Reliable Man (foaled 27 March 2008) is a British-bred
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
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 ...
. Initially trained in France, he won two minor races in the spring of 2011 before defeating a strong field to win 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 a ...
. After losing his unbeaten record in the
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it ...
he won the
Prix Niel
The Prix Niel is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to ...
before running poorly in 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 ...
. As a four-year-old he failed to win in six races but ran well to finish a close fourth in the
. In 2013 he was sent to Australia where he won the
Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC)
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes, formerly known as the Queen's Plate, AJC Plate, and AJC King's Cup, is is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydne ...
, sustaining a career-ending injury in the process.
Background
Reliable Man is a grey horse bred in the United Kingdom by Sven Hanson's N P Bloodstock. His sire,
Dalakhani
Dalakhani (16 February 2000 – 15 January 2021) was an Irish thoroughbred race horse owned and bred by Aga Khan IV and trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré. He was sired by Darshaan covering Daltawa (Miswaki) and was therefore half-brother to Daylam ...
, from whom he inherited his grey colour, was an outstanding racehorse who won eight of his nine races including the
Critérium International
The Critérium International was a two-day bicycle stage race held in France every spring from 1932 until 2016, typically the last weekend of March. It was formerly known as the Critérium National de la Route, first run in 1932. For many years ...
,
Prix Lupin
The Prix Lupin was a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it was scheduled to take place each year in ...
, Prix du Jockey Club and the
2003 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe At stud, Dalakhani's other offspring have included
Conduit
Conduit may refer to:
Engineering systems
* Conduit (fluid conveyance), a pipe suitable for carrying either open-channel or pressurized liquids
* Electrical conduit, a protective cover, tube or piping system for electric cables
* Conduit curre ...
Duncan (
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 ...
) Moonstone (
Irish Oaks
The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres), and it is s ...
) Chinese White (
Pretty Polly Stakes) and
Integral
In mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented i ...
.
Reliable Man's dam On Fair Stage was a daughter of Hanson's Epsom Oaks winner
Fair Salinia
Fair Salinia (18 March 1975 – 31 March 2004) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the British Classic Races, classic Oaks Stakes in 1978. In a racing career which lasted from September 1977 until September ...
. As a descendant of the broodmare Judy O'Grady, Fair Salinia came from the same branch of
Thoroughbred family 16-c which also produced
Green Dancer
Green Dancer (14 April 1972 – 5 December 2000) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion. A son of the British Tiple Crown winner Nijinsky, he won the French 2000 Guineas in 1975.
Background
A son of the Englis ...
,
Solemia
Solemia (foaled 20 February 2008) is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2012 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Before her win in the Arc, Solemia had won four of her twelve races, with her biggest win coming ...
,
Authorized
Authorization or authorisation (see spelling differences) is the function of specifying access rights/privileges to resources, which is related to general information security and computer security, and to access control in particular. More for ...
,
Dream Well and
Makfi
Makfi (foaled 4 March 2007) is a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 2010 he won the 2000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois.
Background
Makfi's sire is Irish 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Dubawi. ...
.
On Fair Stage also produced the successful
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: ...
performer French Opera whose wins included the
Game Spirit Chase
The Game Spirit Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong ( ...
and the
Celebration Chase
The Celebration Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 1 mile 7½ furlongs (1 mile, 7 fur ...
.
Hanson owned the horse in a variety of partnerships throughout his racing career. Reliable man was initially sent into training in France with
Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré (born 24 September 1944http://www.breederscup.com/bio.aspx?id=2334 Breeders' Cup trainer profile) is a leading French thoroughbred racehorse trainer.
Early life
He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in No ...
.
Racing career
2011: three-year-old season
Reliable Man did not race as a two-year-old, beginning his racing career in a
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 ...
over 2000 metres at
Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud is a grass race course for Thoroughbred flat horse racing opened in 1901 at 1 rue du Camp Canadien in Saint-Cloud near Paris, France. During World War 1, the race course site housed the No. 4 Canadian Stationary Hospital ...
on 12 April 2011 in which he was ridden, as in all his races that season, by
Gerald Mosse
Gerald is a male Germanic given name meaning "rule of the spear" from the prefix ''ger-'' ("spear") and suffix ''-wald'' ("rule"). Variants include the English given name Jerrold, the feminine nickname Jeri and the Welsh language Gerallt and Iri ...
