Talent (horse)

British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Talent

Racing silks of James Rowsell

Sire| New Approach
Grandsire| Galileo
Dam| Prowess
Damsire| Peintre Celebre
Sex| Filly
Foaled| 25 February 2010
Country| Ireland
Colour| Chestnut
Breeder| Ashbrittle Stud & M H Dixon
Owner| James Rowsell & Mark Dixon
Trainer| Ralph Beckett-
Record| 11: 3-1-3
Earnings| £489,197
Major wins
Pretty Polly Stakes (2013)
Investec Oaks (2013)

Talent (foaled 25 February 2010) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the classic Oaks Stakes in 2013.

## Background

[edit]

Talent is a chestnut with a white blaze and long white socks on her hind legs, bred by the Ashbrittle Stud near Wellington in Somerset. Talent is from the first crop of foal sired by New Approach a horse which won four Group One races including The Derby, and was the equal highest-rated Thoroughbred in the world when trained by Jim Bolger in 2008. Other products of New Approach's first crop included Dawn Approach and the Dante Stakes winner Libertarian. Her dam, Prowess, won one minor race and was a granddaughter of the Oaks winner Bireme, herself owned and bred by Mark Dixon's uncle R.D (Dick) Hollingsworth.[1]

Talent is owned in partnership by the Ashbrittle Stud's owner James Rowsell and Mark Dixon.[2] The filly was sent into training with Ralph Beckett at Kimpton near Andover in Hampshire. Beckett has described the filly as "very robust and hardy and she shows she's tough in everything she does".[3]

## Racing career

[edit]

### 2012: two-year-old season

[edit]

Talent began her racing career on 18 August 2012 in a six furlong maiden race for two-year-old fillies at Newbury. She started at odds of 14/1 and finished third of the ten runners, four lengths behind the winner Malilla. At Kempton on 7 September, Talent started the 6/4 favourite for a seven furlong race on the polytrack surface and won by a neck from Hanzada despite hanging to the left in the closing stages. In this race she was ridden by Beckett's stable jockey Jim Crowley.[4]

### 2013: three-year-old season

[edit]

On her three-year-old debut, Talent contested the Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket on 5 May. Ridden by Crowley, she started at odds of 11/1 against seven opponents and won by half a length from Lady Nouf.[5] On 31 May, Talent was one of eleven fillies to contest the 235th running of the Oaks Stakes over 1+1⁄2 miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Her stable companion Secret Gesture started second favourite and was selected by Crowley, whilst Talent started at odds of 20/1 and was ridden by Richard Hughes. Talent, who was drawn in stall 3, raced towards the back of the field and turned into the straight in ninth place. Hughes struggled to obtain a clear run in the straight before producing the filly with a strong run on the outside. Talent overtook Secret Gesture inside the final furlong and quickly drew clear to win by three and three quarter lengths.[6] Hughes, who was winning his second successive classic following the win of Sky Lantern in the 1000 Guineas explained that he had planned to make the running on Talent, but changed his tactics just before the start, when he realised that several other jockeys had the same idea.[7]

On 21 July Talent started the 11/4 second favourite for the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Ridden by Crowley, she was never in contention and finished last of the seven runners behind the French-trained Chicquita.

On 14 September, Talent was matched against ten three-year-old colts in the 237th running of the St Leger over 14+1⁄2 furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse. Starting at odds of 9/1, she was restrained by Crowley at the back of the field before moving forward early in the straight. She struggled to obtain a clear run and was hampered a furlong from the finish before finishing strongly to take second place, one and a quarter lengths behind the winner Leading Light.[8] On her final appearance of the season, Talent ran in the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes for which she started the 7/2 co-favourite alongside Hot Snap and Dalkala. She stayed on in the straight to finish third behind Seal of Approval and Belle de Crecy.

### 2014: four-year-old season

[edit]

Talent remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to win in four starts. On her seasonal debut she returned to the scene of her Oaks victory for the Group One Coronation Cup but never looked likely to win and finished fifth behind Cirrus des Aigles. She was then dropped in class and finished third in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock Park and fourth in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in July. In August she was moved back up to Group One class for the Yorkshire Oaks and finished fifth to Tapestry, eighteen lengths behind the winner. Six days later Beckett announced that the filly would be retired from racing and return to the Ashbrittle Stud to become a broodmare, saying "She gave us the best day of our training career when winning the Oaks last year... but it became obvious that she is not the same filly this year and so it became clear that the best thing to do was to retire her... We will miss her, but with luck we can look forward to training her progeny".[9]

## Breeding career

[edit]

Talent was retired in 2015 to the Ashbrittle Stud.

