the early pace before finishing second of the ten runners behind Wannabe Grand.

After a break of almost three months, Pipalong returned in the Oh So Sharp Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket and finished fourth behind Snittersby, Fragrant Oasis and Hula Angel (later to win the Irish 1000 Guineas). On 17 October Pipalong started 5/2 favourite in a 22-runner field for the Listed Comcast Teesside Two-Year-Old Trophy over six furlongs on heavy ground at Redcar Racecourse. She was among the leaders from the start, went to the front in the last quarter mile, and rallied after being headed by the colt Pistachio to regain the lead in the closing stages to win by a neck. [10]

1999: three-year-old season

Pipalong failed to win in her first seven starts as a three-year-old but ran consistently in good sprint races. In spring she finished fourth in the Thirsk Classic Trial and the Shergar Cup Sprint and then ran fifth in the Chartwell Fillies' Stakes. She then finished second when favourite for the Cecil Frail Stakes, fourth in a handicap race at Doncaster, second to Imperial Beauty in the Summer Stakes and fourth in the Queensferry Stakes. On 14 August at Ripon on soft ground the filly was matched against colts and older horses in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap and was assigned a weight of 131 pounds in a 23-runner field. The filly started slowly but began to make rapid progress in the last quarter mile. She caught the colt Bon Ami in the final stride and won by a short head. [11] Tim Easterby commented "It never occurred to me that she hadn't trained on. She has worked just as well, if not better, this year than she did last season. We decided to run her here instead of having a crack at the Nunthorpe, and even though she had a lot of weight back in a handicap, I was very hopeful. I felt she had just come right, and she loves this ground". [7]

Eight days after her win at Redcar, Pipalong finished second to Wannebe Grand in the Flying Fillies' Stakes at Pontefract. She was then moved up to Group One level for the first time when she contested the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup over six furlongs at Haydock. She started a 25/1 outsider and finished unplaced behind Diktat. She then finished fifth under a weight of 124 pounds in the Ayr Gold Cup before finishing second to Gaelic Storm in the Bentinck Stakes at Newmarket in October. On her final start of the season the filly started second favourite behind Gaelic Storm in the Listed Wentworth Stakes on soft ground at Doncaster on 6 November with the other 18 runners including Superior Premium (Stewards' Cup) and Muqtarib (Richmond Stakes). She was among the leaders from the start and stayed on in the closing stages to take the lead on the line and win by a short head from Two Clubs. [12]

2000: four-year-old season

After Charnock's retirement at the end of 1999 Kevin Darley took over the ride on Pipalong and partnered her in all but one of her subsequent races. On her seasonal debut she started odds-on favourite for a minor race over six furlongs at Thirsk and won by three and a half lengths from her stablemate Hot Tin Roof. [13] She was then stepped up in class and started at odds of 9/1 in a 21-runner field for the Group Three Palace House Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket on 6 May. The Mill Reef Stakes winner Arkadian Hero headed the betting market whilst the other contenders included Kier Park (Cornwallis Stakes), Bishops Court (Prix du Petit Couvert), Superior Premium, The Tatling, Rambling Bear (King George Stakes), Bolshoi (King's Stand Stakes) and Halmahera (Cornwallis Stakes). After racing prominently from the start, Pipalong took the lead in the final furlong and won by a neck and half a length from Kier Park and Rambling Bear in a blanket finish which saw the first nine finishers covered by three and a half lengths. [14] After the race Tim Easterby said "She's a star-that was tremendous. She'll be sprint queen this year. The plan was to go to York for the Duke of York, but she had been working so well I thought I'd let her take her chance here. Six furlongs and soft ground would suit her better". [15]

Twelve days after her win at Newmarket Pipalong was moved back up in distance for the six-furlong Duke of York Stakes at York and finished second of the ten runners beaten one and a half lengths by the five-year-old Lend A Hand. In the Listed Cecil Frail Stakes, for fillies and mares at Haydock on 10 June, Pipalong started odds-on favourite against five younger opponents. Ridden for the first and only time by Michael Roberts she overtook the front-running Romanylei in the final furlong and won "readily" by half a length. [16]