. Starting at odds of
7.3/1, he raced just behind the leaders before taking the lead 400 metres from the finish. He accelerated clear of his fourteen opponents and won by three lengths despite being eased down by Mosse in the final strides. Four weeks later, the colt started 7/10 favourite in a field of five for the Prix du Mont Pagnotte over the same distance at
Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse (In French: "Hippodrome de Chantilly") is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris.
Chantilly Racecourse is located in the country's main hors ...
. Mosse restrained the colt at the back of the field before moving forward in the straight, taking the lead in the last 100 metres and winning by three quarters of a length from Veter.
On 5 June, Reliable Man was moved up sharply in class for 174th running of the Prix du Jockey Club over 2100 metres at Chantilly and started a 16/1 outsider. His fifteen opponents were headed by the
Aga Khan
Aga Khan ( fa, آقاخان, ar, آغا خان; also transliterated as ''Aqa Khan'' and ''Agha Khan'') is a title held by the Imām of the Nizari Ismāʿīli Shias. Since 1957, the holder of the title has been the 49th Imām, Prince Shah Karim ...
's Baraan, winner of the
Prix La Force
The Prix La Force is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Longchamp in April.
History
...
and the
Irish 2000 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 s ...
winner
Roderic O'Connor who started the 9/2 joint favourites. The other contenders included Tin Horse (winner of
Poule d'Essai des Poulains
Molof (Ampas, Poule, Powle-Ma) is a poorly documented Papuan language spoken by about 200 people in Molof village, Senggi District, Keerom Regency.
Classification
Wurm (1975) placed it as an independent branch of Trans–New Guinea, but Ross ...
), Crackerjack King (
Derby Italiano
The Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres (about 1 mile and 3 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in ...
), Casamento (
Racing Post Trophy
The Vertem Futurity Trophy is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), ...
), Prairie Star (
Prix Hocquart
The Prix Hocquart is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1 mile and 4 furlongs) at ...
), Grand Vent (
Prix Noailles
The Prix Noailles is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlon ...
) and Bubble Chic (runner-up to
The Derby winner
Pour Moi in the
Prix Greffulhe
The Prix Greffulhe is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Saint-Cloud in May.
History
The eve ...
). Reliable Man raced towards the rear of the field before making progress in the straight and switching to the outside to make his challenge 300 metres out. He overtook the leader Bubble Chic 100 metres out and won by three-quarters of length, with a gap of two lengths back to Baraan who took third place just ahead of Colombian and Tin Horse. After the race Alain de Royer-Dupré said "He's a horse of great quality. We decided on coming here after he won his first race at Saint-Cloud. He's got a lot of class, but it's all still very new to him".
In the
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it ...
over 2400 metres at
Longchamp Racecourse
The Longchamp Racecourse (french: Hippodrome de Longchamp) is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, France. It is used for flat racing and is noted for its variety of interlaced tr ...
on 14 July Reliable Man started 2/1 favourite. He was again opposed by Bubble Chic, but his main danger appeared to come from the
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien (born 16 October 1969 in County Wexford, Ireland)[ Aidan O'Brien bio NTRA. ...](_blank)
-trained
Treasure Beach
Treasure Beach is the name given to a stretch of four Jamaican coves and their associated settlements: Billy's Bay, Frenchman's Bay, Calabash Bay and Great (Pedro) Bay.
The region is isolated from the main tourist areas and the minor roads conn ...
who had been narrowly beaten by Pour Moi in the Epsom Derby before winning the
Irish Derby
The Irish Derby (Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) 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 ...
from his stablemate Seville (also in the Longchamp field). After racing in fourth place, the favourite made steady progress in the straight but never looked likely to win and finished third behind the
André Fabre
André Fabre (born 9 December 1945) is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.