* Ambition (2016), chestnut filly sired by Dubawi. Three wins including the Group 3 Prix Fille de l'Air.
* Dash to Fame (2017), bay colt sired by Dansili. Unraced.
* Pretty Fair (2018), chestnut filly sired by Dubawi. Unraced.
* Unnamed (2019) bay colt by Sea the Stars

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Talent (GB), chestnut filly, 2010[10] Sire
New Approach (IRE)
2005  | Galileo (IRE)
1998  | Sadler's Wells | Northern Dancer

|
|
|

Fairy Bridge
Urban Sea | Miswaki
Allegretta
Park Express (IRE)
1983  | Ahonoora | Lorenzaccio
Helen Nichols
Matcher  | Match
Lachine
Dam
Prowess (IRE)
2003  | Peintre Celebre (USA)
1994  | Nureyev | Northern Dancer
Special
Peinture Bleue  | Alydar
Petroleuse
Yawl (GB)
1990  | Rainbow Quest | Blushing Groom
I Will Follow
Bireme | Grundy
Ripeck (Family: 11-d)[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Flight – Family 11-d". Bloodlines.net. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
2. ^ "Britain's got Talent". Sporting Life. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
3. ^ Marcus Armytage (30 May 2013). "Ralph Beckett's Investec Oaks challenge is proof that success breeds success". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
4. ^ "EBF Fillies' Conditions Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
5. ^ "Pretty Polly Stakes result". Racing Post. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
6. ^ "Investec Oaks result". Racing Post. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
7. ^ Marcus Armytage (31 May 2013). "The Investec Oaks 2013: 20-1 long-shot Talent races to victory at Epsom". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
8. ^ "St Leger result". Racing Post. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
9. ^ "Last year's Oaks winner Talent retired". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014.
10. ^ "Talent pedigree". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2013.

