Bering (horse)

British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Bering

Racing silks of Mrs Alec Head

Sire| Arctic Tern
Grandsire| Sea-Bird
Dam| Beaune
Damsire| Lyphard
Sex| Stallion
Foaled| 20 March 1983
Country| Great Britain
Colour| Chestnut
Breeder| Alec Head
Owner| Alec Head
Trainer| Criquette Head
Jockey| Freddy Head
Gary Moore
Record| 7: 5-1-1
Earnings| €519.468
Major wins
Prix Noailles (1986)
Prix Hocquart (1986)
Prix du Jockey Club (1986)
Prix Niel (1986)
Awards
Timeform rating: 136

Bering (20 March 1983 - 16 December 2011) was a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He achieved five victories out of his seven starts, including a win in the Prix du Jockey Club in 1986. In his final race, he finished second to Dancing Brave in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Bering was bred and owned by Alec Head and trained by his daughter, Criquette Head. Following his retirement from racing, Bering had success as a stallion, siring notable progeny such as Pennekamp, the winner of the 2000 Guineas Stakes, and American Post, the victor of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.

## Background

[edit]

Bering was a chestnut colt bred by Alec Head and foaled in 1983.[1] He was sired by Arctic Tern, the winner of the Prix Ganay in 1977.[2] His dam, Beaune, was a stakes-winning daughter of Lyphard.[3]

## Racing career

[edit]

### 1985: Two-year-old season

[edit]

In his first Bering finished third in a 1,600 metre race at Longchamp on 5 October 1985. He followed this up a month later by winning a 1,700 metre race at Maisons-Laffitte. He was ridden by Freddy Head on both of his races as a two-year-old.[4]

### 1986: Three-year-old season

[edit]

Bering started the 1986 season by winning the Prix Noailles by eight lengths from Point D'Artois in April.[5] In May he then took the Prix Hocquart, again beating Point D'Artois, this timeby two lengths.[6] After these two victories he was sent off as the odds-on favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club over 2,400 metres at Chantilly. Art Francais set off in the lead at a fast past, at one point being ten lengths clear of the rest of the field. As they entered the finishing straight, Pradier took the lead, whilst Bering was moving through into third position. Bering took the lead with about 400 metres left to run and was never caught, winning by one and a half lengths from Altayan. Bering ran the race in a time of 2 minutes and 24.10 seconds, which beat the race record set by Top Ville in 1979 by 1.2 seconds. Gary Moore said after the race "I knew we were going to win 400m-600m out and all he needed was a couple of smacks."[7]

As preparation for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Bering raced in the Prix Niel at Longchamp, which he won by two and a half lengths from Malakim.[8] In his final race Bering took on a strong field in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He was ridden by Gary Moore, as he had been throughout his three-year-old career. Bering was leading the race well into the closing stages until he was overtaken by Dancing Brave with about 100 metres left to run. Dancing Brave won the race by one and a half lengths from Bering.[9] Bering finished one and a half lengths ahead of Triptych, who just beat Shahrastani for third place.[10]

## Assessment

[edit]

Timeform rated Bering at 136, making him the second highest rated three-year-old of 1986, behind only Dancing Brave (rated 140).[11]

## Stud career

[edit]

After the 1986 season Bering was retired to stud. He initially stood at Walmac International for a fee of $75,000. In 1992 he moved back to France to stand at Haras du Quesnay near Deauville. Bering retired from stud duty in 2009 and died on 16 December 2011, aged 28. At the time of his death he had sired 77 winners of stakes races.[3] His most notable progeny are listed below.

### Notable progeny

[edit]

s = stallion, m = mare, g = gelding

Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins | Ref.

|
|
|
|

1988  | Peter Davies | s  | Racing Post Trophy | [12]
1988  | Serrant  | g  | Grand Prix d'Évry, Prix Maurice de Nieuil | [13]
1988  | Steamer Duck  | s  | Gran Criterium | [14]
1991  | Signe Divin  | s  | Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte | [15]
1992  | Matiara  | m  | Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Ramona Handicap | [16]
1992  | Pennekamp | s  | Prix de la Salamandre, Dewhurst Stakes, 2000 Guineas Stakes | [17]
1994  | Vertical Speed  | s  | Prix Hubert de Chaudenay | [18]
1995  | Glorosia | m  | Fillies' Mile | [19]
1995  | Miss Berbere  | m  | Prix d'Astarte | [20]
1996  | Moiava  | m  | Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte | [21]
1996  | Puntal | g  | Dovecote Novices' Hurdle, Betfred Gold Cup | [22]
2001  | American Post | s  | Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, Racing Post Trophy, Poule d'Essai des Poulains | [23]
2003  | French Opera  | g  | Future Champion Novices' Chase, Game Spirit Chase, Celebration Chase | [24]

Bering was also the damsire of Harbinger,[3] who in 2010 was rated as the best horse in the world in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.[25]

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Bering, chestnut stallion, 1983[1] Sire
Arctic Tern
ch. 1973  | Sea-Bird
ch. 1962  | Dan Cupid
ch. 1956  | Native Dancer

|
|
|

Vixenette
Sicalade
b. 1956  | Sicambre
Marmelade
Bubbling Beauty
ch. 1961  | Hasty Road
b. 1951  | Roman
Traffic Court
Almahmoud
ch. 1947  | Mahmoud
Arbitrator
Dam
Beaune (FR)
ch. 1974  | Lyphard
b. 1969  | Northern Dancer
b. 1961  | Nearctic
Natalma
Goofed
ch. 1960  | Court Martial
Barra II
Barbra
br. 1969  | Le Fabuleux
ch. 1961  | Wild Risk
Anguar
Biobelle
b. 1960  | Cernobbio
La Beloli

Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Bering (GB) pedigree". equineline.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
2. ^ "PRIX GANAY". Galop.courses-france.com. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
3. ^ a b c "Pensioned French Stallion Bering Dies". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
4. ^ "Bering". .france-galop.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
5. ^ "Prix Noailles". .france-galop.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
6. ^ "Prix Hocquart". .france-galop.com. 2012-05-16. Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
7. ^ "Bering wins French Derby in style". New Straits Times. 1986.
8. ^ "Prix Niel". .france-galop.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
9. ^ "Horse Racing". Bangor Daily News. 1986-10-06.
10. ^ "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe". .france-galop.com. 2012-05-16. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
11. ^ "Timeform All-time Highweights". Chef-de-race.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
12. ^ "Peter Davies". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
13. ^ "Serrant". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
14. ^ "Steamer Duck". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
15. ^ "Signe Divin". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
16. ^ "Matiara". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
17. ^ "Pennekamp". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
18. ^ "Vertical Speed". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
19. ^ "Glorosia". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
20. ^ "Miss Berbere". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
21. ^ "Moiava". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
22. ^ "Puntal". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
23. ^ "American Post". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
24. ^ "French Opera". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
25. ^ "The 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2013-01-30.