Gleneagles (horse)

Gleneagles (foaled 12 January 2012) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. After finishing fourth on his debut, he finished first in his remaining five races as a two-year-old in 2014 and was named Cartier Champion Two-year-old Colt. He won the Tyros Stakes, Futurity Stakes and National Stakes in Ireland before being disqualified after crossing the line in first place in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France.

Background

Gleneagles is a bay colt with a white star and four short white socks bred in Ireland by the You'resothrilling Syndicate. He was sired by Galileo, who won the Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001. Galileo is now one of the world's leading stallions and has been champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland five times. His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle and Ruler of the World.^[2] Marvellous's dam is You'resothrilling, a daughter of Storm Cat was a sister of the leading racehorse and stallion Giant's Causeway.^[3] You'resothrilling was trained by Aidan O'Brien and won the Cherry Hinton Stakes in 2007.^[4] Gleneagles is her second foal, the first being the Irish 1000 Guineas winner Marvellous.

During his racing career the colt has been trained by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. He is owned by John Magnier's Coolmore Stud partnership (officially Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith), usually racing in the blue and orange colours of Michael Tabor.

Racing career

2014: two-year-old season

Gleneagles made his first racecourse appearance at Leopardstown Racecourse on 6 June 2014 when he started 11/8 favourite for a maiden race over seven furlongs. Ridden by Colm O'Donoghue he raced behind the leaders and made little progress in the closing stages, finishing fourth of the ten runners three lengths behind the Ger Lyons-trained winner Convergence. Joseph O'Brien took over the ride when the colt contested a similar event over the same distance at the Curragh three weeks later. Starting favourite against ten opponents, he tracked the leaders before taking the lead approaching the final furlong and winning "comfortably" by two and a half lengths from Stevie's Wonder.^[5] On 24 July, over seven furlongs at Leopardown, Gleneagles met Convergence again in the Group Three Tyros Stakes, with the only other runner being the Dermot Weld-trained Tombelaine. O'Brien positioned the colt in third place before taking the lead a furlong out and winning by three-quarters of a length and a head from Tombelaine and Convergence. Aidan O'Brien said that the winner was "still babyish" and would "improve a good bit".^[6] One month later, Gleneagles started 8/13 favourite for the Group Two Futurity Stakes, over seven furlongs at the Curragh. He raced in fourth before moving up on the inside to take the lead a furlong and a half from the finish, went two lengths clear of his opponents, and held the late challenge of Vert de Greece to win by three-quarters of a length.^[7]

On 14 September, Gleneagles was moved up to Group One class for Ireland's most prestigious two-year-old race, the National Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh. He was made the 1/3 favourite ahead of the Acomb Stakes winner Dutch Connection. He has restrained by Joseph O'Brien at the rear of the five runner field before making progress on the outside in the last quarter mile. He took the lead a furlong out and extended his advantage to win by one and a half lengths from the Godolphin representative Toscanini, with Dutch Connection a length away in third place. After the race Joseph O'Brien said "He's a lovely horse. He has got plenty of pace and he was very relaxed today."^[8] For his final appearance of the season, the colt was sent to France to contest the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp Racecourse on 5 October. He started the 9/4 second favourite behind the British-trained The Wow Signal, winner of the Coventry Stakes and the Prix Morny. The best of the French runners appeared to be Full Mast, the Criquette Head-trained winner of the Prix La Rochette. Gleneagles raced at the rear of the field before making progress in the straight and accelerating to take the lead 200 metres from the finish and winning by half a length and a short neck from Full Mast and Territories. In the closing stages, however, he had edged to the right, hampering the second and third placed finishers and, following an enquiry by the racecourse stewards, he was disqualified and placed third. Commenting of the decision, Michael Tabor said "rules are rules. I'm not complaining".^[9]

2015: three-year-old season

Gleneagles had been well-fancied for the 2000 Guineas throughout the winter, but heavy support in the betting market during March 2015 saw him elevated to clear favouritism for the classic.^[10]

Assessment and awards

In November Gleneagles was named Champion Two-year-old Colt at the Cartier Racing Awards.^[11] In the official International Clasification for 2014, Gleneagles was given a rating of 116, three pounds behind the top-rated Belardo.^[12]

Pedigree

Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut

* Gleneagles is inbred 3 x 4 to the stallion Northern Dancer, meaning that Northern Dancer appears once in the third generation and once in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References