Fantastic Light
Encyclopedia
Fantastic Light is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse
and active sire. He was foaled in the United States but was trained in England and Dubai
during his racing career, which ran from August 1998 to his retirement following the Breeders' Cup Turf
on October 2001. He raced in six countries, winning Group One
/Grade I
races in five of them and was a dual winner of the Emirates World Series Racing Championship. He was named United States Champion Male Turf Horse
, European Horse of the Year and European Champion Older Horse in 2001. He was also well known for his two races against the 2001 Epsom Derby
winner Galileo
. He is currently at stud in Japan.
In his early racing career, when trained by Michael Stoute
, he won the Sandown Classic Trial
, the Great Voltigeur Stakes
, the Arc Trial
and the Dubai Sheema Classic
. In 2000 after his transfer to Godolphin he won the Man O' War Stakes
and the Hong Kong Cup
. In his championship season in 2001 Fantastic Light won four of his six races; the Tattersalls Gold Cup
, the Prince of Wales's Stakes
, the Irish Champion Stakes
and the Breeders' Cup Turf
.
and three white feet, was bred in Kentucky
by Maktoum Al Maktoum's
Gainsborough Stud.
His sire, Rahy
(1985–2011), sired the winners of over three hundred races, including more than thirty at Group One
/Grade I
level. Apart from Fantastic Light, his best progeny have included Noverre
, Serena's Song
and Hawksley Hill. Fantastic Light's dam, Jood, a daughter of Nijinsky
, failed to win a race, but came from a good family, being closely related to Swain
.
Until early 2000, Fantastic Light raced in the colours of Maktoum Al Maktoum and was trained by Michael Stoute
at Newmarket, Suffolk. His ownership was then transferred to Godolphin Racing, and he was trained from that point on by Saeed bin Suroor
.
class, and finished last of the three starters in the Stardom Stakes at Goodwood
.
win in the Sandown Classic Trial
. Ridden by Daryll Holland, he took the lead a furlong
out and held on to win rather more comfortably than the short head winning margin suggested. Speculation that he might develop into a Derby
contender ended in his next race, when he was stepped up to one and a half miles for the first time and finished a well-beaten fourth of the five runners in the Lingfield Derby Trial
.
Fantastic Light was brought back to a mile and a quarter, and produced promising placed efforts on his next two starts. At Royal Ascot in June he was beaten a head by Lear Spear in the Prince of Wales's Stakes
(then a Group Two race) and at Sandown three weeks later he finished third, beaten a neck and half a length behind Compton Admiral and Xaar in the Group One Eclipse Stakes
.
In August he recorded his best win to date, leading three furlongs out and running on well to win a strongly contested Great Voltigeur Stakes
from Bienamado (Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes
, San Juan Capistrano Handicap, Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap
) and the future St Leger
winner Mutafaweq
. A month later he won a third important race by holding off the 1998 Epsom Derby
winner High-Rise
by three quarters of a length in the Listed Arc Trial
at Newbury
.
On his final start of the season, Fantastic Light was moved up to the highest level for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
, and appeared to be out of his class, never getting into contention and finishing a remote eleventh of the thirteen runners behind Montjeu
.
Fantastic Light's first run of 2000 was also his last for the Stoute
stable. He was sent to Dubai for the Sheema Classic
, in which he faced a field including runners from Britain, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Argentina. Ridden by Kieren Fallon
, he took the lead in the straight ("far too soon" according to his jockey) and went clear to beat the German horse Caitano by three lengths, with High-Rise third. In winning, Fantastic Light broke the Nad Al Sheba
track record for one and a half miles by more than a second. Shortly after the race it was announced that Fantastic Light would not return to Michael Stoute, but would be transferred to Sheikh Mohammed's
Godolphin Racing team and be trained by Saeed Bin Suroor
.
Fantastic Light was then returned to England for a summer campaign. In the Coronation Cup
at Epsom
in June he finished second to Daliapour and then came fifth of the eight runners behind Giant's Causeway
in the Eclipse Stakes. He was then sent to Ascot
for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where he finished second, reversing the Epsom form with Daliapour, but having no chance against the favourite Montjeu
.
In Autumn, Godolphin campaigned Fantastic Light in the United States. At Belmont Park
in September he started odds-on favourite and won the Man o' War Stakes
"comfortably", to record his first Grade I victory. In this race he was ridden by Jerry Bailey
, who claimed that he had always had the other runners "at his mercy" despite having to come round the outside of the field. In all his remaining ten starts Fantastic Light was ridden by Frankie Dettori
. He disappointed in a return to Belmont for the Turf Classic, finishing fourth to John's Call, a horse he had beaten in the Man o' War.
