White Moonstone

Last updated
White Moonstone
Sire Dynaformer
Grandsire Roberto
DamDesert Gold
Damsire Seeking The Gold
Sex Mare
Foaled25 February 2008 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
Breeder Stonerside Stable
Owner Godolphin
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor
Record4: 4-0-0
Earnings£197,711
Major wins
Sweet Solera Stakes (2010)
May Hill Stakes (2010)
Fillies' Mile (2010)

White Moonstone (foaled 25 February 2008) is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July until October 2010 she was undefeated in four races of increasing importance. After winning a maiden race on her debut she won the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes, the Group Two May Hill Stakes and the Group One Fillies' Mile. She suffered training problems in the early part of the following year and was retired without racing again. She has produced at least one foal.

Contents

Background

White Moonstone is a bay mare with no white markings [2] bred by the Paris, Kentucky-based Stonerside Stable. She was sired by the American stallion Dynaformer whose wins included the Jersey Derby and whose other progeny have included Barbaro, Americain, Blue Bunting and Lucarno. [3] Her dam, Desert Gold was a daughter of Desert Stormette, a half-sister of Desert Stormer (Breeders' Cup Sprint). Desert Stormette was in turn a granddaughter of the broodmare New Tune, whose other offspring included the Queen's Plate winner Sound Reason. [4]

In September 2008, Stonerside Stable was bought by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud. [5] White Moonstone was sent to Europe where she was trained by Saeed bin Suroor and raced in the colours of Godolphin Racing. She was ridden in all of her races Frankie Dettori.

Racing career

2010: two-year-old season

White Moonstone began her racing career in a six furlong maiden race at Ascot Racecourse on 23 July and started at odds of 15/2 against ten other fillies. After racing wide on the final (right-handed) turn she tracked left to race up the stands-side rail, took the lead inside the final furlong and drew away to win by one and a quarter lengths from the favourite Florestans Match. [6] Two weeks later she was moved up in class and distance for the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse and started 11/4 joint-favourite alongside the Empress Stakes winner Khor Sheed. She started slowly and raced at the rear of the nine runner field before taking the lead a furlong out and won "comfortably" by a length and a quarter from Crying Lightening despite hanging left in the closing stages. [7] Dettori commented "She drifted to the left but that is just immaturity. I thought I was in trouble three out but she soon came back on the bridle and quickened really well when I asked". [8]

On September 10 White Moonstone was stepped up in class and distance again and started 8/11 favourite for the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. The best fancied of her six opponents were the John Gosden-trained maiden winner Midnight Caller and the Star Stakes winner Lily Again. After being restrained by Dettori in the early stages she began to make progress in last quarter mile. She moved into the lead and quickly went clear to win "easily" by five lengths from the 66/1 outsider Al Madina. [9] After the race the filly was made 7/1 favourite for the following year's 1000 Guineas. [10] Saeed bin Suroor said "I like her. She's got plenty of speed and she worked very well in her last piece of work. She's sound and happy and I'd like to go for a Group 1 with her. We've always liked her she's got class and is a big strong filly" whilst Dettori described the winner as being "like a super model - she's tall, skinny and beautiful".

On her final appearance White Moonstone was one of five fillies to contest the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot Racecourse on 25 September. She started the 4/5 favourite ahead of the Prestige Stakes winner Theysken's Theory and the Silver Flash Stakes winner Together whilst the two outsiders were Fork Handles (unplaced behind White Moonstone at Newmarket) and the maiden Traffic Sister. The favourite raced in last place as Fork Handles set the pace before giving way to Theysken's Theory in the straight. White Moonstoned took the lead inside the final furlong and held off the late challenge of Together to win by a neck. [11] Commenting on the filly's performance, Dettori said "I don't think she ran as good as she did at Doncaster. Her turn of foot wasn't as good and the race came a bit quick, but to win like that is still very pleasing" [12] but added "she is quite light-framed and I don't think she'll take much more racing". [13]

2011: three-year-old season

White Moonstone returned to England in the spring of 2011 to begin serious training for the 1000 Guineas. Eight days before the race she was found to be "stiff" after a training gallop and was withdrawn from the race. [14] Godolphin's racing manager commented "Unfortunately, White Moonstone is not right and we need to find the cause of the problem". [15] The filly never raced again and was retired from racing at the end of the year.

