Rosdhu Queen (foaled 10 February 2010) is an Irish-bred, British-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 c ...

racehorse and

broodmare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...

. In a racing career which lasted from July 2012 until August 2013 she won four of her eight races. As a two-year-old in 2012 she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Britain, winning all four of her races including the St Hugh's Stakes,

Lowther Stakes The Lowther Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each ...

and

Cheveley Park Stakes The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it i ...

. She failed to win in 2013 but finished fourth in the

Fred Darling Stakes The Fred Darling Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs () at Newbury in April. History The eve ...

and produced arguably her best effort when finishing fifth in 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 ...

. At the end of her racing career she was sold to become a broodmare for the

Coolmore Stud Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland, is headquarters of the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. Through its racing arm, Ballydoyle, Coolmore also has raced many classic winners and champions. The operat ...

Background

Rosdhu Queen is a bay mare with a white snip and a white

coronet A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. A coronet differs from other kinds of crowns in that a coronet never has arches, and from a tiara in that a coronet completely encircles the head, while a tiara does ...

on her right hind foot bred in Ireland by Old Carhue & Graeng Bloodstock. She was sired by the

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), and ...

winner

Invincible Spirit Invincible Spirit (foaled 17 February 1997) is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning two of his four races as a two-year-old, he only raced twice as a three-year-old, losing on both occasions. In 2001 he won twice ...

who has produced many other major winner including Kingman, Mayson,

Fleeting Spirit Fleeting Spirit is a retired, Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was trained in the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from 2007 to 2010. She was a specialist sprinter, running all of her races over five and six furlongs. Fle ...

Moonlight Cloud Moonlight Cloud (foaled 5 March 2008) is a British– bred, French- trained Thoroughbred racehorse who has won the Prix Maurice de Gheest three times and the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. In a famous race for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2012, sh ...

and Lawman. Her dam, Green Minstrel competed only as a two-year-old in 2000 but showed high-class form, winning two of her three races including the

Prix d'Aumale The Prix d'Aumale is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take plac ...

. She was descended from Sparkalark, the grand-dam of the

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 s ...

winner

Flash of Steel Flash of Steel (10 March 1983 – after 2004) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred and owned by Bertram Firestone and trained by Dermot Weld he was one of the best two-year-olds in Ireland in 1985 when he won his last three r ...

. As a foal, Rosdhu Queen was consigned by Rings View Stud to the Goffs sale in November 2010 and was bought for €120,000 by the bloodstock agency BBA Ireland. In August 2011, the

yearling Yearling may refer to: *Yearling (horse), a horse between one and two years old *''The Yearling ''The Yearling'' is a novel by American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, published in March 1938. It was the main selection of the Book of the Mo ...

filly was offered for sale 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 Fes ...

but failed to reach her

reserve price In economics, a reservation (or reserve) price is a limit on the price of a good or a service. On the demand side, it is the highest price that a buyer is willing to pay; on the supply side, it is the lowest price a seller is willing to accept ...

of €75,000. The filly entered the ownership of Clipper Logistics (a

haulage Haulage is the business of transporting goods by road or rail between suppliers and large consumer outlets, factories, warehouses, or depots. This includes everything humans might wish to move in bulk - from vegetables and other foodstuffs, to cloth ...

company founded by Steve Parkin) and was sent into training with

William Haggas William Haggas is a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer, based at Somerville Lodge stables in Newmarket, Suffolk. He is the son-in-law of the multiple champion jockey Lester Piggott. He was educated at Harrow and played cricket at Lord's ...

Newmarket, Suffolk Newmarket is a market town and civil parish in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk, England. Located (14 miles) west of Bury St Edmunds and (14 miles) northeast of Cambridge. It is considered the birthplace and global centre of thoroughbred hor ...

Racing career

2012: two-year-old season

Rosdhu Queen made her racecourse debut in a five

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 hors ...

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 ...

Ripon Racecourse Ripon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England and is nicknamed the Garden Racecourse. History Racing on the present site on Boroughbridge Road began on 6 August 1900. but racing has taken plac ...

on 21 July. Ridden by Philip Makin and starting at odds of 7/2, she disputed the lead from the start before going clear of her thirteen opponents to win by two and a half lengths. Ryan Moore took the ride when the filly was moved up in class for the St Hugh's Stakes on 17 August at

Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse and events venue in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps. It hosts one of Great Britain's 36 annual Group 1 flat r ...