He then finished to fifth Kalanisi
in the Breeders' Cup Turf
at Churchill Downs
, although in this case he had a legitimate excuse, having been blocked twice when Dettori attempted to find space for a challenge.
For his last two starts of the year, Fantastic Light was sent to East Asia. In November, in the Japan Cup
he stayed on strongly in the closing stages to finish a close third, beaten a neck and a nose by T M Opera O
and Meisho Doto. Dettori reportedly felt that the slow pace was the reason for his defeat. Despite three successive defeats, Fantastic Light still managed to end the season with a major victory. In December he was sent to Sha Tin
for the Hong Kong Cup
and justified favouritism by leading in the straight and staying on strongly to beat Greek Dance and Jim and Tonic
. The win earned Fantastic Light top place in the Emirates World Series, a competition in which points were awarded for performances in a number of international races.
.
, Fantastic Light proved himself to be better than ever as a five-year-old (see Assessment below).
In March he attempted to win a second Sheema Classic and almost succeeded, taking the lead a furlong out, but being caught on the line and beaten a nose by the Japanese outsider Stay Gold
. Despite the defeat, his connections announced that they were "delighted" with the performance. As in 2000, Fantastic Light spent the middle of the season racing in Europe. At the end of May he was sent to Ireland where he won the Tattersalls Gold Cup
, taking the lead a furlong from the finish and beating Golden Snake by a neck with Kalanisi
third. After the race, Godolphin's racing manager, Simon Crisford, said that Fantastic Light would be aimed at the top middle distance races in Europe, calling him "very special... a fantastic horse".
(by this time a Group One race) at Royal Ascot, a contest that was expected to be one of the best of the meeting. Fantastic Light raced behind the leaders before being moved up by Dettori to take the lead in the straight. He soon went clear with what the Telegraph described as a "ruthless display of speed", and although Kalanisi attempted to challenge, Fantastic Light stayed on to win "comfortably" by two and a half lengths. After the race, Sheikh Mohammed
talked confidently about a meeting with the unbeaten Derby
winner Galileo
.
Fantastic Light and Galileo did meet at Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, for which the Aidan O'Brien
-trained three-year-old was sent off the 1/2 favourite ahead of Fantastic Light at 7/2. The race was the subject of considerable advance publicity, and was portrayed as a clash between the two most powerful forces in European racing; Godolphin, represented by Fantastic Light, and Ballydoyle
/Coolmore
represented by Galileo. As in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, Dettori settled Fantastic Light in the early stages before moving him out to challenge in the straight. Galileo had already taken the lead but Fantastic Light moved up and went level a furlong out. The two horses raced side-by-side for several strides, but Galileo then pulled ahead to win by two lengths.
in Sepetember and was highly anticipated. This time Dettori rode Fantastic Light more positively as part of an agreed Godolphin plan, sending him past the Ballydoyle
pacemaker to take the lead two furlongs out. Michael Kinane immediately brought Galileo to challenge and the two horses raced alongside each other all the way to the line. Galileo appeared to gain a slight advantage, but Fantastic Light, stayed on strongly under pressure to regain the lead and win by a head in a "thrilling" contest. The British Horseracing Authority described the event as "one of the greatest races witnessed throughout the current decade", whilst readers of the Racing Post
placed it seventh (the third highest for a flat race) in their list of the 100 Greatest Races.
For Fantastic Light's final start, he was sent back to America for a second attempt at the Breeders' Cup
, held in October 2001 at Belmont Park
. It was expected that he would run against Galileo again in the Classic
, while Godolphin's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
winner, Sakhee
was aimed for the Breeders' Cup Turf
. Shortly before the race, however, the two Godolphin horses switched targets, the rationale apparently being that Sakhee would be better suited by the dirt surface. In the Turf
, Dettori placed Fantastic Light just behind the pace as the race was led first by With Anticipation and then by Timboroa. Making his challenge in the straight, Fantastic Light took the lead just over a furlong out and held off the strong late challenge of the St Leger
winner Milan to win by three quarters of a length, with the rest of the runners more than five lengths further back. The time of 2:24.36 was a new course record. Summarising Fantastic Light's career, Crisford called him "the ultimate modern-day racehorse."
A projected run in the Japan Cup did not materialise and his retirement was announced shortly afterwards. He had already amassed sufficient points to secure a second Emirates World Series.