Breeding record

After her retirement from racing, White Moonstone became a broodmare for Darley Stud. Her first foal, a filly sired by Dubawi was born in February 2013. [16]

Pedigree

Pedigree of White Moonstone (USA), bay mare, 2008 [1]
Sire
Dynaformer (USA)
1985
Roberto (USA)
1969
Hail to Reason Turn-To
Nothirdchance
Bramalea Nashua
Rarelea
Andover Way (USA)
1978
His Majesty Ribot
Flower Bowl
On The TrailOlympia
Golden Trail
Dam
Desert Gold (USA)
1999
Seeking The Gold (USA)
1985
Mr Prospector Raise A Native
Gold Digger
Con Game Buckpasser
Broadway
Desert Stormette (FR)
1991
Storm Cat Storm Bird
Terlingua
Breezy Stories Damascus
New Tune (Family:21-a) [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Bunting (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Blue Bunting is an American-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse which won the classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse in 2011. In a racing career which lasted from July 2010 until September 2011 she won five of her eight races. After winning two of her three races in 2010, she was an upset winner of the 1000 Guineas on her first start as a three-year-old. She was beaten when favourite for The Oaks but returned to record further Group One successes in the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks. She ran poorly in the St Leger in autumn and was retired from racing after sustaining an injury early in 2012.

Ameerat is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from August 2000 to October 2001 she ran seven times and won two races. After winning once from three starts as a two-year-old, she won the Classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse on her first appearance of the 2001 season. Her subsequent career was disappointing, as she finished unplaced in her three remaining races. At the end of her three-year-old season she was retired from racing to become a broodmare. Ameerat was not regarded as one of the better classic winners.

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

Sky Lantern is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the leading European two-year-old fillies of 2012 when she won the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland. In May 2013 she won the 200th running of the 1000 Guineas. She followed up with a win in the Coronation Stakes, and recovered from a controversial defeat by Elusive Kate in the Falmouth Stakes to record a fourth Group One win in the Sun Chariot Stakes. She remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to reproduce her best form, finishing unplaced in three races.

Maids Causeway is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2004 she won three of her seven races including the Sweet Solera Stakes and Rockfel Stakes as well as being placed in both the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies' Mile. As a three-year-old she finished second in the classic 1000 Guineas and then recorded her biggest win in the Coronation Stakes. At the end of the year she was bought by Sheikh Mohammed and retired from racing to become a broodmare. Her name has always been rendered without an apostrophe, consistently with the street of that name alongside Midsummer Common in Cambridge.

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

Arabian Queen is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed good form as a juvenile, winning two races including the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes. In the following year she won the Princess Elizabeth Stakes but was beaten in her next three starts before recording an upset win over Golden Horn in the International Stakes.

Lochangel was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She raced for the connections of her more famous older sister Lochsong and while never matching the achievements of her sibling she became a top-class racemare who excelled in sprint races on firm ground. As a juvenile she was beaten on her debut before winning at Ascot Racecourse in the sixth of what became known as Frankie Dettori's "Magnificent Seven". After failing to win in four attempts in 1997 she reached her peak as a four-year-old in 1998 when she won two races including the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse in August. She failed to win again and was retired from racing in 1999.

Punctilous is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Bred in England by Björn Nielsen she showed very promising form as a juvenile in 2003, winning her first two starts before finishing third in the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she developed into a top-class middle distance performer, winning the Musidora Stakes and the Ribblesdale Stakes as well as finishing second in the Irish Oaks and the E. P. Taylor Stakes, third in The Oaks and fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks. In 2005 she made little impact in her first two starts but then won the Chalice Stakes before recording her biggest victory in the Yorkshire Oaks. She was retired from racing at the end of the year to become a broodmare.

Shamshir was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In racing career which lasted from August 1990 until October 1991 she won two of her eleven races. As a two-year-old in 1990 she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Britain, winning a maiden race and being narrowly beaten in the May Hill Stakes before recording her biggest win in the Group One Fillies' Mile. She failed to win as a three-year-old but finished second in The Oaks and the Nassau Stakes and third in the Yorkshire Oaks. She was retired at the end of the year to become a broodmare.

Ivanka was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 1992 she won two of her five races, taking a minor stakes race on her debut and winning the Group One Fillies' Mile in September. She also finished second in the Racing Post Trophy and third in the May Hill Stakes. She sustained a fatal training injury in late 1992.

Fairy Heights was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 1993 until April 1994 she won three of her even races. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation in Britain in 1993: after finishing unplaced on her debut she won her next three races including the Sweet Solera Stakes and the Fillies' Mile before finishing second in the Racing Post Trophy. After failing to recover her best form in 1994 she was retired from racing. She has had some success as a broodmare in the United States.

Aqaarid was an American-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who was the beaten favourite in two of the five British Classic Races. In a racing career which lasted from July 1994 until June 1995 she won three of her five starts. As a two-year-old she won a minor race on her debut and then stepped up in class to win the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot Racecourse. After winning a very strong renewal of the Fred Darling Stakes in the following spring she was beaten by Harayir when favoured to win the 1000 Guineas. A month later she started a short-priced favourite for The Oaks but finished sixth behind Moonshell.

