Schillaci (1988–2001) 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 c ...
racehorse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...
who was an eight-time
Group One
Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...
winner. He was by Salieri (USA) out of Biscarina (Biscay-Forina).
Background
A huge grey gelding, Schillaci was a $70,000 purchase at the 1990 yearling sales, and was named after
Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci (; born 1 December 1964), commonly referred to by his nickname Totò, is an Italian former professional footballer, who played as a striker. During his club career, he played for Messina (1982–1989), Juventus (1989–1992 ...
, who was the
leading goal scorer at the
1990 World Cup. In something of a fashion at the time, another grey gelding, Baggio, was named after one of Schillaci's teammates,
Roberto Baggio, and was a consistent
stakes performer in Brisbane.
Racing career
Schillaci was unraced at two, and made his debut in a
Kyneton
Kyneton ( ) is a town in the Macedon Ranges region of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. Kyneton is on Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung country.
The town has four main streets: ...
maiden on 22 October 1991, where he defeated Mavournae, who, like Schillaci, would go on to win the Rubiton Stakes. Schillaci was spelled after two more starts, which produced a win in fast time at Sandown in late-November. In the new year, Schillaci was catapulted straight into Group One company, and won 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 ...
, the
Oakleigh Plate
The Oakleigh Plate is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, run over a distance of 1100 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late February. Total prize money is A$750,000.
History
The Oakleigh ...
, and 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 ...
in successive starts. In winning these races, the grey had become a triple-Group One winner after just six starts, and only the second horse, after
Placid Ark
Placid Ark (1983-1988) was an Australian thoroughbred foaled in Western Australia. His sire Arkenstone was a winning son of the Western Australian champion sire Zvornik and his dam was Northern Queen a mare bred in South Australia by the United ...
in 1987, to complete the treble. Schillaci was then taken to
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, where he was beaten on protest by Alishan in the
Canterbury Stakes, and won his fourth Group One race,
The Galaxy. In
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
, he added the QTC Cup, and carried the big weight of 56.5 kilograms when unplaced behind
Rough Habit
Rough Habit (2 December 1986 – 7 November 2014) was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won 11 Group One (G1) races on both sides of the Tasman, and won New Zealand's Horse of the Year Award in 1992 and 1995.
Background
Rough H ...
in the
Stradbroke Handicap.
At four, Schillaci won a further six races, including Group One wins in the Lightning, the
Futurity, and 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 ...
. He failed to win in five starts at five, but won three more races at six. According to trainer Lee Freedman, Schillaci was 'never quite right' as an older horse,
Trainer's web site
/ref> but made a winning comeback in the Caulfield Sprint, on Cup day, and won his final Group One race in the autumn's Futurity Stakes.
Retirement
After his final start – a second in the Stradbroke Handicap – Schillaci was retired to a property near Seymour.
See also
* List of millionaire racehorses in Australia
Top prize money earners – Australian and New Zealand horses
* denotes still racing
The criteria for inclusion in the above list are as follows. The purpose of these criteria is to include only horses that should be recognised as being Austr ...
References
External links
Schillaci Series
Schillaci's race record
(Note: While the races contested by Schillaci and his finishing positions appear correct, in many cases the other placegetters are not correct)
– ''The Age''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schillaci (Horse)
1988 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in Australia
Racehorses trained in Australia
Thoroughbred family 13-b