Nathaniel (horse)

Nathaniel (foaled 24 April 2008) is an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. Nathaniel failed to win in two races as a two-year-old but attracted attention by running Frankel to half a length at Newmarket. At three he recorded his first major win in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and then won Britain's most prestigious all-aged race,[1] the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over the same course and distance. Nathaniel returned in 2012 to win the Eclipse Stakes on his seasonal debut. Although he failed to win again he was placed in the King George, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Champion Stakes before being retired at the end of the year. During his racing career he earned £1,464,688.[2] He made an immediate impact as a breeding stallion, siring the champion filly Enable in his first season at stud.

Nathaniel
Nathaniel at Ascot before the Champion Stakes
SireGalileo
GrandsireSadler's Wells
DamMagnificient Style
DamsireSilver Hawk
SexStallion
Foaled24 April 2008
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederKincorth Investments Inc.
OwnerLady Rothschild
TrainerJohn Gosden
JockeyWilliam Buick
Record11: 4–5–1
Earnings£1,464,688
Major wins
King Edward VII Stakes (2011)
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2011)
Eclipse Stakes (2012)
Awards
Timeform rating 131

Background

Nathaniel is a bay colt with a large white star, sired by The Derby winner Galileo, out of the mare Magnificient Style. He was bred in Ireland by Kincorth Investments, a company owned by Lady Rothschild.[3] Nathaniel is a half-brother of the Fillies' Mile winner Playful Act who was purchased in 2007 by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud operation at the Keeneland breeding stock sale for a world record price of US$10.5 million.[4] Magnificient Style's other progeny include Echoes in Eternity (Sun Chariot Stakes), Great Heavens (Irish Oaks) and Percussionist (Yorkshire Cup).

The colt was named after his owner's son Nathaniel Philip Rothschild.[5] Nathaniel was sent into training with John Gosden at his Clarehaven Stables at Newmarket. He was ridden in all of his races by the Norwegian-born jockey William Buick.

Racing career

2010: two-year-old season

Nathaniel began his two-year-old career on 13 August 2010 in a one-mile maiden race at Newmarket on soft ground, in which he was beaten half a length by Sir Henry Cecil's Frankel, with the pair finishing five lengths clear of their opponents.[6] The race remains the closest of Frankel's career.[7] A month later, Nathaniel started 5/6 favourite for a similar event at Doncaster. He took the lead a furlong from the finish but was caught in the closing stages and beaten a short head by Picture Editor.

2011: three-year-old season

Nathaniel began his three-year-old season by recording his first win when beating two opponents in a maiden race at Haydock Park Racecourse in April. He won by nine lengths at odds of 1/20.[8] Nathaniel then started 6/4 favourite for the Chester Vase in May but despite finishing strongly he was beaten a head by the Irish-trained colt Treasure Beach.[9]

Nathaniel did not run in The Derby as Gosden felt that the ground at Epsom would be too fast for the colt.[10] He appeared instead at Royal Ascot where he won the King Edward VII Stakes "comfortably" by five lengths.[11] Immediately after the race, Gosden indicated that the colt would be aimed at the St Leger Stakes.[12] A month later however, Nathaniel returned to Ascot to contest the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over the same distance, after his owners paid a supplementary entry fee of £75,000.[13] He was the only three-year-old in a field which included St Nicholas Abbey, Workforce and Rewilding. Ridden by William Buick, Nathaniel pulled hard in the early stages and was forced to lead before settling behind the pacemaker Debussy. In the straight, Nathaniel accelerated into the lead down the centre of the track and won by two and three quarter lengths from Workforce who had hung badly across to the stands side. St Nicholas Abbey finished third, while Rewilding was fatally injured when falling two furlongs from the finish.[14] Nathaniel was the first three-year-old to win the race for eight years.[15] His trainer John Gosden helped tend to the injured Rewilding, giving the colt a "final munch of grass" before he was euthanised. Gosden said that Nathaniel was still improving and indicated that his next target would probably be the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.[16]

Shortly before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Gosden announced that Nathaniel would miss the race as he would be unsuited by the prevailing firm ground.[17] Nathaniel was rerouted to the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Ascot two weeks later. In the most valuable race ever run in Britain,[18] Nathaniel disputed the lead with Ransome Note before taking a clear advantage approaching the straight. He was headed by So You Think approaching the final furlong and ran on at "one pace" to finish fifth behind Cirrus des Aigles, beaten three and a half lengths.[19]

At the end of the year, Nathaniel was rated the equal seventh best racehorse in the world in the 2011 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.[20]

Racing silks of Lady Rothschild

2012: four-year-old season

Nathaniel had respiratory problems in early 2012[5] and did not make his first appearance of the season until the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on 7 July. Running for the first time in more than eight months, he started 7/2 second favourite in a field which included Monterosso, Twice Over, Cityscape (Dubai Duty Free), Crackerjack King (Derby Italiano) and Bonfire (Dante Stakes). Buick sent Nathaniel past the pacemaker City Style to take the lead on the turn into the straight. In the final quarter mile, Nathaniel held off several challengers to win by half a length from Farhh with Twice Over third.[21]