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Epsom Oaks winners

* 1779 Bridget
* 1780 Tetotum
* 1781 Faith
* 1782 Ceres
* 1783 Maid of the Oaks
* 1784 Stella
* 1785 Trifle
* 1786 Yellow Filly
* 1787 Annette
* 1788 Nightshade
* 1789 Tag
* 1790 Hippolyta
* 1791 Portia
* 1792 Volante
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* 1800 Ephemera
* 1801 Eleanor †
* 1802 Scotia
* 1803 Theophania
* 1804 Pelisse
* 1805 Meteora
* 1806 Bronze
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* 1813 Music
* 1814 Medora
* 1815 Minuet
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* 1818 Corinne
* 1819 Shoveler
* 1820 Caroline
* 1821 Augusta
* 1822 Pastille ‡
* 1823 Zinc
* 1824 Cobweb
* 1825 Wings
* 1826 Lilias
* 1827 Gulnare
* 1828 Turquoise
* 1829 Green Mantle
* 1830 Variation
* 1831 Oxygen
* 1832 Galata
* 1833 Vespa
* 1834 Pussy
* 1835 Queen of Trumps
* 1836 Cyprian
* 1837 Miss Letty
* 1838 Industry
* 1839 Deception
* 1840 Crucifix ‡
* 1841 Ghuznee
* 1842 Our Nell
* 1843 Poison
* 1844 The Princess
* 1845 Refraction
* 1846 Mendicant
* 1847 Miami
* 1848 Cymba
* 1849 Lady Evelyn
* 1850 Rhedycina
* 1851 Iris
* 1852 Songstress
* 1853 Catherine Hayes
* 1854 Mincemeat
* 1855 Marchioness
* 1856 Mincepie
* 1857 Blink Bonny †
* 1858 Governess
* 1859 Summerside
* 1860 Butterfly
* 1861 Brown Duchess
* 1862 Feu de Joie
* 1863 Queen Bertha
* 1864 Fille de l'Air
* 1865 Regalia
* 1866 Tormentor
* 1867 Hippia
* 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡
* 1869 Brigantine
* 1870 Gamos
* 1871 Hannah ₩
* 1872 Reine
* 1873 Marie Stuart
* 1874 Apology ₩
* 1875 Spinaway
* 1876 Camelia (dh)
* 1876 Enguerrande (dh)
* 1877 Placida
* 1878 Jannette
* 1879 Wheel of Fortune
* 1880 Jenny Howlet
* 1881 Thebais
* 1882 Geheimniss
* 1883 Bonny Jean
* 1884 Busybody
* 1885 Lonely
* 1886 Miss Jummy
* 1887 Reve d'Or
* 1888 Seabreeze
* 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre
* 1890 Memoir
* 1891 Mimi
* 1892 La Fleche ₩
* 1893 Mrs Butterwick
* 1894 Amiable
* 1895 La Sagesse
* 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim
* 1897 Limasol
* 1898 Airs and Graces
* 1899 Musa
* 1900 La Roche
* 1901 Cap and Bells II
* 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡
* 1903 Our Lassie
* 1904 Pretty Polly ₩
* 1905 Cherry Lass
* 1906 Keystone
* 1907 Glass Doll
* 1908 Signorinetta †
* 1909 Perola
* 1910 Rosedrop
* 1911 Cherimoya
* 1912 Mirska
* 1913 Jest
* 1914 Princess Dorrie
* 1915 Snow Marten
* 1916 Fifinella †
* 1917 Sunny Jane
* 1918 My Dear
* 1919 Bayuda
* 1920 Charlebelle
* 1921 Love in Idleness
* 1922 Pogrom
* 1923 Brownhylda
* 1924 Straitlace
* 1925 Saucy Sue
* 1926 Short Story
* 1927 Beam
* 1928 Toboggan
* 1929 Pennycomequick
* 1930 Rose of England
* 1931 Brulette
* 1932 Udaipur
* 1933 Chatelaine
* 1934 Light Brocade
* 1935 Quashed
* 1936 Lovely Rosa
* 1937 Exhibitionnist
* 1938 Rockfel
* 1939 Galatea
* 1940 Godiva
* 1941 Commotion
* 1942 Sun Chariot ₩
* 1943 Why Hurry
* 1944 Hycilla
* 1945 Sun Stream
* 1946 Steady Aim
* 1947 Imprudence
* 1948 Masaka
* 1949 Musidora
* 1950 Asmena
* 1951 Neasham Belle
* 1952 Frieze
* 1953 Ambiguity
* 1954 Sun Cap
* 1955 Meld ₩
* 1956 Sicarelle
* 1957 Carrozza
* 1958 Bella Paola
* 1959 Petite Etoile
* 1960 Never Too Late
* 1961 Sweet Solera
* 1962 Monade
* 1963 Noblesse
* 1964 Homeward Bound
* 1965 Long Look
* 1966 Valoris
* 1967 Pia
* 1968 La Lagune
* 1969 Sleeping Partner
* 1970 Lupe
* 1971 Altesse Royale
* 1972 Ginevra
* 1973 Mysterious
* 1974 Polygamy
* 1975 Juliette Marny
* 1976 Pawneese
* 1977 Dunfermline
* 1978 Fair Salinia
* 1979 Scintillate
* 1980 Bireme
* 1981 Blue Wind
* 1982 Time Charter
* 1983 Sun Princess
* 1984 Circus Plume
* 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩
* 1986 Midway Lady
* 1987 Unite
* 1988 Diminuendo
* 1989 Snow Bride
* 1990 Salsabil
* 1991 Jet Ski Lady
* 1992 User Friendly
* 1993 Intrepidity
* 1994 Balanchine
* 1995 Moonshell
* 1996 Lady Carla
* 1997 Reams of Verse
* 1998 Shahtoush
* 1999 Ramruma
* 2000 Love Divine
* 2001 Imagine
* 2002 Kazzia
* 2003 Casual Look
* 2004 Ouija Board
* 2005 Eswarah
* 2006 Alexandrova
* 2007 Light Shift
* 2008 Look Here
* 2009 Sariska
* 2010 Snow Fairy
* 2011 Dancing Rain
* 2012 Was
* 2013 Talent
* 2014 Taghrooda
* 2015 Qualify
* 2016 Minding
* 2017 Enable
* 2018 Forever Together
* 2019 Anapurna
* 2020 Love
* 2021 Snowfall
* 2022 Tuesday
* 2023 Soul Sister
* 2024 Ezeliya
* 2025 Minnie Hauk

Legend \- ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners
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