Imagine (horse)

Imagine
Racing colours of Susan Magnier
Sire	Sadler's Wells
Grandsire	Northern Dancer
Dam	Doff the Derby
Damsire	Master Derby
Sex	Mare
Foaled	20 February 1998
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Barronstown Stud and Orpendale
Owner	Susan Magnier & Diane Nagle
Trainer	Aidan O'Brien
Record	10: 4-2-2
Earnings	£382,032
Major wins
C. L. Weld Park Stakes (2000) Irish 1000 Guineas (2001) Epsom Oaks (2001)
Honours
Timeform rating 119

Imagine (foaled 20 February 1998) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks in 2001. In a racing career which lasted from August 2000 to June 2001 the filly ran ten times and won four races. As a two-year-old, Imagine ran six times, winning the Group Three C. L. Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh and finishing second in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. The following spring, the filly was beaten in her first two races before winning the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. Imagine recorded her most valuable success on her final appearance, winning the Classic Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. She never raced again, but proved to be a successful broodmare.

Background

Imagine is a dark-coated bay mare sired by the thirteen time Champion sire Sadler's Wells.^[1] She was the last foal of her dam, the American bred mare Doff the Derby, who had become famous a decade earlier as the dam of the Epsom Derby winner Generous. Doff the Derby was a half-sister of the leading racemare Trillion, who in turn produced the multiple Group One winner Triptych.^[2] Imagine was bred by a partnership between Barronstown Stud, who owned Doff the Derby, and Orpendale,^[3] a breeding company associated with the Coolmore organisation. Like many Coolmore horses, Imagine was trained by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. The filly usually raced in the colours of Susan Magnier, the wife of John Magnier although she was partly owned by Diane Nagle one of the owners of Barronstown.

Racing career

2000: two-year-old season

Imagine initially bypassed maiden races, making her first appearance in the Listed Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in August 2000 and finishing third behind the more experienced fillies Affianced and Sequoyah. She was then moved up to Group One level for the Moyglare Stud Stakes over the same course two weeks later. Ridden by the British veteran George Duffield, she finished sixth of the ten runners behind Sequoyah. Eleven days later Imagine was dropped in class for maiden race at Gowran Park and recorded her first win, ridden for the first time by Mick Kinane.^[4] Nine days late, Imagine was sent to England to contest the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot. She led for most of the way, but weakened in the closing stages and finished fourth to Crystal Music. On 30 September, Imagine, running for the fifth time in forty-one days contested the Group Three C. L. Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh. Starting the 5/2 favourite against eleven other fillies, she led from the start and held the late challenge of Katherine Seymour to win by half a length.^[5] Imagine's final appearance of 2000 came in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in October. In a close and rough finish, Imagine overcame interference to finish third, beaten a short head and half a length by Sayedah and Katherine Seymour, but was promoted to second place when the runner-up was disqualified after a steward's inquiry.^[6]

2001: three-year-old season

Imagine reappeared as a three-year-old in the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes in April. She started the 9/10 favourite but was beaten five and a half lengths by the easy winner Rebelline.^[7] On 7 May, Imagine was made favourite for the Listed Athasi Stakes but finished third behind Cool Clarity and Rose Gypsy. The field for the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh included Rebelline, Cool Clarity, Sequoyah, Katherine Seymour and Crystal Music, who started favourite, while Imagine was not fancied and started a 16/1 outsider. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, Imagine was restrained in the early stages before moving up to fourth place a quarter of a mile from the finish. Imagine took the lead just inside the final furlong and ran on strongly to win by two lengths from Crystal Music.^[8] Imagine's win, which came one day after O'Brien had trained the first three horses in the Irish 2000 Guineas,^[9] enabled Sadler's Wells to equal the record of 45 individual Group One/Grade I set by Sir Tristram.^[10]

Twelve days after her win in the Irish classic, Imagine started 3/1 favourite against thirteen opponents in the Epsom Oaks. O'Brien had not been able to run his horses in Britain earlier in the season because of restrictions on the movement of livestock imposed as a result of the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak.^[11] Ridden by Kinane, Imagine was restrained at the back of the field in the early stages and seemed to be struggling just after halfway as she seemed unable to handle the downhill section of the course.^[12] She turned into the straight in eighth place but then made steady progress down the centre of the course to challenge the leader Relish the Thought inside the last quarter mile. Imagine overtook Relish the Thought 150 yards from the finish and won by one and a quarter lengths with the fast-finishing second favourite Flight of Fancy (owned by the Queen) taking second place in the last strides.^[13] The first three were all daughters of Sadler's Wells.^[14] After the race O'Brien said that Imagine was "an amazing filly to win like that when it was ground she didn't like."^[11]

Shortly after the Oaks, Imagine sustained an injury (described by O'Brien as a "stone bruise") which interrupted her training. During her break she gained a great deal of weight and it proved impossible to bring her back to peak fitness for a run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. In September it was announced that she would be retired from racing.^[10]