In the 2000 International Classification, Fantastic Light was assessed at 124, placing him fourteenth in the ratings (eighth in Europe), ten pounds below Dubai Millennium
. In the 2001 International Classification Fantastic Light was assessed at 129 (equal with Galileo ), making him the third highest rated horse behind Sakhee
and Point Given
.
Fantastic Light was assessed at 134 by Timeform
. A rating in excess of 130 is considered the mark of an above average Group One winner.
In 2001 he was named European Champion Older Horse and European Horse of the Year
at the Cartier Racing Awards.
In February 2002 Fantastic Light was voted the Eclipse Award for American Champion Male Turf Horse in the Eclipse Awards, beating Val Royal
and With Anticipation in the voting.
stud
at Dalham Hall
in Newmarket, England
, before being moved to their Japanese base in Hokkaido
for the 2007 season.
He has also been shuttled to stand in Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. During five seasons at stud in Australia he was the sire of 427 live foals that included Mission Critical, who won the group one Waikato Race Club's International Stakes
.
He has sired the winners of more than three hundred races including Scintillo, winner of the Winter Derby
, the Gran Criterium
and the Grand Prix de Chantilly
(Group 2).
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...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and active sire. He was foaled in the United States but was trained in England and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
during his racing career, which ran from August 1998 to his retirement following the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
on October 2001. He raced in six countries, winning Group One
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
/Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
races in five of them and was a dual winner of the Emirates World Series Racing Championship. He was named United States Champion Male Turf Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse
The American Champion Male Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. In 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a Colt or Gelding, regardless of age, for their performance on grass race courses....
, European Horse of the Year and European Champion Older Horse in 2001. He was also well known for his two races against the 2001 Epsom Derby
2001 Epsom Derby
The 2001 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday June 9, 2001. It was the 222nd running of the Derby, and it was won by the pre-race joint favourite Galileo. The winner was ridden by Michael Kinane and trained by Aidan O'Brien...
winner Galileo
Galileo (horse)
Galileo is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known for winning the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby Stakes, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001 and for his rivalry with the Godolphin champion Fantastic Light...
. He is currently at stud in Japan.
In his early racing career, when trained by Michael Stoute
Michael Stoute
Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972...
, he won the Sandown Classic Trial
Sandown Classic Trial
The Sandown Classic Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.The event was established in 1953, and it...
, the Great Voltigeur Stakes
Great Voltigeur Stakes
The Great Voltigeur Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
, the Arc Trial
Arc Trial
The Arc Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 5 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.The event was established in 1997, and it was...
and the Dubai Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
. In 2000 after his transfer to Godolphin he won the Man O' War Stakes
Man O' War Stakes
The Man o' War Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Now Raced in July, it is a Grade I event offering a purse of $500,000 and is open to horses three-years-old and up. Run at one and three-eighths mile on the grass, the race sometimes attracts top European horses...
and the Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Cup
The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
. In his championship season in 2001 Fantastic Light won four of his six races; the Tattersalls Gold Cup
Tattersalls Gold Cup
The Tattersalls Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
, the Prince of Wales's Stakes
Prince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
, the Irish Champion Stakes
Irish Champion Stakes
The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and...
and the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
.
Background
Fantastic Light, a bay horse with an irregular white blazeHorse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
and three white feet, was bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by Maktoum Al Maktoum's
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also referred to as Sheikh Maktoum was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Dubai.-Biography:...
Gainsborough Stud.
His sire, Rahy
Rahy
Rahy was an Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in England and the United States. Bred by Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington, he was a son of the very important sire Blushing Groom and out of the Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare, Glorious Song.Rahy was purchased as a...
(1985–2011), sired the winners of over three hundred races, including more than thirty at Group One
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
/Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
level. Apart from Fantastic Light, his best progeny have included Noverre
Noverre
Noverre is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Darley Stud Management Inc. and raced by a sister operation, Godolphin Racing, he was sired by Rahy and out of the mare Danseur Fabuleux, a daughter of the great Northern Dancer who was also the dam of 1991 European Horse of the Year, Arazi.Trained at...
, Serena's Song
Serena's Song
Serena’s Song is an American Thoroughbred race horse. She won 17 graded stakes races, including 11 Grade I , in three seasons for $3,286,388 in earnings....
and Hawksley Hill. Fantastic Light's dam, Jood, a daughter of Nijinsky
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
, failed to win a race, but came from a good family, being closely related to Swain
Swain (horse)
Swain is a European Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ireland. From the mare Love Smitten, he was sired by Nashwan. His grandsire was Blushing Groom, a son of Nasrullah from Nearco. His damsire Key To The Mint, a son of Graustark, was the 1972 U.S...
.
