Yeats (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Yeats


caption =
sire = Sadler's Wells
grandsire = Northern Dancer
dam = Lyndonville
damsire = Top Ville
sex = Stallion
foaled = 2001
country = Ireland flagicon|Ireland
colour = Bay
breeder = Barronstown Stud & Orpendale
owner = Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle
trainer = Aidan O'Brien
record = 20: 13-2-1
earnings = £1,036,683
race = Ballysax Stakes (2004)
Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (2004)
Coronation Cup (2005)
Goodwood Cup (2006, 2008)
Ascot Gold Cup (2006, 2007, 2008)
Saval Beg Stakes (2007)
Irish St. Leger (2007)
awards= European Champion Stayer (2006, 2007)
honours =
updated= July 31, 2008
Yeats is a notable Irish thoroughbred racehorse who was foaled on April 23 2001 at Derrinstown Stud, and is owned by Ballydoyle and Coolmore Stud boss John Magnier. By Sadler's Wells, out of Lyndonville, he was unbeaten in 3 starts, including the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial in May 2004, and was hot favourite for the Epsom Derby, but met with a setback just days before the race and missed the rest of the season, returning almost 1 year later, finishing 2nd in a Group 3 in Ireland on heavy ground.

4-year-old career

His next start came at Epsom in the Coronation Cup, taking on subsequent Japan Cup winner Alkaased, Bandari and dual Coronation Cup winner Warrsan. Jockey Kieren Fallon adopted front-running tactics on the colt, and pulled away in the final quarter-mile to win by more than 2 lengths. The win made Yeats the first Irish-based horse to win the Coronation Cup since Roberto in 1973. Yeats attempted to follow up in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over the same distance, with new jockey Jimmy Fortune adopting hold-up tactics, but they failed to pay off, and Yeats trailed in 9th, 20 lengths behind the winner Alkaased.

The Irish St. Leger came next, reunited with Kieren Fallon, adopting similar hold-up tactics as Fortune in Yeats' previous start, and was staying-on towards the finish to come 4th, just a length and a half behind the winner Collier Hill. His final start of the season was to be the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada over 12 furlongs, but he missed the break and could never recover, finishing 12 lengths behind the victor.

5-year-old career

Yeats' first start of the 2006 season was to come at Royal Ascot in the Ascot Gold Cup, some 247 days after the Woodbine Canadian International Stakes. Fallon adopted a prominent position towards the start, and got to the front 4 furlongs out, and was only pulling away towards the end, winning by 4 lengths from Prix du Cadran winner Reefscape.

He attempted a rare double with the Goodwood Cup at the Glorious Goodwood meeting, carrying top weight and easing to victory by 5 lengths under new jockey Michael Kinane, since Fallon is currently banned from riding in the UK.

Yeats finished a disappointing 7th in the Melbourne Cup, with Kieren Fallon stating that his mount just lacked his usual finishing kick and was not suited by the stop-start pace of the race. He was forced to make a big move a mile out to get to the front, ensuring that he maintained his speed for the finishing straight.

He was voted the 2006 Cartier Racing Award as Top Stayer.

6-year-old career

In 2007 Yeats won his second consecutive Ascot Gold Cup and followed that up by winning the Irish St. Leger on his third attempt, giving trainer Aidan O'Brien his first win in that race, and the 1-2 as stablemate Scorpion came a close second to Yeats.

7-year-old career

On June 19, 2008 Yeats became only the second horse in history to win the Ascot Gold Cup three times in succession, defeating Geordieland by 5 lengths. He followed this on July 31 with a second victory in the Goodwood Cup, winning by 7 lengths.

Pedigree

Pedigree
name = Yeats
f = Sadler's Wells
m = Lyndonville
ff = Northern Dancer
fm = Fairy Bridge
mf = Top Ville
mm = Diamond Land
fff = Nearctic
ffm = Natalma
fmf = Bold Reason
fmm = Special
mff = High Top
mfm = Sega Ville
mmf = Sparker
mmm = Canaan
ffff = Nearco
fffm = Lady Angela
ffmf = Native Dancer
ffmm = Almahmoud
fmff = Hail To Reason
fmfm = Lalun
fmmf = Forli
fmmm = Thong
mfff = Derring-Do
mffm = Camenae
mfmf = Charlottesville
mfmm = La Sega
mmff = Hard Tack
mmfm = Diamond Spur
mmmf = Santa Claus
mmmm = Rustic Bridge|

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/yeats2 pedigreequery.com] – "Yeats's pedigree"
* [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/racing_horse_form.sd?horse_id=583841 racingpost.co.uk] – "Yeats's race record"
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjFhy-CgxKY youtube.com] – "Video of Yeats winning the 2006 Ascot Gold Cup"