Moonlight Cloud (foaled 5 March 2008) is a British– bred, French- trained

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 has won the

Prix Maurice de Gheest The Prix Maurice de Gheest is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,300 metres (about 6½ furlongs), and it is sch ...

three times and the

Prix du Moulin de Longchamp The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is sc ...

. In a famous race for the

Diamond Jubilee Stakes The Platinum Jubilee Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. Three-year-olds foaled in the Southern Hemisphere are also eligible. It is run at ...

in 2012, she was beaten a head by the Australian champion

Black Caviar Black Caviar (foaled 18 August 2006) is a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who was undefeated in 25 races, including 15 Group Ones, an Australian record. She was the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 WTRR World Champion Sprinter. Black C ...

in a

photo-finish A photo finish occurs in a sporting race when multiple competitors cross the finishing line at nearly the same time. As the naked eye may not be able to determine which of the competitors crossed the line first, a photo or video taken at the finis ...

. She is owned by

George Strawbridge George Strawbridge (1785 – March 11, 1859) was a justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Louisiana (french: Cour suprême de Louisiane) is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ...

and trained by

Freddy Head Freddy Head (born 19 June 1947, in Neuilly, France) is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a succes ...

Breeding

Moonlight Cloud was foaled on 5 March 2008 and is a daughter of

Haydock Sprint Cup The Sprint Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), an ...

winner Invincible Spirit. Invincible Spirit has produced a number of top sprinters, including July Cup winners Mayson and Fleeting Spirit, but has also sired some top middle-distance horses such as

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 ...

winner Lawman. Moonlight Cloud's

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...

, Ventura, was a race winner and a daughter of

Irish 2,000 Guineas The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is ...

and Champion Stakes winner Spectrum.

Racing career

2010: two-year-old season

Moonlight Cloud made her first racecourse appearance in a

maiden Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

race at

Deauville Deauville () is a commune in the Calvados department, Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its harbour, race course, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino, and sumptuous hotels. The first Deauville Asian Film F ...

, which she won easily. She followed this up by easily winning a

conditions race Conditions races are horse races in which the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the ...

at Longchamp. She then started as the 11/4 favourite for the

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, formerly the Grand Critérium, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1, ...

. In the race she finished in fourth place, 3½ lengths behind the unbeaten Wootton Bassett.

2011: three-year-old season

In her first race as a three-year-old Moonlight Cloud beat the favourite, Helleborine, by two lengths to win the Prix Imprudence at

Maisons-Laffitte Maisons-Laffitte () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the northern Île-de-France region of France. It is a part of the affluent outer suburbs of northwestern Paris, from its centre. In 2018, it had a population of 23,611. Maisons-Laf ...

. She then travelled across the

English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" (Cotentinais) or ( Jèrriais), (Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kana ...

for the

1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,60 ...

at Newmarket. Racing over a mile for the first time, jockey

Davy Bonilla Davy Bonilla (born 29 September 1973) is a horse racing jockey based in France. Major wins France * Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - (1) - ''Marchand d'Or (2008)'' * Prix du Cadran - (1) - ''San Sebastian (2000)'' * Prix d'Ispahan - (1) - ''Lave ...

held her up near the rear of the 18 runner field. She improved her position with three

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hor ...

s left to run and let two furlongs out, but she weakened in the final furlong and finished in seventh place. Blue Bunting won the race by three quarters of a length from Together. Head later claimed that the filly's chances had been compromised by the actions of the stalls-handlers, who had loaded her into the stalls too soon. Moonlight Cloud then returned to France for the Prix du Palais-Royal. She started as the odds-on favourite, but finished in second place, beaten by 1½ lengths by Sahpresa. She then gained a narrow victory over African Story in the Prix de la Porte Maillot. Moving back up in class to

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N * Group On ...

, she started at 9/1 for the

. The field of 13 included July Cup winner Dream Ahead,

Phoenix Stakes The Phoenix Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is sc ...

winner Zoffany,

Golden Jubilee Stakes The Platinum Jubilee Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. Three-year-olds foaled in the Southern Hemisphere are also eligible. It is run at ...

winner Society Rock and three time Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Marchand d'Or. During the early stages of the race jockey

Thierry Jarnet Thierry Jarnet (born 24 March 1967) is a champion thoroughbred flat racing jockey in France who won the title four times between 1992–1995. Jarnet was first apprenticed to Patrick Rago at Maisons-Laffitte and then to Yann Porzier at Chant ...

held Moonlight Cloud up near the rear of the field. She took the lead with a furlong left to run and went clear to win by four lengths from Society Rock, who just beat Marchand D'Or and Genki for second place. In her final race of the season she finished fifth behind

Deacon Blues "Deacon Blues" is a song written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen in 1976 and recorded by their group Steely Dan on their 1977 album '' Aja''. It peaked at number 19 on the ''Billboard'' charts and number 17 on the U.S. '' Cash Box'' Top 100 ...

in the

British Champions Sprint Stakes The British Champions Sprint Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it ...

at Ascot.

