- David Junior
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David Junior Sire Pleasant Tap Grandsire Pleasant Colony Dam Paradise River Damsire Irish River Sex Stallion Foaled 18th April 2002 Country USA Colour Chestnut Breeder Arthur I. Appleton Owner Roldvale Ltd Trainer Brian Meehan Record 12: 7-1-1 Earnings £2,359,960 Major wins Select Stakes (2005)
Champion Stakes (2005)
Dubai Duty Free (2006)
Eclipse Stakes (2006)Horse (Equus ferus caballus) Last updated on June 22, 2007 David Junior is a retired thoroughbred racehorse and active sire, who was bred in the United States but trained in the United Kingdom during his racing career which lasted from 2004 to 2006. In 2006-7 he won three Group One races and was officially rated the joint-best colt in the world in the 2005-06 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.[1]
Contents
Background
David Junior was bred by Arthur Appleton at the Bridlewood Stud Farm near Ocala, Florida, sired by the Eclipse Award winning stallion Pleasant Tap. His dam, Paradise River was a full sister to the American Turf Champion, Paradise Creek.[2] This pedigree suggested a bright future on American tracks, but at the Fasig-Tipton sale at Calder in spring 2004, he was bought for $175,000 by the bloodstock agent Richard Galpin on behalf of the British publisher David Sullivan.[3] Sullivan, who runs his horses under the name of Roldvale Ltd, named the chestnut colt in honour of his son,[3] and sent him into training in England with Brian Meehan. At that time, Meehan was training at Lambourn.
Racing career
2004: Two-Year-Old Season
David Junior had a brief two-year-old career, beginnining with a third place in a maiden race at Thirsk in September 2004. Two weeks later he appeared in a similar event at Ascot and led from the start to record his first win despite showing his inexperience (running "green").[4]
2005: Three-Year-Old Season
David Junior's 2005 debut brought a significant rise in class, as he was sent straight for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Starting a complete outsider at 100-1, he finished unplaced, but did rather better than his odds suggested, finishing eleventh of the nineteen runners, beaten less than five lengths by Footstepsinthesand. A move up in trip followed, and he immediately showed his aptitude for middle distances in the listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket, taking the lead two furlongs out and pulling clear to win by eight lengths from a field that included the future Group One winner Linngari.[5] Less than two weeks later he appeared in another listed event, the Fink Gala Stakes at Sandown and was "impressive", winning by five lengths despite being eased down in the closing stages.[6] Brought back to a mile (and back up to Group One) he made little impression in the Sussex Stakes, finishing seventh behind Proclamation. He then disappointed when finishing second at odds-on in the Group Three Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.
At this point, David Junior appeared to be a useful colt, but some way below the very best (rated 115). From this point on however, he began to show top class form. Ridden for the first time by his new regular jockey Jamie Spencer, he recorded his first Group race win by taking the Select Stakes at Goodwood[7] by a one and a half lengths despite hanging to the right in the closing stages. He was then stepped back up to the highest level for the Group I Champion Stakes at Newmarket. Starting as a 25-1 outsider, David Junior was held up in the early stages, before moving through the field and taking a clear lead a furlong from the finish. He stayed on strongly to win by three quarters of a length from the Cartier Award winning filly Pride, with major winners such as Rakti, Alexander Goldrun, Alkaased, Oratorio and Maraahel amongst the beaten horses.[8] The surprising nature of the result led to David Junior's win being received with "barely a cheer" from the crowd.[9] Even his trainer, Brian Meehan, seemed to be unprepared for his colt's win and commented, "What can you say? It may be a surprise, but it's now in the form book".[10]
2006: Four-Year-Old Season
Rather than being aimed at one of the major races at the end of the calendar year, David Junior was given a winter break, during which time David Sullivan turned down what he described as a "monstrous, monstrous offer" for his horse.[11] In February he was transferred from Lambourn to Meehan's new base at Manton, Wiltshire.[12][13]
Less than a month later, the colt was sent to the UAE to prepare for the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba. The race attracted a strong international field, with runners from the UAE, USA (The Tin Man), Hong Kong (Bullish Luck), Australia (Fields of Omagh), South Africa and Japan. None of them were able to offer any challenge to David Junior, who was sent up to take the lead a furlong and a half from home and pulled away to win by three and a half lengths from The Tin Man.[14]
His summer camapaign back in England consisted of just two races. The field for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot was exceptionally strong, including as it did the European and North American Champion mare Ouija Board, the Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist and the future World Champion Manduro, but David Junior was made the 11-8 favourite. He made a challenge in the straight but hung badly to the right, and despite staying on well, could finish only fourth behind Ouija Board. [15]
In the Eclipse Stakes a little over two weeks later David Junior produced his best performance in Europe, despite rumours that he had been working poorly at home.[16] He was held in last place by Jamie Spencer, as the race was led by his stable companion, Royal Alchemist, who had been bought a few days earlier to act as a pacemaker. In the straight he produced what the BBC's correspondent described as a "dramatic finishing burst"[17] to accelerate past the field to and win by a length and a half from Notnowcato, with Ouija Board a further two and a half lengths back in fifth. Meehan commented on the performance by saying, "today is a great day... he is a seriously good horse".[18]
David Junior did not race for the next four months, despite expectations that he would run in the Irish Champion Stakes in Sepetmber.[19] In October, it became clear that he would be retired at the end of the season, and it was reported that Sullivan was considering an offer of $8,000,000 for the colt[20] from Japanese breeders, which he eventually accepted.
