Saumarez (horse)

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Saumarez
Racing silks of Bruce McNall
SireRainbow Quest
GrandsireBlushing Groom
DamFiesta Fun
DamsireWelsh Pageant
SexStallion
Foaled28 March 1987[1]
CountryGreat Britain
ColourDark Bay
BreederSuc. E. Longton
OwnerBruce McNall (75%) &
Wayne Gretzky (25%)
TrainerHenry Cecil (England)
Nicolas Clément (France)
Record11: 4-3-3
EarningsUS$1,388,517 (equivalent)
Major wins
Prix du Prince d'Orange (1990)
Grand Prix de Paris (1990)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1990)
Awards
Timeform rating: 132

Saumarez (28 March 1987–2012) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1990.

Background[edit]

Saumarez was sired by the 1985 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rainbow Quest in his first season at stud. He was owned by National Hockey League superstar Wayne Gretzky and owner of his Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team, Bruce McNall. He was trained at trained by Henry Cecil at his Warren Place stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.[2]

Racing career[edit]

Saumarez failed to win at age two in 1989 then got his first win in 1990 under Steve Cauthen in the Aldborough Maiden Stakes. Following a win in the Harvester Graduation Stakes, he finished second to winner Blue Stag in the Dee Stakes at Chester Racecourse.

In June he was sent to France where Nicolas Clément took over as trainer. Steve Cauthen rode Saumarez to victory in the Grand Prix de Paris and then under French jockey Gérald Mossé, he won the Prix du Prince d'Orange in September and October's prestigious, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. For majority owner Bruce McNall, it was his second Arc win, having won it in 1987 with Trempolino. Nicolas Clément became the youngest trainer to win this race.[3] Saumarez was then sent to the United States for the Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York where he finished fifth to In the Wings whom he had beaten in the Arc.

Stud record[edit]

Sold for $8 million to a syndicate led by C A B St. George, Saumarez was retired to stud. He formerly stands at Odessa Stud in Ceres, Western Cape in South Africa and Died in 2012. He has sired twelve stakes winners and notably is the damsire of 2007 Epsom Derby winner, Authorized.[4]

Pedigree[edit]

Pedigree of Saumarez (GB), brown stallion, 1987[1]
Sire
Rainbow Quest (USA)
1981
Blushing Groom (FR)
1974
Red God Nasrullah
Spring Run
Runaway Bride Wild Risk
Aimee
I Will Follow (USA)
1975 
Herbager Vandale
Flagette
Where You Lead Raise A Native
Noblesse
Dam
Fiesta Fun (GB)
1978
Welsh Pageant (FR)
1966
Tudor Melody Tudor Minstrel
Matelda
Picture Light Court Martial
Queen of Light
Antigua (GB)
1958
Hyperion Gainsborough
Selene
Nassau Nasrullah
Meraline (Family: 16-a)[5]
  • Saumarez was inbred 4 × 4 to Nasrullah, meaning that this stallion appeared twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Saumarez pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. ^ May 13, 1991 Sports Illustrated article on Gretzy and McNall
  3. ^ Chicago Sun-Times October 8, 1990 article on Gretzy, McNall winning the Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe with Saumarez
  4. ^ Saumarez at Cheval Bleu
  5. ^ "Miss Agnes - Family 16-a". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 25 December 2014.

External links[edit]