{{Infobox racehorse , horsename = Tartan Bearer , image = , caption = , sire =

Spectrum A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors i ...

, grandsire =

Rainbow Quest ''Rainbow Quest'' (1965–66) was a U.S. television series devoted to folk music and hosted by Pete Seeger. It was videotaped in black-and-white and featured musicians playing in traditional American music genres such as traditional folk music, ...

, dam = Highland Gift , damsire = Generous , sex =

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 ...

, foaled = 2005 , country = Ireland , colour =

Chestnut The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. The unrelat ...

, breeder = Ballymacoll , owner = Ballymacoll , trainer =

Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute (born 22 October 1945) is a Barbadian British Thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Career Stoute, whose father was the Chief of Police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assis ...

, record = 8: 4-3-1 , earnings = £843,787 , race =

Dante Stakes The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards () at Y ...

(2008)

Gordon Richards Stakes The Gordon Richards Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 209 yards () ...

(2009) , updated= Tartan Bearer is an Irish thoroughbred

race horse 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 ...

. He raced eight times and won three of these, being placed on his other five starts. He was second three times and third once in the four Group 1 races he contested. He was bred by his owners, the

Ballymacoll Stud Ballymacoll Stud is a Thoroughbred stud farm of 300 acres in County Meath, Ireland. It is located in the townland of Ballymacoll, approximately two miles from the village of Dunboyne and four miles (6 km) from the town of Maynooth. Under th ...

, and was trained throughout his career by

Sir Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute (born 22 October 1945) is a Barbadian British Thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Career Stoute, whose father was the Chief of Police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assis ...

. He was retired as a five-year-old after failing to appear in the 2010 season due to injury.

Career

Two-year-old

His first start, at Newmarket, showed promise as he was repeatedly blocked against the rail before closing to finish a head behind Foolin Myself. It was decided he had learned enough from the experience and he was then put away for the winter with a three-year-old campaign ahead of him.

Three-year-old

He won his maiden at

Leicester racecourse Leicester Racecourse is a horse racing course in Oadby, Leicestershire, about three miles south of the city centre. History of horse racing in Leicester The earliest evidence suggests that racing took place at Abbey Meadow, Leicester on 23 Mar ...

the following April fashion before going on to York for the

Dante Stakes The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards () at Y ...

, now the most important of all the Derby trials. He was relatively unfancied for the race and started fourth in the betting behind favourite

Twice Over Twice Over (foaled 16 May 2005) is British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a top-class middle-distance performer whose wins included the Eclipse Stakes, the International Stakes and two runnings of the Champion Stakes. Background Twice Over is ...

, who had won the Craven Stakes earlier in the season. Tartan Bearer held off a challenge from Frozen Fire by a head. This year the Derby had an open look to it with many horses having a decent chance: Curtain Call, Casual Conquest, Frozen Fire,

New Approach New Approach (foaled 18 February 2005) is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active stallion. In a racing career which lasted from July 2007 to October 2008 he ran eleven times and won eight races. He was undefeated in five races as a tw ...

and Doctor Fremantle being all considered contenders. Tartan Bearer went off at 6/1. He started slowly, and jockey Ryan Moore settled him in at the back of the field. As some of the horses began to struggle with the slope heading down towards Tattenham Corner, Tartan Bearer moved past runners and was brought wide coming into the straight. He quickened on the outside and got to the front at the same time as New Approach, who had weaved a passage down the inside rail. New Approach went past, and Tartan Bearer began to close again but at the line was held by half a length: 4½ lengths in front of Casual Conquest. Like his full-brother

Golan Golan ( he, גּוֹלָן ''Gōlān''; ar, جولان ' or ') is the name of a biblical town later known from the works of Josephus (first century CE) and Eusebius (''Onomasticon'', early 4th century CE). Archaeologists localize the biblical ci ...

before him, Tartan Bearer had finished second in the Derby. Six of the horses he had beaten at Epsom reopposed Tartan Bearer in 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 ...

the following month. He started the even money favourite, with no New Approach in the line up. He ran midpack early in the race and approached the leaders 2½ furlongs out. However, just as he seemed about to take the lead, the horse on his inside, Alessandra Volta, drifted off the rail, bumping Tartan Bearer and carrying him across the track. Tartan Bearer lost his momentum and Frozen Fire, Alessandra Volta's stablemate, shot past him down the outside to win. Alessandra was disqualified with Tartan Bearer being promoted to third place.

Four-year-old

His new campaign started when he won the Group Three

at Sandown at one mile and two furlongs. Tartan Bearer got up with a late charge to win by a head from Pipedreamer. His next start came at Royal Ascot. He was sent off favourite but travelled wide throughout. Accelerating through the field, he got to the front 100 yards from the line only for the French-trained Vision d'Etat to pass him on his outside. His final start in the

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot o ...

, the richest race of the season with a million up for grabs, was seen as a straight match between himself and stablemate, The St Leger winner of the previous year,

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 ...

. Ryan Moore plumped for Conduit, who beat Tartan Bearer to favouritism. Tartan Bearer was first to make his move from the rear and, similar to Vision d'Etat at Royal Ascot, Conduit tracked him through and passed him half a furlong out. Tartan Bearer was, for the third time, beaten in a Group One by half a length. Plans to keep him in training ended due to more injury problems.

References

The Irish Independent
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom 2005 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Ireland Thoroughbred family 5-h