Millenary is a retired British
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 c ...
racehorse and active
sire
Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French.
The words "sire" a ...
. He won the
St. Leger Stakes
The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a ...
in 2000, and, unusually for a
Classic
A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a ''c ...
winner, stayed in training until the age of eight, winning many important races over middle and long distances.
Background
Millenary was bred by his owner, Neil Jones's Abergwaun Farms breeding operation. He was sired by the
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, over a distance ...
winner, Rainbow Quest, out of the minor winner Ballerina. Ballerina went on to produce two other notable horses, the
Princess Royal Stakes
The Princess Royal Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres) on the Rowley M ...
winner, Head in the Clouds, and Let The Lion Roar, who finished third in the 2004
Derby
Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...
. He was trained throughout his career by John Dunlop. He was ridden in most of his races up to the end of 2003 by
Pat Eddery
Patrick James John Eddery (18 March 1952 – 10 November 2015) was an Irish flat racing jockey and trainer. He rode three winners of the Derby and was Champion Jockey on eleven occasions. He rode the winners of 4,632 British flat races, a f ...
, after which
Richard Quinn was his regular jockey.
Racing career
1999–2000: early career
Unlike most racehorses, Millenary began his career in
Listed races
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' ...
, finishing third in the
Washington Singer Stakes
The Denford Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old horses. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place eac ...
and fifth in the
Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes
The Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old colts and geldings. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it i ...
in 1999.
Dropped down to
maiden race
In horse racing a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the se ...
company for his three-year-old debut, he recorded a first victory at Newbury before moving into
Classic
A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a ''c ...
contention by winning the
Chester Vase
The Chester Vase is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 63 yards () at Ches ...
. After the race, Millenary, described as "a big, gangly horse" by his trainer's representative was quoted at 25-1 for
The Derby. In the event, it was
Sakhee
Sakhee (14 February 1997 – 20 August 2021) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won eight of his fourteen races and was most noted for his performances as a four-year-old in 2001 when his wins included the Internatio ...
who represented the stable at Epsom with Millenary traveling to
Chantilly
Chantilly may refer to:
Places
France
*Chantilly, Oise, a city located in the Oise department
**US Chantilly, a football club
*Château de Chantilly, a historic château located in the town of Chantilly
United States
* Chantilly, Missou ...
for the
Prix du Jockey-Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly over ...
where he finished unplaced behind Holding Court. Returning to England, he recorded a short-head win in the
Gordon Stakes
The Gordon Stakes is a Group races, Group 3 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Goodwood Racecourse, Goodwood over a distance ...
, coming from last to first to catch Air Marshall close to the finish.
The
St Leger
The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a d ...
involved a rematch with Air Marshall, who had gone on to win the
Great Voltigeur Stakes
The Great Voltigeur Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 18 ...
. The two colts dominated the betting with Millenary being sent-off the 11-4 favourite ahead of Air Marshall at 3–1. The race reflected the betting, with Millenary taking the lead two furlongs out, being briefly headed by Air Marshall in the closing stages, but displaying superior stamina to stay on under pressure and win by three-quarters of a length. The winning time of 3:02.58 was the fastest for the race at Doncaster since
Bahram's win in 1935, which reflected the "unremitting gallop" at which the race had been run. Despite the pace of the race and the closely contested finish, Richard Quinn felt that he had "won with a bit to spare."
2001–2003: Middle distance races
For the next three seasons, Millenary was campaigned in top-class middle-distance events all over Europe.
His best victory in 2001 came on his debut in the
Jockey Club Stakes
The Jockey Club Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres) on t ...
, at Newmarket where he recorded comfortable win over Sandmason with Holding Court third and Air Marshall tailed-off in last place. The race led the BBC to suggest that he would be "a force to be reckoned with", while John Dunlop called Millenary "a lovely character and... a good ride". It proved, however, to be his only win of the season.
Millenary's most important success in 2002 came when he won the
Princess of Wales's Stakes
The Princess of Wales's Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlo ...
, beating the
Arc
ARC may refer to:
Business
* Aircraft Radio Corporation, a major avionics manufacturer from the 1920s to the '50s
* Airlines Reporting Corporation, an airline-owned company that provides ticket distribution, reporting, and settlement services
* ...
runner-up Mubtaker by a neck. After the race he was a leading fancy for the
, but John Dunlop emphasised that the horse would not be risked on firm ground. In the event, he was re-routed to Köln, where he finished third in the
Aral-Pokal
In 2003 he finished first, a nose in front Loxias, in the
Prix Jean de Chaudenay
The Prix Jean de Chaudenay was a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It was run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it was scheduled to take place each year in May or ...
, but was disqualified after hanging badly to the right and interfering with the runner-up in the closing stages, despite the efforts of Pat Eddery to keep him running in a straight line. In his next race he was fitted with
blinkers for the first time, and won a second Princess of Wales's Stakes with the beaten horses including the 2002 St Leger winner
Bollin Eric
Bollin Eric (18 February 1999 – 18 January 2020), was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from July 2001 until October 2003, he ran eighteen times and won four races. He recorded his most important success when ...
and the leading three-year-old High Accolade (
King Edward VII Stakes
The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards (2,406 met ...