In the King George, Nathaniel was made 5/2 second favourite to repeat his success of 2011 against a field which included St Nicholas Abbey, Dunaden, Masked Marvel, Danedream, Deep Brillante, Sea Moon and Reliable Man. Buick tracked the leaders before moving Nathaniel into the lead in the straight. He ran on under pressure, but was caught in the last stride and beaten a nose by Danedream. Gosden described the horse's performance coming only two weeks after the Eclipse as "phenomenal" and mentioned the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Champion Stakes and International Stakes as possible future targets.[22]

On his next appearance, Nathaniel started 13/8 favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse, despite Gosden warning that the horse was being trained for the Arc de Triomphe and might not be at his peak. He took the lead in the straight but was headed inside the final furlong and beaten one and a quarter lengths by the mare Snow Fairy. Five days before Nathaniel's intended run in the Arc he was found to be running a high temperature and when the results of a blood test were unsatisfactory he was withdrawn from the race.[23]

After missing the Arc, Nathaniel ran in the Champion Stakes on 20 October. The unbeaten Frankel won the race by one and three quarter lengths from Cirrus Des Aigles, who was a further two and a half lengths clear of Nathaniel in third.[24]

Stud career

A week after the Champion Stakes it was announced that Nathaniel would be retired from racing and would begin his stud career in 2013 at the Newsells Park Stud in Hertfordshire. His stud fee was announced to be £20,000 in November 2012.[25] His first crop of foals included The Oaks, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Enable[26] and the success of this crop saw his stud fee increase to £20,000 for the 2018 breeding season.[27]

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Dam Dam's sire Sex Major wins
2014 Enable Concentric Sadler's Wells f Epsom Oaks (2017), Irish Oaks (2017), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2017, 2019, 2020), Yorkshire Oaks (2017, 2019), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2017, 2018), Breeders' Cup Turf (2018), Eclipse Stakes (2019)
2014 God Given Ever Rigg Dubai Destination f Premio Lydia Tesio (2018)
2016 Channel Love Magic Dansili f Prix de Diane (2019)

Pedigree
Pedigree of Nathaniel (IRE), bay colt, 2008[28]
Sire
Galileo (IRE)
1998		 Sadler's Wells
1981　		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Fairy Bridge Bold Reason
Special
Urban Sea
1989　		 Miswaki Mr. Prospector
Hopespringeternal
Allegretta Lombard
Anatevka
Dam
Magnificient Style (USA)
1993		 Silver Hawk
1979		 Roberto Hail to Reason
Bramalea
Gris Vitesse Amerigo
Matchiche
Mia Karina
1983		 Icecapade Nearctic
Shenanigans
Basin Tom Rolfe
Delta (Family: 9-f)[29]

References
  1. "The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes". British champions series. 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  2. "Nathaniel". Racing Post. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  3. "Magnificient seven on the cards at Chester". Racing Post. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  4. "Playful Act paces record-setting Keeneland November sale". Thoroughbred Times. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  5. Armytage, Marcus (7 July 2012). "Lady Rothschild's Nathaniel stays on to deny Coral-Eclipse favourites Farhh". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  6. "EBF Maiden Stakes". Racing Post. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  7. Greg Wood (7 July 2012). "Nathaniel fights off all challengers to win Eclipse at Sandown". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  8. "St Helens Maiden Stakes". Racing Post. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  9. GMT (5 May 2011). "Aidan O'Brien colt Treasure Beach wins Chester Vase". BBC. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  10. Horse Racing (2 June 2011). "Queen's horse Carlton House declared for Epsom Derby". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  11. "King Edward VII Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  12. Greg Wood (17 June 2011). "Nathaniel wins King Edward at Ascot and favourite's tag for St Leger". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  13. "Nathaniel supplemented for King George". RTÉ. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  14. "King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes". Racing Post. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  15. "King George: Nathaniel holds off favourite Workforce". BBC. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  16. "Nathaniel wins King George at Ascot". The Irish Times. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  17. "Arc de Triomphe loses Nathaniel, but may add Masked Marvel". ESPN. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  18. "Cirrus Des Aigles soars in Champion Stakes". RTÉ. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  19. "Champion Stakes". Racing Post. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  20. "The 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings". IFHA online. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  21. "Eclipse Stakes result". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  22. Chris Cook (21 July 2012). "Danedream beats Nathaniel by a nose to triumph in King George at Ascot". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  23. "Danedream and Nathaniel to miss Arc at Longchamp". BBC Sport. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  24. "Champion Stakes result". Racing Post. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  25. "Nathaniel fee set at £20,000". Racehorse. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  26. "Nathaniel – Progeny". Racing Post.
  27. Vicarage, Zoe. "Nathaniel given a price increase after exploits of daughter Enable". Racing Post. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  28. "Nathaniel pedigree". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  29. "Toxophilite Mare – Family 9-f". Bloodlines. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
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