Teggiano was an Irish-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 1999 until July 2000 she won three of her six races. As a two-year-old she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Britain when she won three races including the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies' Mile. After a change of stable she made two appearances in the following year, producing the better of her efforts when finishing second in the Ribblesdale Stakes. She has had some success as a broodmare.

Gossamer is a British thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 2001 until October 2002 she won four of her eight starts and was one of the best fillies of her generation in Europe at both two and three years of age. As a juvenile she was undefeated in three starts, following up a win in a maiden race with victories in the Group Three Prestige Stakes and the Group One Fillies' Mile. Despite fears that her diminutive stature made her unlikely to improve as a three-year-old, and a defeat when favourite the 1000 Guineas she recovered to record an emphatic success in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. The best of her three subsequent appearances came when she finished third to the colt Rock of Gibraltar in the Prix du Moulin. Since her retirement from racing she has become a successful broodmare.

Lyric of Light is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation in Britain in 2011 when she was unbeaten in three races of increasing importance. After winning a minor race on her debut she won the Group Two May Hill Stakes and the Group One Fillies' Mile. In the following spring she finished last when fancied for the 1000 Guineas after which she failed a drug test. She never raced again and was retired from racing.

Zahrat Dubai is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After running unplaced in her only race as a juvenile she wintered in Dubai and returned to Britain to record an impressive victory in the Musidora Stakes. She finished third when favourite for The Oaks but then defeated a strong field in the Nassau Stakes. She failed to reproduce her best form in two subsequent races and was retired at the end of the year. Zahrat Dubai became a broodmare and produced two winners from eleven foals.

Nightime is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2006. After finishing unplaced in her only race as a juvenile she won a maiden race on her debut as a three-year-old and then recorded an emphatic six-length victory in the Irish 1000 Guineas. She failed to reproduce her form in two subsequent races and was retired in 2007. Since her retirement from racing she has had some success as a broodmare.

Valentine Waltz was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she was initially trained in Ireland where she failed to win in four races although she did finish third in the Marble Hill Stakes. Later in the year she was moved to England and improved, winning a minor race and being placed in both the Rockingham Stakes and the Rockfel Stakes. In the following year she developed into one of the best fillies of her generation in Europe, winning the Nell Gwyn Stakes and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches as well as finishing third in both the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes. After her retirement from racing she became a broodmare and had modest success as a dam of winners.

Coronet is a British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she won both of her races including the Listed Zetland Stakes. In the following year her only win came in the Ribblesdale Stakes but she also finished second in the Yorkshire Oaks, third in the Prix Saint-Alary and the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and fourth in the Irish Oaks. As a four-year-old she won the Middleton Stakes and was placed in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Yorkshire Oaks, British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. She had her greatest success as a five-year-old when she recorded Group 1 victories in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Prix Jean Romanet.

Nahrain is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Unraced as a two-year-old she won her first four races in 2011 including the Coral Distaff and the Prix de l'Opéra before finishind second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She struggled to find her form in the early part of the 2012 season but returned to her best to take the Flower Bowl Stakes. She made an immediate impact as a broodmare, with her first foal being Benbatl.

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

Mother Earth is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year old in 2020 she ran eight times, winning the Fillies' Sprint Stakes and finishing placed in the Albany Stakes, Airlie Stud Stakes, Debutante Stakes, Fillies' Mile and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. On her first run of 2021 she won the 1000 Guineas.

References

  1. 1 2 "White Moonstone pedigree". equineline.com.
  2. "White Moonstone image".
  3. "Dynaformer - Stud Record". Racing Post.
  4. 1 2 "Wagtail - Family 21-a". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  5. Blood-Horse Staff (1 September 2008). "Darley Buys Stonerside from McNair". The Blood-Horse .
  6. "John Guest Maiden Fillies' Stakes result". Racing Post. 23 July 2010.
  7. "Sweet Solera Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 August 2010.
  8. Lewis Porteous (7 August 2010). "Moonstone posts sweet success in Solera". Racing Post .[ dead link ]
  9. "May Hill Stakes result". Racing Post. 10 September 2010.
  10. Greg Wood. "White Moonstone heads Guineas market after impressive May Hill win". The Guardian .
  11. "Fillies Mile result". Racing Post. 25 September 2010.
  12. David Baxter (25 September 2010). "ASCOT White Moonstone cut for Guineas after Mile win". Racing Post .[ dead link ]
  13. Frank Keogh. "Frankie Dettori rides four consecutive winners at Ascot". BBC Sport.
  14. Geoffrey Riddle. "White Moonstone out of Qipco English 1,000 Guineas". The National (Abu Dhabi).
  15. "White Moonstone to miss 1,000 Guineas". BBC Sport .
  16. "Dubawi filly a first for White Moonstone". Racing Post . 18 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.