. She was made the 11/10 favourite against nine rivals headed by the

Princess Margaret Stakes The Princess Margaret Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take ...

runner-up Sandreamer. After racing in second place Rosdhu Queen took the lead a furlong out and kept on well to win by three quarters of a length from Sound of Guns with Sandreamer a length away in third. Six days after her win at Newbury, the filly was moved up in class and distance for the Group Two Lowther Stakes over six furlongs at

York Racecourse York Racecourse is a horse racing venue in York, North Yorkshire, England. It is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot Racecourse, Ascot in prize money offered per meeting. It att ...

in which she was ridden by Richard Hughes. She started the 9/2 second favourite behind the Albany Stakes winner Newfangled whilst the other runners included Sandreamer, Baileys Jubilee (a Listed race winner in France) and the highly rated maiden race winners Pearl Sea and Badr Al Badoor. In a race run in heavy rain and a strong headwind, Rosdhu Queen took the lead from the start and was never seriously challenged, winning by one and three quarter lengths from Baileys Jubilee, with the 33/1 outsider Royal Rascal a head away in third place. After the race, Hughes said "The plan was to get her some cover but she hit the gate fast and I wasn't going to interfere with her after that. I got a soft lead and when I went for her she looked around a bit, but when I gave her a scalp she really ran. At the furlong pole I wasn't sure we'd get home, but at the post I felt she could have gone another 100 yards. I was really impressed with the way she picked up, she's a very speedy filly" Commenting on the filly's prompt return after winning at Newbury, Haggas explained "I don't normally run them back this quick. But Steve Parkin, who owns her, is a Yorkshireman as well – so what did we have to lose? We may as well have some fun, it's what we do it for. And she's pretty good". For her final appearance as a two-year-old, Rosdhu Queen was moved up to Group One class for the Cheveley Park Stakes at

Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket Racecourse is a British Thoroughbred horse racing venue in Newmarket, Suffolk, Newmarket, Suffolk, comprising two individual racecourses: the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Newmarket is often referred to as the headquarters of ...

on 29 September. In her fourth race, she had her fourth different jockey, being partnered by

Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh (born 14 May 1970) is an Irish flat racing trainer and former jockey from Bohermeen, near Navan, Kells, County Meath. As a jockey he won many of the major flat races in Europe, including all the Irish Classi ...

. The Princess Margaret Stakes winner Maureen (ridden by Hughes), started 2/1 favourite with Rosdhu Queen the 4/1 second choice in an eleven-runner field. The other runners included The Gold Cheongsam (winner of her last three races including a £300,000 sales race at Doncaster), Winning Express (

Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes The Dick Poole Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Salisbury over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take p ...

), Sendyourlovetome ( Grangecon Stud Stakes,

Cherry Hinton Stakes The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes is a Group races, Group 2 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old Filly, fillies. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket Ra ...

), Ceiling Kitty (

Queen Mary Stakes The Queen Mary Stakes is a Group races, Group 2 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old Filly, fillies. It is run at Ascot Racecourse, Ascot over a distance o ...

), Hoyam ( Roses Stakes) and Baileys Jubilee. Murtagh immediately sent the filly to the front and raced along the far rail (the right hand side from the jockeys' viewpoint). Several challengers emerged in the closing stages but Rosdhu Queen kept on well under pressure to win by a length and a nose from Winning Express and Baileys Jubilee. Murtagh commented "She battled well and wasn't for passing. She's fast". Discussing the filly's stamina and future prospects, William Haggas said "I didn't think she'd stay six in the Lowther, but she went again when she needed to. Whether or not she's a Guineas filly I don't know, but why not?"

2013: three-year-old season

Rosdhu Queen made her first appearance as a three-year-old in the

(a trial race 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 (1,609 ...

) over seven furlongs at Newbury on 20 April. Starting the 7/4 favourite she became unsettled in the starting stalls and after leading for most of the way ahe weakened in the closing stages and finished fourth of the ten runners behind Maureen. The filly was dropped to sprint distances in her three subsequent races, starting with the

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 ...

in June. Matched against colts and older horses for the first time she again became upset in the stalls before finishing fifth of the eighteen runners behind Lethal Force,

Society Rock Society Rock (8 February 2007 – 31 May 2016) is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who has won the Golden Jubilee Stakes and Haydock Sprint Cup. He was owned by Simon Gibson and trained by James Fanshawe. Breeding Society ...

Krypton Factor ''The Krypton Factor'' is a British game show produced by Granada Television for broadcast on ITV. The show originally ran from 7 September 1977 to 20 November 1995, and was hosted by Gordon Burns and usually broadcast on the ITV network on Mond ...

and

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, ...

. Rosdhu Queen failed to reproduce her best form in her two remaining races, finishing last when favourite for the

Summer Stakes The Summer Stakes is a Group races, Group 3 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to Filly, fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York Racecourse, York over a ...

in July and unplaced behind Jwala in the

Nunthorpe Stakes The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is schedu ...

in August. In December 2013 Rosdhu Queen was auctioned

Tattersalls Tattersalls (formerly Tattersall's) is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Founding It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall (1724–1795), who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. T ...

December Mares Sale and was bought for 2.1 million

guineas The guinea (; commonly abbreviated gn., or gns. in plural) was a coin, minted in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Great Britain between 1663 and 1814, that contained approximately one-quarter of an ounce of gold. The name came from t ...

by Stephen Hillen Bloodstock, acting on behalf of the

Pedigree

*Rosdhu Queen was

inbred Inbreeding is the production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically. By analogy, the term is used in human reproduction, but more commonly refers to the genetic disorders and o ...

4 × 4 to Northern Dancer, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.

References

{{reflist, 30em 2010 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Thoroughbred family 9-f