Assessment and honours

In the 2001 International Classification (the forerunner of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings), Imagine was given a rating of 117, making her the equal tenth best three-year-old filly in the world (and the third best in Europe), six pounds below the top-rated Banks Hill.^[15]

The independent Timeform organisation gave Imagine a rating of 119.^[16]

Stud record

Imagine was retired to become a broodmare for the Coolmore Stud, and proved highly successful. Her first foal was Horatio Nelson, by Danehill who won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and was fatally injured when second favourite for the 2006 Epsom Derby.^[17] She went on to produce the Group Two winners Viscount Nelson and Kitty Matcham as well as Red Rock Canyon, who won only one minor race but acted as pacemaker for the Ballydoyle champions Dylan Thomas and Duke of Marmalade.^[18]

2003 Horatio Nelson (IRE) : Bay colt, foaled 30 April, by Danehill (USA) - won 4 races including G1 Grand Criterium Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Longchamp; G2 Futurity Stakes, Curragh; G3 Superlative Stakes, Newmarket; 2nd G1 Dewhurst Stakes, Newmarket from 7 starts in Ireland and England 2005-6

2004 Red Rock Canyon (IRE) : Bay colt, foaled 8 May, by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) - winner and 2nd G3 Meld Stakes, Leopardstown; 3rd G1 Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown; G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, Curragh; 3rd G2 Royal Whip Stakes, Curragh; 3rd G3 International Stakes, Curragh; 4th G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot in Ireland, England, U.S.A. and Dubai 2006-10

2005 Kitty Matcham (IRE) : Bay filly, foaled 21 May, by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) - won 2 races including G2 Rockfel Stakes, Newmarket from 10 starts in Ireland and England 2007-8

2007 Viscount Nelson (USA) : Bay colt, foaled 6 February, by Giant's Causeway (USA) - won 4 races including G2 Al Fahidi Fort, Meydan; LR Hurricane Run Stakes, Tipperary; LR Silver Stakes, Curragh; 2nd G2 Champagne Stakes, Doncaster; 2nd G2 Godolphin Mile, Meydan; 3rd G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, Curragh; 3rd G1 Eclipse Stakes, Sandown from 20 starts in Ireland, England, France, U.S.A. and Dubai 2009-12

2008 Guessing (USA) : Bay filly, foaled 27 February, by Kingmambo (USA) - unplaced in Ireland and New Zealand 2011-12

2010 Point Piper (USA) : Bay colt, foaled 16 March, by Giant's Causeway (USA) - won and placed twice from 5 starts in Ireland 2012-13; won 2 races including G3 Longacres Mile H, Emerald Downs and placed 6 times including 3rd G2 Oaklawn H, Oaklawn Park; G3 Mineshaft H, Fairgrounds from 12 starts to date (4/11/16) in the U.S.A. 2015-16.

2011 Adeste Fideles (USA) : Bay filly, foaled 14 March, by Giant's Causeway (USA) - won one race and placed three times from seven starts in Ireland 2013-14

2013 General Macarthur (USA) : Bay colt, foaled 19 March, by War Front (USA) - won twice and placed 2nd once and 4th twice, including G3 Meld S, Leopardstown from 11 starts to date (4/11/16) in Ireland 2015-16

Pedigree

Pedigree of Imagine (IRE), bay mare, 1998^[19]
Sire Sadler's Wells (USA) 1981	Northern Dancer 1961	Nearctic	Nearco
		Nearctic	Lady Angela
		Natalma	Native Dancer
		Natalma	Almahmoud
	Fairy Bridge 1975	Bold Reason	Hail to Reason
		Bold Reason	Lalun
		Special	Forli
		Special	Thong
Dam Doff the Derby (USA) 1981	Master Derby 1971	Dust Commander	Bold Commander
		Dust Commander	Dust Storm
		Madam Jerry	Royal Coinage
		Madam Jerry	Our Kretchen
	Margarethen 1962	Tulyar	Tehran
		Tulyar	Neocracy
		Russ-Marie	Nasrullah
		Russ-Marie	Marguery (Family:4-n)^[20]

References

↑ "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
↑ Nigel Pullen. "Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Imagine". Pedigreepost.net. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Grade I Winner Blush With Pride Dead". BloodHorse.com. 2005-09-09. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Ballylinch Stud Maiden Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "C L Weld Park Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Rockfel Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Irish 1000 Guineas". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ J A McGrath (2001-05-27). "Imagine completes Irish Guineas double for O'Brien". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
1 2 "Epsom heroine Imagine has run last race". Racing Post. 2001-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
1 2 "Imagine on song in Oaks". BBC News. 2001-06-08. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Imagine Wins Epsom Oaks; Mutafaweq Takes Coronation Cup". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Epsom Oaks". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ J A McGrath (2001-06-08). "The Oaks: Imagine does it well". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "2001 International Classification" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-09-17.
↑ http://www.thoroughbredinternet.com/newsmore.html?Id=1262
↑ "Horatio Nelson". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Red Rock Canyon". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "Imagine pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
↑ "St. Marguerite - Family 4-n". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-08-17.

