Observatory
SireDistant View
GrandsireMr Prospector
DamStellaria
DamsireRoberto
SexStallion
Foaled17 February 1997[1]
CountryUnited States
ColourChestnut
BreederJuddmonte Farms
OwnerKhalid Abdulla
TrainerJohn Gosden
Record10: 6-2-0
Earnings£369,145
Major wins
Jersey Stakes (2000)
Lennox Stakes (2000)
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2000)
Prix d'Ispahan (2001)

Observatory (17 February 1997 – 12 December 2019) was a thoroughbred race horse. He won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, and the Prix d'Ispahan in France.

Background

Observatory was a chestnut horse bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farms, the breeding operation of his owner Khalid Abdulla. He was one of the best horses sired by Distant View who won the Sussex Stakes in 1994.[2]

Racing career

1999: two-year-old season

Observatory began his racing career by winning a maiden race at Yarmouth Racecourse but when moved up in class he finished last of the four runners in the Mill Reef Stakes. On his final appearance of the year he returned to Yarmouth and won a minor race over six furlongs in October.[3]

2000: three-year-old season

Observatory began his second season by finishing second in a Listed race at Newmarket Racecourse on 3 June and was then sent to Royal Ascot for the Group Three Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs. He started at odds of 11/2 in a nineteen-runner field and won by one and a half lengths from Umistim.[4] At Goodwood Racecourse on 4 August he added a win in the Lennox Stakes, beating Three Points by one and half lengths[5] but in the Celebration Mile at the same course later that month he was beaten into second by Medicean.

On 23 September Observatory started a 14/1 outsider for the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Giant's Causeway started favourite in a field which also included Medicean, Best of the Bests (Prix Guillaume d'Ornano), Indian Lodge (Prix du Moulin) and Crimplene. After placing the colt just behind the leaders, Kevin Darley produced the colt with a sustained run down the centre of the straight to take the lead inside the final furlong and win by half a length from Giant's Causeway.[6]

2001: four-year-old season

On his first appearance as a four-year-old, Observatory was sent to France for the Group One Prix d'Ispahan over 1850 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 20 May. Starting the 11/10 favourite against four opponents he took the lead over 200 metres from the finish and held off a challenge from Hightori to win by a short head.[7] At Royal Ascot in June he finished fourth behind Fantastic Light, Kalanisi and Hightori in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. He did not race again and was retired to stud at the end of the season.

Stud career

Observatory was based for most of his career at the Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket. The best of his offspring were Twice Over and African Rose.[8] His death was reported on 12 December 2019.[9]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Observatory, chestnut stallion, 1997[1]
Sire
Distant View (USA)
1991		 Mr Prospector (USA)
1970		 Raise A Native Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger Nashua
Sequence
Seven Springs (USA)
1982		 Irish River Riverman
Irish Star
La Trinite Lyphard
Promessa
Dam
Stellaria (USA)
1986		 Roberto (USA)
1969		 Hail To Reason Turn-To
Nothirdchance
Bramalea Nashua
Rarelea
Victoria Star (CAN)
1972		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Solometeor Victoria Park
Solar Display (Family: 4-j)[10]
  • Observtory was inbred 4 × 4 to Nashua, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References

  1. 1 2 "Observatory pedigree". equineline.com.
  2. ↑ "Distant View - Stud Record". Racing Post.
  3. ↑ "Results From The 4.10 Race At Yarmouth - 19 October 1999 - Racing Post". Racing Post.
  4. ↑ "Jersey Stakes result". Racing Post. 21 June 2000.
  5. ↑ "Lennox Stakes result". Racing Post. 4 August 2000.
  6. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes result". Racing Post. 23 September 2000.
  7. ↑ "Prix d'Ispahan result". Racing Post. 20 May 2001.
  8. ↑ "Observatory - Stud Record". Racing Post.
  9. ↑ Peacock, Tom (12 December 2019). "Champion European miler and Juddmonte stallion Observatory dies at the age of 22". Racing Post.
  10. ↑ "Lady Lumley - Family 4-j". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
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