Until early 2000, Fantastic Light raced in the colours of Maktoum Al Maktoum and was trained by Michael Stoute
Michael Stoute
Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972...
at Newmarket, Suffolk. His ownership was then transferred to Godolphin Racing, and he was trained from that point on by Saeed bin Suroor
Saeed bin Suroor
Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation....
.
1998: two-year-old season
Fantastic Light never ran in a maiden race, instead making his debut against more experienced colts in a minor stakes race at Sandown in August 1998. He started slowly and showed his inexperience ("ran green") before taking the lead in the closing stages and winning by one and three quarter lengths from Sicnee, with the future Diadem Stakes winner, Sampower Star in third. He followed up in a similar event at the same course three weeks later, beating Aesops by three quarters of a length after leading close to the finish. This performance attracted some attention, with one commentator identifying him as "a promising young stayer". On his last start of the year he was moved up to ListedConditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
class, and finished last of the three starters in the Stardom Stakes at Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
.
1999: three-year-old season
Fantastic Light began his three-year-old season with his first Group raceConditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
win in the Sandown Classic Trial
Sandown Classic Trial
The Sandown Classic Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.The event was established in 1953, and it...
. Ridden by Daryll Holland, he took the lead a furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
out and held on to win rather more comfortably than the short head winning margin suggested. Speculation that he might develop into a Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
contender ended in his next race, when he was stepped up to one and a half miles for the first time and finished a well-beaten fourth of the five runners in the Lingfield Derby Trial
Lingfield Derby Trial
The Lingfield Derby Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.The event was established in 1932, and...
.
Fantastic Light was brought back to a mile and a quarter, and produced promising placed efforts on his next two starts. At Royal Ascot in June he was beaten a head by Lear Spear in the Prince of Wales's Stakes
Prince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
(then a Group Two race) and at Sandown three weeks later he finished third, beaten a neck and half a length behind Compton Admiral and Xaar in the Group One Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
.
In August he recorded his best win to date, leading three furlongs out and running on well to win a strongly contested Great Voltigeur Stakes
Great Voltigeur Stakes
The Great Voltigeur Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
from Bienamado (Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes
Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes
The Hollywood Turf Cup is an American stakes race for thoroughbred horses at Hollywood Park Racetrack. A Grade I event, it is open to horses, age three and up, and run at a distance of one and one-half miles. The Hollywood Turf Cup offers a purse of $250,000....
, San Juan Capistrano Handicap, Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap
Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap
The Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of June at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California...
) and the future St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
winner Mutafaweq
Mutafaweq
Mutafaweq is a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in England, Germany, and Canada.Raced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin Racing, Mutafaweq was a winner of four Group One races in three different countries before being retired from racing at the end of his 2001 campaign...
. A month later he won a third important race by holding off the 1998 Epsom Derby
1998 Epsom Derby
The 1998 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday June 6, 1998. It was the 219th running of the Derby, and it was won by High-Rise. The winner was ridden by Olivier Peslier and trained by Luca Cumani...
winner High-Rise
High-Rise (horse)
High-Rise is a retired Thoroughbred race horse and active sire, bred in Ireland, but trained in the United Kingdom, Dubai and the United States. He is best known as the winner of the Epsom Derby in 1998...
by three quarters of a length in the Listed Arc Trial
Arc Trial
The Arc Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 5 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.The event was established in 1997, and it was...
at Newbury
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
.
On his final start of the season, Fantastic Light was moved up to the highest level for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
, and appeared to be out of his class, never getting into contention and finishing a remote eleventh of the thirteen runners behind Montjeu
Montjeu
Montjeu , is a thoroughbred horse racing World Champion colt and sire of champions. Sired by Sadler's Wells from the dam Floripedes, Montjeu is a grandson of Northern Dancer....
.
2000: four-year-old season
Michael Stoute
Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972...
stable. He was sent to Dubai for the Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
, in which he faced a field including runners from Britain, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Argentina. Ridden by Kieren Fallon
Kieren Fallon
Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....
, he took the lead in the straight ("far too soon" according to his jockey) and went clear to beat the German horse Caitano by three lengths, with High-Rise third. In winning, Fantastic Light broke the Nad Al Sheba
Nad Al Sheba
Nad Al Sheba is a locality in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . Situated south of the Dubai Creek, Nad Al Sheba is best known for its racecourse, the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which hosted the Dubai World Cup annually until 2009...
track record for one and a half miles by more than a second. Shortly after the race it was announced that Fantastic Light would not return to Michael Stoute, but would be transferred to Sheikh Mohammed's
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
Godolphin Racing team and be trained by Saeed Bin Suroor
Saeed bin Suroor
Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation....