David Junior's final race was run in the Breeders' Cup Classic which ended in disappointment, as he completely failed to cope with the dirt at Churchill Downs, and finished tailed-off behind Invasor.[21]
Assessment
In the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings David Junior was assessed at 123 [22] making him the fourteenth best horse in the world, and the world's joint-best performer on turf in the Intermediate division. He repeated his 123 rating and fourteenth place in the rankings for 2006.[23] In the ratings for 2005-6, which excluded most horses trained in North America and Europe, he was placed second, equal with Electrocutionist and Heart's Cry, behind the Australian mare Makybe Diva.[1]
Stud career
On his retirement, David Junior was transferred to Japan for stud duties by his new owners, the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. He was based for three seasons at the Shizunai Stallion Station before being moved to the Iburi Stallion Station in 2010.[24]
Tabulated pedigree
Pedigree of David Junior (USA), chestnut stallion, 2002 Sire
Pleasant Tap (USA)
1987Pleasant Colony
1978His Majesty (horse) Ribot (horse) Flower Bowl Sun Colony Sunrise Flight Colonia Never Knock
1979Stage Door Johnny Prince John Peroxide Blonde Never Hula Never Bend Hula Hula Dam
Paradise River (USA)
1994Irish River
1976Riverman Never Bend River Lady Irish Star Klairon Botany Bay North of Eden
1983Northfields Northern Dancer Little Hut Tree of Knowledge Sassafras Sensibility (Family: 3-h) References
- ^ a b "The 2005-06 World Thouroughbred Racehorse Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/2005-06Rankings/2005-06_WorldRankings.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "David Junior pedigree". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home_popup.sd?horse_id=603642#topHorseTabs=horse_pedigree&bottomHorseTabs=horse_form. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ a b "Pedigree Spotlight". the-racehorse. 2006-07-11. http://www.the-racehorse.com/breeding/pedigree_spotlight/pedigree_spotlight_11_july_david_junior. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- ^ "Allied Irish Bank (GB) Maiden Stakes". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=357933&r_date=2004-09-24&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "Fairway Stakes". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=383923&r_date=2005-05-21&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "Fink Gala Stakes". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=387167&r_date=2005-07-01&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "Select Stakes". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=390646&r_date=2005-09-11&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ Schweitzer, Mary (2005-10-15). "David Slays Goliaths in Champion Stakes". Bloodhorse. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/30519/david-slays-goliaths-in-champion-stakes. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- ^ Eddie Fremantle. "Sergeant earns three stripes". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/oct/16/horseracing.eddiefremantle1. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "Sergeant Cecil takes the footslogger's route to dreamland". The Independent. 2005-10-16. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/racing-sergeant-cecil-takes-the-footsloggers-route-to-dreamland-511128.html. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "Electrocutionist lights up Arabian night". The Independent. 2006-03-26. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/racing-electrocutionist-lights-up-arabian-night-471470.html. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "About Brian". Brian Meehan. http://www.brianmeehan.co.uk/meehan/about-brian. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ Armytage, Marcus (2009-04-11). "Brian Meehan out to put Manton back on Classic map". Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/5140809/Brian-Meehan-out-to-put-Manton-back-on-Classic-map.html. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "David Junior bests Elders in Dubai Duty Free". Bloodhorse. 2006-03-25. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/32737/david-junior-bests-elders-in-dubai-duty-free. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- ^ "Prince of Wales's Stakes". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=405935&r_date=2006-06-21&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: Junior "fit and well" ahead of Eclipse". Rte.ie. 2006-07-07. http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0707/eclipse.html. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "David Junior claims the Eclipse". BBC News. 2006-07-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/5156642.stm. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "David Junior takes Eclipse Stakes at Sandown". Rte.ie. 2006-07-08. http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0708/sandown.html. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- ^ "BARKING MAD from 8 Aug 2006". mirror.co.uk. 2006-08-08. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/racing-betting/tm_objectid=17525553&method=full&siteid=115875&headline=barking-mad--name_page.html. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ Greg Wood. "British stallion set for black hole in Japan". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/oct/03/horseracing.comment. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "Breeders' Cup Classic". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=419593&r_date=2006-11-04&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "The 2005 World Thouroughbred Racehorse Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. 2005-12-31. http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/2005Rankings/2005_WorldRankings.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ "The 2006 World Thouroughbred Racehorse Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. 2006-12-31. http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/2006Rankings/2006_WorldRankings.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- ^ Stallion Profile
Categories:- 2002 racehorse births
- Thoroughbred racehorses
- Racehorses bred in Florida
- Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom
- British racehorses
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