). It was an "impressive" performance and afterwards Eddery praised the horse, saying that "his form has been top-class this year, and he picked them up really well today".
During this period, he was also placed in important races such as the
Coronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards (2, ...
,
Irish St. Leger
The Irish St Leger is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and it i ...
,
Rheinland-Pokal
The Grosser Preis von Bayern is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Munich Racecourse over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year ...
,
Hardwicke Stakes
The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards (2,406 metres), and ...
,
Jockey Club Cup
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual w ...
and
Geoffrey Freer Stakes
The Geoffrey Freer Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 61 yards (2,671 me ...
.
2004–2006: Staying races
Millenary's last race of 2003, a short-head defeat to the double
Champion Stayer Persian Punch
Persian Punch (1993–2004) was a Thoroughbred racehorse trained in the United Kingdom. He was frequently heralded by the Racing Post and his fans as the most popular horse in training during the final years of his career and had his own fan c ...
in the Jockey Club Cup, indicated the direction of his future career; from 2004 onwards, he was campaigned almost exclusively at long-distance events.
In 2004, he had his greatest success since his three-year-old days. In May he won the Yorkshire Cup, "cruising" through the race and showing "a good turn of foot" to take the race by three lengths from Alcazar with the
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4,014 ...
winner
Mr Dinos
Mr Dinos (foaled 14 April 1999) is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for his win in 2003 Ascot Gold Cup. After finishing second on his only start as a juvenile in 2001 he improved to become a top-class s ...
well beaten. In the autumn he returned to the scene of his St Leger win and
dead-heated with Kasthari in a "thrilling" race for the Doncaster Cup. A month later he was "always cantering" in the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket before taking the lead inside the final furlong and winning by three lengths. Commenting on a "wonderful season", Dunlop said of Millenary, "He might be a seven-year-old
entire
Entire may refer to:
* Entire function, a function that is holomorphic on the whole complex plane
* Entire (animal), an indication that an animal is not neutered
* Entire (botany)
This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of ...
, but he has retained all his ability and enthusiasm".
As an eight-year-old in 2005, he was as good again, winning the two more important staying races. At York in August for the
Lonsdale Cup
The Lonsdale Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 2 miles and 56 yards (3,270 metres), and it is scheduled ...
he was held up in last place before quickening to lead and go clear inside the final furlong, beating the odds-on favourite Distinction by two and a half lengths. "I am absolutely thrilled to bits", said Dunlop afterwards, "he has been a wonderful servant". Three weeks later he recorded his last win, again coming from last to first to win the Doncaster Cup for a second year. John Dunlop was visibly moved by the horse's victory and again paid tribute to his winner: "He's amazing...so genuine". After one more race, a third place in the Jockey Club Cup, Millenary was retired to stud.
Assessment
In 2000 Millenary (116) was the highest-rated three-year-old stayer (Extended Distance division) in the International Classification drawn up by the International Classification Committee and the North American Rating Committee. This was not, however, a "World Championship", as it did not include horses from the Southern Hemisphere.
In 2004 Millenary was rated the fourth best stayer of any age in the world in the
World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (LWBRR), known as World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (WTRR) before 2012, are horseracing's equivalent to World Rankings by other major sporting organizations such as ATP Tennis Rankings, World Golf R ...
with a rating of 117.
He was given the same rating in 2005, this time placing him third in the world in his division. His highest
Timeform
Timeform is a sports data and content provider located in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1948, it provides systematic information on form to punters and others involved in the horse racing industry. The company was purchased by ...
figure was 124.
Stud career
Millenary was retired at the end of 2005 to stand at stud at the Knockhouse Stud in
Kilkenny
Kilkenny (). is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore. The 2016 census gave the total population of Kilkenny as 26,512.
Kilken ...
, Ireland. He has been used as a
National Hunt
In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...
stallion. Millenary has proved to be a successes at stud with a healthy 33% strike rate winners to runners ratio under both Flat and National Hunt codes. His first National Hunt winner was the mare Uimhir A Seacht who won at
Fontwell Racecourse
Fontwell Park Racecourse is a horse racing course located in the village of Fontwell in West Sussex, England, owned by ARC Racing. It features an oval hurdles course.
Fontwell Park was founded by Alfred Day who trained racehorses at The Hermi ...
in December 2012, having previously been successful in a
point-to-point. His first flat winner came on 2 October 2015 at Gowran Park with the highly promising Here For The Craic. In the summer of 2015 Millenary was sold privately and it was announced that he would stand at Nunstation Stud Co Durham in the UK for the 2016 season. On 28 November 2015 at Fairyhouse in Ireland the JP McManus owned Nearly Nama'd became his first stakes winner over jumps. Millenary appears to be a true-breeding bay.
Pedigree
References
{{St Leger Winners
1997 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom
Thoroughbred family 1-l
St Leger winners