2012: four-year-old season

Moonlight Cloud started her four-year-old season by winning the Prix du Palais-Royal by two lengths from So Long Malpic. She then went to Royal Ascot for the

where her opposition included the unbeaten 1/6 favourite

and the previous year's winner Society Rock. Near the finish she was closing fast on the then injured leader Black Caviar, but Black Caviar just held on to win by a head from Moonlight Cloud, with Restiadargent a further neck behind in third place. Moonlight Cloud started as the odds-on favourite for the

and won easily by five lengths from Wizz Kid. Racing over a mile for the first time since the

1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,60 ...

she then finished fourth in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, about 1¾ lengths behind winner

Excelebration Excelebration (foaled 13 April 2008) is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old he recorded wins in the Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen and Hungerford Stakes, before winning his first Group 1 in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. After fin ...

. She then faced just three rivals in the

and started as the 10/11 favourite. Multiple

runner-up

Farhh Farhh (foaled 4 March 2008) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. His early career was disrupted by injury and he made only one appearance in each of his first two seasons. As a four-year-old he established himself as a top-class performer without ...

started at 11/8, with Sarkiyla at 12/1 and Caspar Netscher at 14/1. She challenged for the lead with about two furlongs left to run and took the lead one furlong out. Farhh slowly closed in the last 100

yard The yard (symbol: yd) is an English unit of length in both the British imperial and US customary systems of measurement equalling 3 feet or 36 inches. Since 1959 it has been by international agreement standardized as exactly ...

s, but Moonlight Cloud just held him off to win by a head. On her final appearance of the year, Moonlight Cloud was sent to

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

to contest the

Breeders' Cup Mile The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's incepti ...

Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races ...

. She started third favourite but was never in contention and finished eighth of the nine runners behind

Wise Dan Wise Dan (foaled February 20, 2007) is a champion American Hall of Fame and Canadian Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse. He is the first horse to win the same three Eclipse Awards in consecutive years, having been named American Horse of the ...

2013: five-year-old season

Moonlight Cloud did not appear as a five-year-old until July, when she contested the Prix de la Porte Maillot at Longchamp. Starting the 9/10 favourite she took the lead inside the last 200 metres and won in impressive style by two and a half lengths from the German colt Amarillo. On 4 August, Moonlight Cloud was matched against the leading British sprinter Lethal Force in the Prix Maurice de Gheest. Jarnet settled the filly behind the leaders before moving forward in the last 400 metres. She overtook Lethal Force 200 metres from the finish and quickened clear to win the race for the third time by one and three quarter lengths. A week later the mare was moved up to 1600m for the Prix Jacques Le Marois, in which she faced a strong field including Dawn Approach,

Intello Intello (foaled 14 April 2010) is a German-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion. After winning two minor races as a two-year-old he has won the Feilden Stakes, Prix du Jockey Club and Prix Messidor in 2013. During his racin ...

, Elusive Kate and Declaration of War. She took the lead in the straight and went clear of the field before holding off the late challenge of Olympic Glory to win by a short head. On 6 October, Moonlight Cloud started the odds-on favourite for the Prix de la Forêt over 1400m at Longchamp. Jarnet held the mare up at the back of the field until 400m from the finish. Moonlight Cloud then accelerated past the other ten runners and went clear of the field to win easily by three lengths from the Irish gelding

Gordon Lord Byron Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gordon, ...

Assessment

At the end of the 2011 Moonlight Cloud was officially rated as the joint 99th best horse in the world, with a rating of 118. In the following year she was rated at 121, making her the 46th best horse in the world.

Retirement

It was announced 8 January 2014 that she would be retired and become a broodmare. This on the heels of the final start in December 2013 in the

Hong Kong Mile The Hong Kong Mile is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December ...

where she finished sixth. She is booked for a breeding session with the noted stallion Galileo.

Pedigree

''Note: b. = Bay, ch. = Chestnut''

References

{{Cartier Champion Older Horse 2008 racehorse births Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom Racehorses trained in France Thoroughbred family 4-n Cartier Award winners