The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in t ...
-trained
Meandre. After a two-month break, Reliable Man faced a rematch with Meandre in the Prix Niel at Longchamp in September. In a slowly-run race (the time was 5.8 seconds slower than that for the Grand Prix) Reliable Man settled in third behind the leaders King of Armor and Colombian before moving up on the outside to take the lead 300 metres from the finish. He went clear of the field before being eased down by Mosse to win by two lengths from Meandre, who finished strongly but never looked likely to threaten the winner. Explaining the colt's improvement from his previous run, Royer-Dupre said "The ground was too firm for him in the Grand Prix de Paris and he didn't come down the hill well. He came with a good run here and has the action of a top horse". In October, Reliable Man started the 12/1 sixth choice in the betting for France's most prestigious race, 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 ...
but ran very poorly, finishing fifteenth of the sixteen runners behind
Danedream
Danedream (foaled 7 May 2008) is a German Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in race record time. She is one of only three German trained horses to win the Arc, the others being Star Appeal in 1975 a ...
.
2012: four-year-old season
As a four-year-old, Reliable Man failed to win in six races. In the spring he finished third behind
Cirrus des Aigles
Cirrus des Aigles (foaled 8 May 2006) is a retired French Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career which lasted from October 2008 until December 2015 he has raced in France, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. After rac ...
in the
Prix Ganay
The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) at Longc ...
and fourth behind
Golden Lilac
Golden Lilac is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She won her first six races including the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane as a three-year-old in 2011. In May 2012, she defeated Cirrus des Aigles to win the ...
in the
Prix d'Ispahan
The Prix d'Ispahan is a 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 raci ...
. He was then sent overseas for the first time to contest the
Prince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes 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 1 mile 1 furlong and 212 yards (2,004 met ...
over ten furlongs at
Royal Ascot
Ascot Racecourse ("ascot" pronounced , often pronounced ) is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. It hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 horse races and ...
and finished fourth behind
So You Think
So You Think (foaled 10 November 2006) is a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, now majority owned by Coolmore Stud of Ireland. So You Think came to prominence through winning the 2009 and 2010 Cox Plates, Australia's premier weight for ag ...
, Carlton House and
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 ...
.
Maxime Guyon
Maxime Guyon (born 7 May 1989) is a French flat racing jockey, who debuted at 2005. In 2008, he received a professional license and won first group one at the Grand Prix de Paris. In 2010, he won races in the United Kingdom, Japan and Hong Kong. ...
took over the ride from Mosse when the colt returned to Ascot for the
a month later. He started a 20/1 outsider but produced his best performance of the season to finish fourth behind Danedream,
Nathaniel
, nickname =
{{Plainlist,
* Nat
* Nate
, footnotes =
Nathaniel is an English variant of the biblical Greek name Nathanael.
People with the name Nathaniel
* Nathaniel Archibald (1952–2018), American basketball player
* Nate A ...
and
St Nicholas Abbey
St Nicholas Abbey is located in Saint Peter, Barbados, and is a plantation house, museum and rum distillery. Colonel Benjamin Berringer built the house in 1658. This house is one of only three genuine Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemispher ...
, beaten less than two lengths by the winner and finishing ahead of
Dunaden
Dunaden (26 February 2006 – 30 April 2019) was a French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the 2011 Melbourne Cup, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, trained by Mikel Delzangles. The horse was owned by Sheikh Fahad al Thani and managed by Davi ...
,
Sea Moon
Sea Moon (foaled 6 March 2008) is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was initially trained in Britain and as a three-year-old in 2011 he won the Great Voltigeur Stakes, was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Turf and finished third in the S ...
and
Masked Marvel. In September, Reliable Man was dropped in class and started odds-on favourite for the
Group Three
AP Films or APF, later becoming Century 21 Productions, was a British independent film production company of the 1950s until the early 1970s. The company became internationally known for its imaginative children's action-adventure marionette tel ...
Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte but was beaten one and a half lengths by the
Jonathan Pease
Jonathan Edward Pease (born 8 June 1952 in Northumberland, England) is a member of the prominent Pease family and a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.
