Hareeba (1990–1997) was an Australian

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse who won six

Black Type Group races, also known as Pattern races, or Graded races in some jurisdictions, are the highest level of races in Thoroughbred horse racing. They include most of the world's iconic races, such as, in Europe, the Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'A ...

races including two Group One (G1) sprints in the 1990s. He was a bay gelding sired by Al Hareb (won GB William Hill Futurity Stakes) out of Headford Lass (GB) (Red Alert (IRE)-Deep Company (GB)).

Racing career

Hareeba had three starts as a two-year-old without success but returned at three, and, after two further defeats, broke his maiden at Yarra Glen on 28 October 1993. This was followed with wins at Ballarat, Moonee Valley, and Flemington. In his two city wins, he broke the course record for 1,200 metres in winning by nine lengths at Moonee Valley, and defeated the following year's Caulfield Cup winner, Paris Lane, by three lengths at Flemington. After a brief let-up, Hareeba was tried in

company for the first time and finished a close second to Lady Jakeo in the 1994 Australia Made Stakes. While defeated, he had finished in front of the multiple Group One winners Primacy and Schillaci, but, in a foretaste of what would be ongoing issues over the next three years, was injured and had to be spelled. At four, he failed first-up in the

Manikato Stakes The Manikato Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Aust ...

but won the

Bobby Lewis Quality The Bobbie Lewis Quality is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred quality handicap horse race for horses four years old and older, over a distance of 1,200 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in September. Total prizemoney f ...

second-up and recorded further wins, later in the spring, in the Sir Rupert Steele Stakes and the Southcorp Stakes. In the new year, he resumed with an 'amazing display of sheer speed and power'Hareeba - Brief career description (including photos)
/ref> in the 1995 Australia Made Stakes, which was run down the straight at Flemington (with Moonee Valley closed for renovations). Starting odds-on, Hareeba raced out to a massive lead on the flat side and won by five and a half lengths. At his next start, he raced below his best when unplaced behind Mahogany in the

Lightning Stakes The Black Caviar Lightning, registered as the Lightning Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1000 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in February. Prize mone ...

, and carried topweight of 58.5 kilograms when runner-up to

All Our Mob All Our Mob (foaled 1989) was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who was a four-time Group One winner. He was by What A Guest (IRE) out of All Sold (Northern Spring (IRE)-Tickets). All Our Mob, who had always shown plenty of speed but a t ...

in the

Newmarket Handicap The Newmarket Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1200 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Super Saturday in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Prize ...

. Back to his best, he defeated Mahogany and Schillaci in the Stanley Wootton Stakes and again in the

George Ryder Stakes The George Ryder Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and over at Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in March or April. It i ...

(from which he was later disqualified). Hareeba was then injured and was off the scene for almost 12 months. When he resumed in the 1996 Stanley Wootten Stakes, he started favourite but finished last of six behind All Our Mob. Following another let-up, he finished second to Mamzelle Pedrille in a Flying on the Gold Coast and scored a course record-breaking win in the QTC Cup, under topweight of 60 kilograms. Seemingly with the Stradbroke Handicap at his mercy, as he was dropping to 57 kilograms, Hareeba continued his 'enigmatic' ways and was unplaced. He returned at six for a final campaign, and was unplaced in the 1997

Rubiton Stakes The Rubiton Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under set weights with penalties conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1100 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australi ...

before breaking down completely in trackwork. Connections tried to save him and wrapped his injured leg in bandages, but, ultimately, he had to be euthanased.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Hareeba's career record
1990 racehorse births 1997 racehorse deaths Horses who died from racing injuries Racehorses bred in Australia Racehorses trained in Australia Thoroughbred family 13-e