| Great Hunter | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Aptitude |
| Grandsire | A.P. Indy |
| Dam | Zenith |
| Damsire | Roy |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 2004 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Dark Bay |
| Breeder | Ivy Dell Stud |
| Owner | J. Paul Reddam |
| Trainer | Doug O'Neill |
| Record | 17: 3-4-2 |
| Earnings | $976,260 |
| Major wins | |
| Breeders' Futurity Stakes (2006) Robert B. Lewis Stakes (2007) |
|
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
| Last updated on April 17, 2007 | |
Great Hunter (foaled March 31, 2004 in Pennsylvania) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sold by his breeder through the September 2005 Keeneland Sales to Ilona Whetstone. The colt was resold in June 2006 to J. Paul Reddam for $550,000 but has been the subject of a legal dispute following a lien claim by Fifth Third Bank for indebtedness of the financially-strapped Ilona Whetstone.
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Racing at age two, Great Hunter's success came under Reddam's ownership and trainer Doug O'Neill. He won the 2006 Grade I Lane's End Breeders' Futurity in which he defeated both Circular Quay and Street Sense but then finished third behind them in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
In 2007 Great Hunter won the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes then was fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes after he ran into severe difficulty from two other horses and had to be taken up sharply by his jockey, Corey Nakatani.
Great Hunter and stablemate Liquidity ran in the May 5 Kentucky Derby, and the pair came in 13th and 14th, respectively.
Great Hunter skipped the Preakness, but was confirmed as a starter in the Belmont. Great Hunter suffered a chipped ankle in his right front leg during a workout in preparation for the Belmont. The injury required surgery and a long recovery period.
Great Hunter returned to training in November and ran in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on December 26, 2007. The colt placed 11th, just ahead of Cobalt Blue.
On January 12, 2008, Great Hunter managed a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita. Great Hunter then placed fourth in the Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita on February 2, 2008. On March 1, 2008, Great Hunter again disappointed, placing 8th in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap.
Despite his lackluster performances since returning to training, Great Hunter was shipped to Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to participate in the 2008 GI Dubai World Cup. Great Hunter performed well through most of the race, moving up at the top of the stretch, but then flattened out at the eighth pole and placed fifth. The horse had only one unplaced start in 2009 and was retired to stud in 2010.
Great Hunter currently stands at Haras Los Samanes Polo & Racing in Santa Barbara, Venezuela for a private-listed stud fee. His first foals will be born in 2011.[1]