Nureyev (horse)

Nureyev
Sire Northern Dancer
Grandsire Nearctic
Dam Special
Damsire Forli
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1977
Country United States
Colour Bay
Breeder Claiborne Farm
Owner Stavros Niarchos
Trainer Francois Boutin
Record 3: 2-0-0
Earnings $42,018
Major wins
Prix Thomas Bryon (1979)
Prix Djebel (1980)
Awards
Timeform rating 131 (1980)
Leading sire in France (1987)
Leading broodmare sire in Britain & Ireland (1997)
Last updated on May 30, 2011

Nureyev (1977–2001) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and champion sire. As a racehorse, he was best known as the disqualified "winner" of the 2000 Guineas in 1980.

Background

Nureyev was a bay horse with a white blaze and white sock on his right hind leg bred in Kentucky by the Claiborne Farm. He was sired by Northern Dancer out of the mare Special, making him a half brother of to several winners including Fairy Bridge, the dam of Sadler's Wells. He was bought in 1978 at the Keeneland yearling sale by Stavros Niarchos for US$1.3 million, at the time the second-highest paid price ever paid for a yearling—behind only Canadian Bound.[1] Niarchos named the colt in honor of the famous ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev. Niarchos sent the colt to race in Europe where he was trained by Francois Boutin.

Racing career

In November 1979, Nureyev made his two-year-old racing debut in France. He easily outdistanced the field in the Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, winning by six lengths.

The following spring of 1980, he won the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse in his 3-year-old debut. He was then shipped to Newmarket Racecourse in the United Kingdom for the 2000 Guineas. His rider, Philippe Paquet, restrained Nureyev in the early stages before pushing his way through the field (interfering with several other runners) to make his challenge in the final quarter mile. He got the better of a brief struggle with Known Fact to win by a neck with Posse, the main sufferer in the earlier interference, finishing strongly to take third. After a lengthy inquiry, the result overturned by the racing stewards, who awarded the race to Known Fact and relegated Nureyev to last place. It was the first time that a winner of the 2,000 Guineas Classic had been disqualified. Nureyev was scheduled to compete in June's Epsom Derby, but came down with a virus and never raced again.[2]

Retirement

Nureyev was sent to stand at stud at his owner's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard in Neuvy-au-Houlme in Lower Normandy. Renowned French horseman Alec Head recommended Nureyev to Lexington, Kentucky breeder John T. L. Jones, Jr. and in mid-1981 put together a syndicate that purchased Nureyev for US$14 million. Nureyev was brought to Jones' Walmac-Warnerton Farm partnership near Lexington and then under Jones' wholly owned Walmac International.

In 1987, Nureyev suffered a life-threatening fracture to his right hind leg in a paddock accident during breeding season, but veterinary surgeons were able to save his life.[3]

Sire

Some of Nureyev's prominent offspring are:

During his breeding career, Nureyev sired 135 stakes winners and more than twenty champions, despite fertility problems.[4] In 1998, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum set a European sales record when he paid three million guineas for a yearling colt by Nureyev at the Newmarket sales.

Damsire

Nureyev is also the damsire of several top international horses, including:

Nureyev died at the age of 24 on October 29, 2001. He is buried at Walmac International in Lexington, Kentucky.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Nureyev (USA), bay stallion, 1977[6]
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
Special (USA)
1969		 Forli (ARG)
1963		 Aristophanes Hyperion
Commotion
Trevisa Advocate
Veneta
Thong (USA)
1964		 Nantallah Nasrullah
Shimmer
Rough Shod Gold Bridge
Dalmary (Family 5-h)[7]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.paulickreport.com/news/people/keeneland-sales-legends-stavros-niarchos/
  2. ↑ "Remembering Nureyev". The Blood-Horse, November 10, 2001. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  3. ↑ "A Look Back: Saving Nureyev". The Blood-Horse, October 10, 1987. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  4. ↑ Frances J. Karon, "An Inspiration". Bloodhorse.com, November 13, 2001. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  5. ↑ John Cobb, "Racing: Spinning Queen breaks sales record". The Independent, 28 November 2006. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  6. ↑ "Nureyev pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  7. ↑ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Ann of the Forest - Family 5-h". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
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