Epsom Oaks winners

1779 Bridget 1780 Tetotum 1781 Faith 1782 Ceres 1783 Maid of the Oaks 1784 Stella 1785 Trifle 1786 Yellow Filly 1787 Annette 1788 Nightshade 1789 Tag 1790 Hippolyta 1791 Portia 1792 Volante 1793 Caelia 1794 Hermione 1795 Platina 1796 Parisot 1797 Nike 1798 Bellissima 1799 Bellina 1800 Ephemera 1801 Eleanor † 1802 Scotia 1803 Theophania 1804 Pelisse 1805 Meteora 1806 Bronze 1807 Briseis 1808 Morel 1809 Maid of Orleans 1810 Oriana 1811 Sorcery 1812 Manuella 1813 Music 1814 Medora 1815 Minuet 1816 Landscape 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Shoveler 1820 Caroline 1821 Augusta 1822 Pastille ‡ 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Wings 1826 Lilias 1827 Gulnare 1828 Turquoise 1829 Green Mantle 1830 Variation 1831 Oxygen 1832 Galata 1833 Vespa 1834 Pussy 1835 Queen of Trumps 1836 Cyprian 1837 Miss Letty 1838 Industry 1839 Deception 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Ghuznee 1842 Our Nell 1843 Poison 1844 The Princess 1845 Refraction 1846 Mendicant 1847 Miami 1848 Cymba 1849 Lady Evelyn 1850 Rhedycina 1851 Iris 1852 Songstress 1853 Catherine Hayes 1854 Mincemeat 1855 Marchioness 1856 Mincepie 1857 Blink Bonny † 1858 Governess 1859 Summerside 1860 Butterfly 1861 Brown Duchess 1862 Feu de Joie 1863 Queen Bertha 1864 Fille de l'Air 1865 Regalia 1866 Tormentor 1867 Hippia 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Brigantine 1870 Gamos 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Marie Stuart 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia (dh) 1876 Enguerrande (dh) 1877 Placida 1878 Jannette 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Jenny Howlet 1881 Thebais 1882 Geheimniss 1883 Bonny Jean 1884 Busybody 1885 Lonely 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Seabreeze 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre 1890 Memoir 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Mrs Butterwick 1894 Amiable 1895 La Sagesse 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim 1897 Limasol 1898 Airs and Graces 1899 Musa 1900 La Roche 1901 Cap and Bells II 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Our Lassie 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Keystone II 1907 Glass Doll 1908 Signorinetta † 1909 Perola 1910 Rosedrop 1911 Cherimoya 1912 Mirska 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Snow Marten 1916 Fifinella † 1917 Sunny Jane 1918 My Dear 1919 Bayunda 1920 Charlebelle 1921 Love in Idleness 1922 Pogrom 1923 Brownhylda 1924 Straitlace 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Short Story 1927 Beam 1928 Toboggan 1929 Pennycomequick 1930 Rose of England 1931 Brulette 1932 Udaipur 1933 Chatelaine 1934 Light Brocade 1935 Quashed 1936 Lovely Rosa 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Commotion 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Why Hurry 1944 Hycilla 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Steady Aim 1947 Imprudence 1948 Masaka 1949 Musidora 1950 Asmena 1951 Neasham Belle 1952 Frieze 1953 Ambiguity 1954 Sun Cap 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Sicarelle 1957 Carrozza 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Monade 1963 Noblesse 1964 Homeward Bound 1965 Long Look 1966 Valoris 1967 Pia 1968 La Lagune 1969 Sleeping Partner 1970 Lupe 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Ginevra 1973 Mysterious 1974 Polygamy 1975 Juliette Marny 1976 Pawneese 1977 Dunfermline 1978 Fair Salinia 1979 Scintillate 1980 Bireme 1981 Blue Wind 1982 Time Charter 1983 Sun Princess 1984 Circus Plume 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Unite 1988 Diminuendo 1989 Snow Bride 1990 Salsabil 1991 Jet Ski Lady 1992 User Friendly 1993 Intrepidity 1994 Balanchine 1995 Moonshell 1996 Lady Carla 1997 Reams of Verse 1998 Shahtoush 1999 Ramruma 2000 Love Divine 2001 Imagine 2002 Kazzia 2003 Casual Look 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Eswarah 2006 Alexandrova 2007 Light Shift 2008 Look Here 2009 Sariska 2010 Snow Fairy 2011 Dancing Rain 2012 Was 2013 Talent 2014 Taghrooda 2015 Qualify 2016 Minding

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners

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