Racing on firm ground at Royal Ascot, Pipalong made little impact in the Cork and Orrery Stakes, finishing unplaced behind Superior Premium. In the Group One July Cup on good-to-soft ground at Newmarket she produced a much better performance as she was narrowly beaten in a three-way photo finish by the Japanese colt Agnes World and the three-year-old Lincoln Dancer with Primo Valentino and Lend A Hand in fourth and fifth. Pipalong produced another good effort in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August when she finished third behind Nuclear Debate and Bertolini. The six-furlong Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock on 6 September saw Pipalong start the 3/1 second favourite behind Lincoln Dancer for a race run on heavy ground. The best-fancied of the other eleven runners were Sampower Star (Prix de Saint-Georges), Bold Edge (Prix Maurice de Gheest), Tomba (Prix de la Forêt), Vision of Night (Prix de Meautry) and Auenklang (Prix Robert Papin). After tracking the leaders in the early stages, Darley sent Pipalong into the lead approaching the final furlong and the filly kept on well to land the Group One prize by three quarters of a length from Sampower Star, with Tomba a length away in third. [17] Peter Easterby representing his son Tim said "I can't remember how much this filly cost but it wasn't much. My wife has a half share. Pipalong has had some hard races, but always comes back for more. If anything she hit the front a bit too soon today, but it's always hard to come from behind on this sort of ground" whilst Darley commented "She deserved that and did everything right today. That's my first Group One winner of the year. It's nice to do it on a filly I've been associated with all year". [18]

On her final appearance of the season, Pipalong was sent to France for the Prix de l'Abbaye over 1000 metres at Longchamp Racecourse in October and finished third behind Namid and Superstar Leo.

2001: five-year-old season

In March 2001 Pipalong was sent to the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai Golden Shaheen but finished tenth of the fifteen runners behind the American gelding Caller One. On her return to Europe she attempted to repeat her 2000 success in the Palace House Stakes but ran unplaced behind Rushcutter Bay. On 17 May Pipalong started a 14/1 outsider in her second attempt to win the Duke of York Stakes. Bertolini started favourite ahead of Astonished with Bahamian Pirate, Vision of Night and Hot Tin Roof also among the fourteen-runner field. The mare produced what was described as a "cracking effort", [19] taking the lead approaching the final furlong and holding off the sustained challenge of Tedburrow to win by a neck. [20] Following the race Tim Easterby said "She's a star! She liked the weather in Dubai but she didn't like he track – there was too much sand and it was too firm". [21]

Pipalong failed to win in her remaining six races. She finished eighth behind Harmonic Way in the Cork and Orrery Stakes and then ran unplaced behind Mozart in the July Cup. She then finished seventh behind Mozart in the Nunthorpe Stakes and seventh behind Nuclear Debate when she was made favourite to repeat her 2000 victory in the Haydock Sprint Cup. In September she finished fourth behind Nice One Claire in a blanket finish to the Diadem Stakes at Ascot. In her final appearance she contested her second Prix de l'Abbaye and started a 20/1 outsider. Pipalong repeated her performance of the previous year to finish third, beaten half a length and two and a half lengths by Imperial Beauty and Bahamian Pirate.

Breeding record

In December 2001 Pipalong returned to the sales ring at Tattersalls and was bought for 600,000 guineas by the bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud. [22] [23] She entered the ownership of Tower Bloodstock, a horse breeding company associated with the Coolmore Stud. She has produced at least eight foals and three winners:

Pedigree

Pedigree of Pipalong (IRE), bay mare, 1996 [1]
Sire
Pips Pride (IRE)
1990
Efisio (GB)
1982
Formidable Forli
Native Partner
Eldoret High Top
Bamburi
Elkie Brooks (GB)
1981
Relkino Relko
Pugnacity
Cresset Henry the Seventh
Quoff
Dam
Limpopo (GB)
1989
Green Desert (USA)
1983
Danzig Northern Dancer
Pas de Nom
Foreign Courier Sir Ivor
Courtly Dee
Grey Goddess (IRE)
1983
Godswalk Dancer's Image
Kates Intent
Thiella Busted
Seaswan (Family: 19-c) [5]

Related Research Articles

Kind (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Kind is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She won six of her thirteen races, including the Listed Flower of Scotland Stakes and Kilvington Stakes, as well as being placed in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes. Since retiring from racing she has become one of Juddmonte Farms' top broodmares, foaling the undefeated, 10-time Group 1 winner Frankel. All of her first five foals have won races, including the Group winners Bullet Train and Noble Mission. Kind was trained by Roger Charlton and owned by Khalid Abdulla.

Sayyedati was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from June 1992 to October 1995 she ran twenty-two times winning six races and being placed eight times. Sayyedati was one of the leading two-year-old fillies in Europe in 1992, recording Group One successes in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. After being beaten on her three-year-old debut, Sayyedati won the Classic 1000 Guineas. She went on to become a successful international performer over a mile, winning the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in 1993 and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood as a five-year-old. She was also placed in several major races including the Breeders' Cup Mile. Sayyedati was retired from racing to become a broodmare at the end of her five-year-old season.

