Saumarez (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Saumarez


caption =
sire = Rainbow Quest
grandsire = Blushing Groom
dam = Fiesta Fun
damsire = Welsh Pageant
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1987
country = Great Britain flagicon|United Kingdom
colour = Dark Bay
breeder = Suc. E. Longton
owner = Bruce McNall (75%) &
Wayne Gretzky (25%)
trainer = Henry Cecil (England)
Nicolas Clément (France)
record = 11: 4-3-3
earnings = US$1,388,517 (equivalent)
race = Prix du Prince d'Orange (1990)

French Classic Race wins:
Grand Prix de Paris (1990)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1990)
awards=
honours =
updated=

Saumarez (foaled March 28, 1987 in Great Britain) was an Thoroughbred racehorse who won Frances most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for his famous owners, National Hockey League superstar Wayne Gretzky and owner of his Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team, Bruce McNall.

Trained by Henry Cecil, Saumarez was winless at age two in 1989 then got his first win in 1990 under American-born U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey 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. 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.

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

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/saumarez Saumarez's pedigree and partial racing stats]
* [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4020792.html "Chicago Sun-Times" October 8, 1990 article on Gretzy, McNall winning the Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe with Saumarez]
* [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1139847/5/index.htm May 13, 1991 "Sports Illustrated" article on Gretzy and McNall]
* [http://www.le-cheval-bleu.com/eng/saumarez.htm Saumarez at Cheval Bleu]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2KwJByDhs0 Video at YouTube of Saumarez winning the 1990 Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe] (called by Tom Durkin)