The son of Derrick Allix Pease and the Hon. Rosemary Portman, his grandfather was Sir Richard ...
-trained
Maxios. On his final appearance of the season, the colt was sent to Canada to contest the
Canadian International Stakes
The Canadian International Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and up on Turf. It is held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The current purse is
Since its creation i ...
at
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a race track for Thoroughbred horse racing in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group, Woodbine Racetrack manages and hosts Canada's most famous race, the King's Plate. The track ...
in which he finished eighth of the ten runners behind
Joshua Tree
''Yucca brevifolia'' is a plant species belonging to the genus ''Yucca''. It is tree-like in habit, which is reflected in its common names: Joshua tree, yucca palm, tree yucca, and palm tree yucca.
This monocotyledonous tree is native to the ar ...
.
2013: five-year-old season
For the following season, Reliable Man was sent to race in Australia where he was trained by Chris Waller. The horse made his Australian debut on 6 April 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 ...
over 1500 metres (500 metres less than any race he had contested in Europe) at
Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is operated by the Australian Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass su ...
in which he was ridden by
Corey Brown. Starting a 50/1 outsider, he finished sixth of the twelve runners, beaten less than two lengths by the winner
Pierro. Three weeks later, Reliable Man was ridden by Hugh Bowman when he contested the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000 metres at
Randwick Racecourse
Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing located in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse is Crown Land leased to the Australian Turf Club and known to many Sydney ra ...
. He started at odds of 11/1 behind the odds-on favourite
Dundeel
Dundeel, or It’s a Dundeel as he is known in Australia, is a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse. He is the fifth and most recent winner of the Australian Triple Crown.
Background
Dundeel is a bay colt trained by Murray Baker and An ...
(to whom he was conceding eight pounds) with the other contenders including the
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day o ...
-winning mare
Silent Achiever
Silent Achiever (foaled 18 September 2008) is a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse. On 3 March 2012, she won the 137th running of the New Zealand Derby. She was the first filly to win the race since 1993, and only the fourth in the las ...
. After tracking the leaders, Reliable Man moved to the outside, accelerated 300 metres from the finish, took the lead went clear to win by two and a half lengths from Dundeel, with the
Emirates Stakes
The VRC Champions Mile, registered as the ''Cantala Stakes'', is a Group 1 Victoria Racing Club quality handicap Thoroughbred horse race run over 1,600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the fourth and last day during the Me ...
winner Happy Trails taking third ahead of Silent Achiever. Reliable Man had faltered in his stride 50 metres from the finish and as he slowed to a trot after the finishing line it became clear that he was badly lame. He had taken from the course in horse ambulance and subsequent veterinary examinations revealed that he had sustained a serious tendon injury to his right foreleg. Bowman, who raised his whip to salute the crowd in the final strides, commented "I didn't realise what had happened until after the line, otherwise I wouldn't have been carrying on like a pork chop". Chris Waller, who had been cleared of a doping charge on the previous day, said "Welcome to A grade – this horse is a serious horse... Thankfully we've delivered because he's already done it in Europe and now he's done it in Australia".
Despite that hopes that he would return later in 2013, Reliable Man did not recover from his injury and was retired from racing.
Stud record
After his retirement from racing became a breeding stallion at the Westbury Stud in New Zealand and being shuttled to stand at the Gestut Röttgen in Germany for the Northern Hemisphere breeding season.
His stud fee in 2021 was $17,500 (GST exclusive).
Notable stock
''c =
colt
Colt(s) or COLT may refer to:
*Colt (horse), an intact (uncastrated) male horse under four years of age
People
* Colt (given name)
*Colt (surname)
Places
*Colt, Arkansas, United States
*Colt, Louisiana, an unincorporated community, United States ...
, f =
filly
A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use:
*In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old.
*In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...
, g =
gelding
A gelding is a castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. Castration, as well as the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male equine to be calmer and better-behaved, makin ...
''
Pedigree
References
{{reflist, 2
2008 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom
Racehorses trained in France
Racehorses trained in Australia
Thoroughbred family 16-c