Shadayid was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from June 1990 to November 1991 she ran eleven times winning five races and being placed five times. Shadayid was one of the leading two-year-old fillies in Europe in 1990, winning all three of her races including the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at the Longchamp. After winning the Fred Darling Stakes on her three-year-old debut, Shadayid took her unbeaten run to five by winning the Classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Although she never won again, she finished second in the Coronation Stakes and the Sussex Stakes and third in the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Shadayid was retired from racing to become a broodmare at the end of her three-year-old season after finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Simply Perfect is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Between June 2006 and October 2007 she ran thirteen times in four countries and won four races, two of them at Group One level. As a two-year-old she was placed in the Queen Mary Stakes and the Princess Margaret Stakes before showing improved form in autumn to win the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies' Mile. In the following season she finished third in 1000 Guineas and sixth in the Oaks, before recording her biggest success in the Falmouth Stakes. She did not win again and was retired from racing after an erratic and unexplained performance in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Exclusive was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a juvenile, she won a strongly-contested race on her debut and the finished third in the Fillies' Mile. As a three-year-old in 1998 she finished third in the classic 1000 Guineas before recording her biggest win in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. After her retirement from racing, she became a very successful broodmare, being the ancestor of major winners including Chic and Integral.

Lillie Langtry (horse) Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Lillie Langtry is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Bred at a small stud in County Cork she was sold as a yearling and raced for the Coolmore organisation. As a two-year-old, she was one of the best juvenile fillies in Ireland winning three of her seven races including the Fillies' Sprint Stakes, Debutante Stakes and Tattersalls Timeform Fillies' 800 as well as finishing third in both the Albany Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She was injured when finishing unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In 2010 she recorded her biggest wins when recording Group One victories in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. She was retired at the end of the year with a record of five wins from eleven races.

Kissing Cousin was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she showed progressive form, winning two minor races before finishing second in the May Hill Stakes and third in the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she ran poorly on her seasonal debut but won then won a minor stakes race before ending her racing career with a win in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was then retired from racing. She had little success as a broodmare, producing only two minor winners.

Golden Opinion was an American-bred French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted less than six months she won four of her six races. As a three-year-old in 1996 she won a Listed race on her debut and then finished third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains before winning the Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was narrowly beaten in the July Cup and ended her career with a six length win in the Prix du Rond Point. After being retired from racing she came a broodmare and produced several minor winners.

Esoterique 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.

Dead Certain (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Dead Certain was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from May 1989 until September 1990 she won five of her twelve races. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies in Britain in 1989 when she won four of her six races including the Queen Mary Stakes, Lowther Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she competed mainly in sprint races and recorded another major success when she won the Prix Maurice de Gheest. After her retirement from racing she had some success as a broodmare. Her last foal was born in 2008.

Wannabe Grand was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from May 1998 until November 1999, she won four races and was placed five times from sixteen starts. She was one of the best juvenile fillies in Britain in 1998 when she won the Empress Stakes, Cherry Hinton Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes as well as finishing second in the Lowther Stakes. In the following year she finished second in the 1000 Guineas on her seasonal debut and went on to win the Flying Fillies' Stakes, as well as being placed in the Coronation Stakes, Oak Tree Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes. She was retired from racing to become a broodmare and produced at least seven winners.

Donna Blini is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the best juvenile fillies of her generation in Britain in 2005 when she won three of her four races including the Cherry Hinton Stakes and the Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she was mainly campaigned in sprint races and won one minor race from seven starts. She was retired from racing having won four of her eleven races and exported to become a broodmare in Japan. She made an immediate impact as a dam of winners, producing the outstanding racemare Gentildonna.

Red Bloom is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 2003 until October 2006 she ran nineteen times, competing in four different countries and won six times as well as being placed on seven occasions. As a juvenile she graduated from a maiden race victory to record her biggest success in the Group One Fillies' Mile. In the following year she was the beaten favourite for the 1000 Guineas but won the Strensall Stakes. She remained in training for two more seasons, winning the Pipalong Stakes and two editions of the Blandford Stakes. Apart from her wins, she reached the frame in the Coronation Stakes, Pretty Polly Stakes, Nassau Stakes and Prix Jean Romanet. At the end of her racing career she became broodmare for her owner, the Cheveley Park Stud.

