Lammtarra

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Lammtarra

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Sire: Nijinsky II
Dam: Snow Bride
Damsire: Blushing Groom
Sex: Stallion
Foaled: 1992
Country: USA
Colour: Chestnut
Breeder: Gainsborough Farms Inc.
Owner: Saeed bin Maktoum al Maktoum
Trainer: Alex Scott
Saeed bin Suroor (at age 3)
Record: 4: 4-0-0
Earnings: £1,271,075
Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards
Major Racing Wins
Washington Singer Stakes (1994)
Epsom Derby (1995)
George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (1995)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1995)
Racing Awards
European Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (1995)

Infobox last updated on: October 2, 2006.

Lammtarra was an undefeated Champion thoroughbred racehorse who won three major races in 1995 and was voted the Cartier Three-Year-Old European Champion Colt. He won the Epsom Derby in a race record time, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

He was sired by Nijinsky II by Northern Dancer out of Snow Bride. For the latter part of his career, he was trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Frankie Dettori for Saeed bin Maktoum al Maktoum. He was one of the most lightly raced Derby winners in history, running just four times, and winning all of them, including three Group One victories.

Contents

[edit] Epsom Derby

Lammtarra's thrilling Epsom Derby triumph in June 1995 was one of the most memorable in living memory. For the son of Nijinsky triumphed at Epsom just months after the tragic fatal shooting of his brilliant young trainer Alex Scott. Scott was killed at his Newmarket stables in September 1994, at the age of just 35.

Before his untimely death Scott had been dreaming of Epsom glory with a two-year-old colt in his care. Indeed he was so confident of Classic success that he backed the horse before it even ran. Lammtarra was the apple of his eye, and won his only race as a two-year-old, in the informative Washington Singer Stakes at Newbury. He was certainly bred to be an Epsom great, being a son of Derby winner Nijinsky out of Oaks heroine Snow Bride. But after the death of his handler the colt was sent to Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation to continue his career.

He would be trained by Saeed bin Suroor as a three-year-old, with the Derby as his first main target.

But Lammtarra very nearly didn't get to the Derby at all. During the early part of the season he was a sick horse and his participation was in grave doubt. When he arrived at Epsom on the big day, it was for his seasonal reappearance and his first run in 302 days.

Lammtarra was a 14-1 shot to emulate his great sire, with Walter Swinburn as his jockey. The market was dominated by Andre Fabre's hugely impressive 2000 Guineas winner Pennekamp (11-8). Second favourite was Peter Chapple-Hyam's Spectrum (11-4), an easy winner of the Irish 2000.

There was no hint of what was to come as the field rounded Tattenham Corner, with Lammtarra stuck on the rails towards the rear of the field. With two furlongs left Walter Swinburn managed to get daylight and suddenly he sprouted wings. Frankie Dettori's swoop on 9-1 shot Tamure had seemed certain to carry him to victory, but now there was a challenger appearing. Lammtarra quickened in devastating fashion to make up at least six lengths in the last furlong and a half.

He overtook Tamure deep inside the final furlong and won going away by a length. It was a sensational display by Lammtarra, and there were emotional scenes in the winner's enclosure afterwards as Swinburn and Sheikh Mohammed paid tribute to Alex Scott.

There were sad footnotes to the 1995 Derby, as the favourite Pennekamp finished lame and never raced again. And Daffaq, in the race as pacemaker for Munwar, broke a leg and was put down.

Proof of Lammtarra's class came in the official time for the race, an astonishing two minutes 32.21 seconds, a massive 1.53 seconds inside the previous Derby best. Lammtarra had been brilliant at Epsom, but with only two races under his belt in his life there was still more to come.

[edit] King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes

His next appearance was in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot. Lammtarra had a new jockey for this race, Frankie Dettori having replaced the unlucky Swinburn. As the field began to race a couple of furlongs out Dettori started to get to work on Lammtarra. But Geoff Wragg's improving colt Pentire was cruising up on the outside, seemingly with plenty in hand.

Pentire however only had a short burst of acceleration to use, and although he got to the front it wasn't for good. Dettori summoned up all his energies and pushed furiously as Lammtarra dug deep to battle back.

The son of Nijinsky got his head back in front to take victory with a display of immense class and guts. After the race Dettori said his mount had the heart of a lion, and the lion would be tested just once more on a racecourse - in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

[edit] Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

This was probably Lammtarra's greatest day, as he succeeded where so many Derby winners had failed. Again he had to show great fighting qualities allied to his undoubted class to grab another breathtaking triumph.

He was settled in the perfect position by Dettori, just off the pace. Frankie sent the chestnut into the lead just over two furlongs out and from then on it was a battle to the line. Challengers queued up to take a shot at the English hero, but they all failed. Dettori drove Lammtarra home and at the line the 21-10 favourite had three quarters of a length to spare over Freedom Cry with Swain two lengths further back in third.

The Arc was a fitting climax to Lammtarra's racing career, and he was sent to stud unbeaten with a massive value. He won all four of his races, three of them Group One racess of the highest calibre.

[edit] Retirement

Lammtarra was retired to stud in Japan. Initially he had a stud fee of 30,000 pounds, but his offspring were not so good. His fee was reduced later to 2,500 pounds with a live foal guarantee. Although the foals have not been great performers, mares sired by him are highly sought after, due to Lammtarra's excellent bloodlines. A close relative Sunday Silence, an equally famous racehorse, has had better success as a sire. He is also in Japan.

[edit] Highlights

Lammtarra took the Epsom Derby on his first outing of the season and in record time, which still stands today of 2 mins 32.31 secs.

And he completed a fairytale by making tragic Alex Scott's dream come true.

Dettori said Lammtarra was "possibly" the best horse he's ever ridden. "Maybe Lammtarra is the best, because he remained unbeaten...".


[edit] Pedigree

Pedigree of Lammtarra
Sire
Nijinsky II		 Northern Dancer Nearctic Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Flaming Page Bull Page Bull Lea
Our Page
Flaring Top Menow
Flaming Top
Dam
Snow Bride		 Blushing Groom Red God Nasrullah
Spring Run
Runaway Bride Wild Risk
Aimée
Awaasif Snow Knight Firestreak
Snow Blossom
Royal Statute Northern Dancer
Queen's Statute


[edit] References

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