Ballydoyle (horse)
Ballydoyle (23 March 1980 – 2000) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who sold for a record-setting $3.5 million ($9.8 million inflation adjusted) as a Yearling in 1981. He showed average ability on the racecourse, winning one race in Ireland as a two-year-old.
| Ballydoyle | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Northern Dancer |
| Grandsire | Nearctic |
| Dam | South Ocean |
| Damsire | New Providence |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 23 March 1980[1] |
| Country | Canada |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | E. P. Taylor |
| Owner | Robert Sangster |
| Trainer | Vincent O'Brien |
| Record | 3: 1–1–0 |
| Awards | |
| Timeform rating 101 | |
Background
Ballydoyle was a bay horse bred in Ontario by E P Taylor the owner of Windfields Farm. He was one of many important winners sired by Northern Dancer, that won the Kentucky Derby in 1964 before becoming one of the most successful breeding stallions in Thoroughbred history. His dam, South Ocean, had previously produced Northernette (also sired by Northern Dancer), the champion filly of her generation in Canada at two and three years of age. Four years later she produced Storm Bird, the top-rated European two-year-old of 1980.[2]
The yearling was sent to the Keeneland Sales in July 1981 where he was sold for a then world-record price of $3.5 million by the bloodstock agency BBA (Ireland) on behalf of the British businessman Robert Sangster.[3][4][5] The colt was sent to Europe where he was trained by Vincent O'Brien: he was named after O'Brien's training base at Ballydoyle, County Tipperary.
Racing career
After finishing unplaced on his racecourse debut he contested a one-mile maiden race at Leopardstown Racecourse in October. He went clear of his rivals a furlong from the finish but was caught in the final strides and beaten a neck by the Edward O'Grady-trained Putney Bridge. In November he started at odds of 2/5 for a six-furlong maiden at Naas Racecourse. He led from the start and won by three lengths from Glenhurst and eleven others.[6]
Stud record
Ballydoyle was retired from racing and became a breeding stallion in California. He sired several minor winners but none of any importance. He died in 2000.
Pedigree
| Sire Northern Dancer (CAN) 1961 |
Nearctic (CAN) 1954 |
Nearco | Pharos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nogara | |||
| Lady Angela | Hyperion | ||
| Sister Sarah | |||
| Natalma (USA) 1957 |
Native Dancer | Polynesian | |
| Geisha | |||
| Almahmoud | Mahmoud | ||
| Arbitrator | |||
| Dam South Ocean (CAN) 1967 |
New Providence (CAN) 1956 |
Bull Page | Bull Lea |
| Our Page | |||
| Fair Colleen | Preciptic | ||
| Fairvale | |||
| Shining Sun (CAN) 1962 |
Chop Chop | Flares | |
| Sceptical | |||
| Solar Display | Sun Again | ||
| Dark Display (Family 4-j)[2] |
References
- "Ballydoyle pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
- "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Lady Lumley - Family 4-j". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
- "Yearling prices drop off, but colt commands $1.6 million". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. July 22, 1981. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Timeform staff (1983). Racehorses of 1982. Timeform. p. 115. ISBN 0-900599-35-9.
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lichine |
Most expensive Thoroughbred colt yearling 1981 – 1982 |
Next: Empire Glory |