Rajeem is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her 50/1 upset win in the Falmouth Stakes. As a two-year-old she showed little early promise but improved towards the end of the season to win her last two races including the Listed Montrose Stakes. In the following year she was unplaced in her first four races but then defeated a top-class field to win the Falmouth Stakes. She never raced again owing to injuries and was retired in 2007. She has made little impact as a dam of winners.

Spinning Queen is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for her emphatic victory over a top-class field in the 2006 Sun Chariot Stakes. As a two-year-old in 2005 she won on her debut and went on to run prominently in several major races, finishing third in the Cherry Hinton Stakes and fourth in both the Albany Stakes and the Prestige Stakes. In the spring of following year she finished second in the Nell Gwyn Stakes and sixth in the 1000 Guineas before running third in the King Charles II Stakes. She showed improved form in the summer, winning the Eternal Stakes and the Brownstown Stakes. In September 2006 she ended her racing career with a nine-length over Soviet Song, Alexander Goldrun and Red Evie in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. She was then sold for a record price of 3 million (guineas and was retired from racing. She has subsequently become a successful broodmare.

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.

Twafeaj was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from May 1991 until October 1992 she ran fourteen times in four different countries and won three races. As a juvenile in 1991 she finished second in the Princess Margaret Stakes before recording her biggest win in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. As a three-year-old she struggled for form early in the year but did much better when switched to sprint races, winning the Prix de Meautry as well as being placed in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and the Goldene Peitsche. She had little success as a broodmare, producing only two minor winners.

Rafha was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1989 she won two of her four races including the May Hill Stakes. In the following year she was undefeated in three starts, taking the Princess Elizabeth Stakes and the Lingfield Oaks Trial before recording her biggest victory in the Prix de Diane. After her retirement from racing she became a prolific and successful broodmare whose foals include Invincible Spirit.

Promising Lead is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She did not race until she was three years old in 2017 when she won a maiden race on her debut and went on to win the Upavon Fillies' Stakes before being narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opéra. In the following year she won the Middleton Stakes and the Pretty Polly Stakes on her only two starts. As a broodmare she produced several minor winners.

Chorist was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was a consistent performer at eight to ten furlongs who improved through her four seasons on the track. After running unplaced on her only start as a two-year-old she won four races including the Upavon Fillies' Stakes as a three-year-old in 2002. She improved in the following year when she took the Hoppings Stakes, Golden Daffodil Stakes and Blandford Stakes. At the age of five in 2004 she reached her peak with wins in the Pipalong Stakes and Pretty Polly Stakes as well as finishing second in the Champion Stakes. After her retirement from racing she became a successful broodmare.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pipalong pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. Hugh McMahon. "Pipalong profile". The Sport Horse Show and Breed Database.
  3. "Pips Pride – Stud Record". Racing Post.
  4. "Limpopo – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  5. 1 2 "The Twinkle – Family 19-c". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  6. "Tattersalls sale October 1997". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2016-10-10.
  7. 1 2 Tom O'Ryan (16 August 1999). "Pipalong shows her star quality". Racing Post.
  8. "Sharrow Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. 16 April 1998.
  9. "EBF Novice Fillies Stakes result". Racing Post. 12 May 1998.
  10. "Two-Year-Old Trophy result". Racing Post. 17 October 1998.
  11. "Great St Wilfrid Handicap result". Racing Post. 14 August 1999.
  12. "Wentworth Stakes result". Racing Post. 6 November 1999.
  13. "Michael Foster Memorial Stakes result". Racing Post. 15 April 2000.
  14. "Palace House takes result". Racing Post. 6 May 2000.
  15. Tony Elwes (7 May 2000). "Newmarket: Priceless Pipalong". Racing Post.
  16. "Cecil Frail Stakes result". Racing Post. 10 June 2000.
  17. "Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup result". Racing Post. 2 September 2000.
  18. Ian Davies (3 September 2000). "Pipalong the muddy marvel". The Independent .
  19. "Pipalong has the stamina". Liverpool Echo . 11 July 2001.
  20. "Duke of York Stakes result". Racing Post. 17 May 2001.
  21. David Carr & Nick Grant (18 May 2001). "Pipalong in fine fettle for July Cup". Birmingham Post .
  22. "Tattersalls sale December 2001". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2016-10-10.
  23. Deirdre B Biles (4 December 2001). "Upswing Continues At Tattersalls' Mares Sale". The Blood-Horse .
  24. "War And Peace – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  25. "Walk On Bye – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.
  26. "Motherland – Record By Race Type". Racing Post.