.
Fantastic Light was then returned to England for a summer campaign. In the Coronation Cup
Coronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
in June he finished second to Daliapour and then came fifth of the eight runners behind Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway (horse)
Giant's Causeway is a Kentucky-bred thoroughbred racehorse who competed primarily in Europe. In 2000, he won five straight Group One races. His performance that year earned him European Horse of the Year honors....
in the Eclipse Stakes. He was then sent to Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where he finished second, reversing the Epsom form with Daliapour, but having no chance against the favourite Montjeu
Montjeu
Montjeu , is a thoroughbred horse racing World Champion colt and sire of champions. Sired by Sadler's Wells from the dam Floripedes, Montjeu is a grandson of Northern Dancer....
.
In Autumn, Godolphin campaigned Fantastic Light in the United States. At Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in September he started odds-on favourite and won the Man o' War Stakes
Man O' War Stakes
The Man o' War Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Now Raced in July, it is a Grade I event offering a purse of $500,000 and is open to horses three-years-old and up. Run at one and three-eighths mile on the grass, the race sometimes attracts top European horses...
"comfortably", to record his first Grade I victory. In this race he was ridden by Jerry Bailey
Jerry Bailey
Jerry D. Bailey is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey. He began his racing career in November 1974. His first mount was on a horse named Pegged Rate, who ran off the board. He notched his first career win the next day on his second career mount, Fetch, at New Mexico's Sunland Park, and has...
, who claimed that he had always had the other runners "at his mercy" despite having to come round the outside of the field. In all his remaining ten starts Fantastic Light was ridden by Frankie Dettori
Frankie Dettori
Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing...
. He disappointed in a return to Belmont for the Turf Classic, finishing fourth to John's Call, a horse he had beaten in the Man o' War.
He then finished to fifth Kalanisi
Kalanisi
Kalanisi is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won European Champion and American Champion honors in 2000.-Background:...
in the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
, although in this case he had a legitimate excuse, having been blocked twice when Dettori attempted to find space for a challenge.
For his last two starts of the year, Fantastic Light was sent to East Asia. In November, in the Japan Cup
Japan Cup
The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
he stayed on strongly in the closing stages to finish a close third, beaten a neck and a nose by T M Opera O
T M Opera O
T M Opera O was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse, sired by Opera House, a son of Sadler's Wells, out of Once Wed, a daughter of Blushing Groom. T.M. Opera O was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 2004.T.M. Opera O was the world's all-time leading money-earner...
and Meisho Doto. Dettori reportedly felt that the slow pace was the reason for his defeat. Despite three successive defeats, Fantastic Light still managed to end the season with a major victory. In December he was sent to Sha Tin
Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.Penfold Park is encircled by the track.-History:...
for the Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Cup
The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
and justified favouritism by leading in the straight and staying on strongly to beat Greek Dance and Jim and Tonic
Jim And Tonic
Jim And Tonic is a French Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse and the richest racehorse in the history of horse racing in France....
. The win earned Fantastic Light top place in the Emirates World Series, a competition in which points were awarded for performances in a number of international races.
.
Spring
Like a previous Godolphin champion, DaylamiDaylami
Daylami is a retired Thoroughbred Champion racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland, but trained in France, Dubai and the United Kingdom. In a career which lasted from 1996 and 1999, he raced in five different countries and won seven Group 1/Grade I races...
, Fantastic Light proved himself to be better than ever as a five-year-old (see Assessment below).
In March he attempted to win a second Sheema Classic and almost succeeded, taking the lead a furlong out, but being caught on the line and beaten a nose by the Japanese outsider Stay Gold
Stay Gold
"Stay Gold" is the first single by Japanese group Steady & Co.; released in 2001. "Stay Gold" was sampled from "Jane Says" by Jane's Addiction....
. Despite the defeat, his connections announced that they were "delighted" with the performance. As in 2000, Fantastic Light spent the middle of the season racing in Europe. At the end of May he was sent to Ireland where he won the Tattersalls Gold Cup
Tattersalls Gold Cup
The Tattersalls Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
, taking the lead a furlong from the finish and beating Golden Snake by a neck with Kalanisi
Kalanisi
Kalanisi is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won European Champion and American Champion honors in 2000.-Background:...
third. After the race, Godolphin's racing manager, Simon Crisford, said that Fantastic Light would be aimed at the top middle distance races in Europe, calling him "very special... a fantastic horse".
Summer
Despite this result, Kalanisi was made favourite when the horses met again in the Prince of Wales's StakesPrince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
(by this time a Group One race) at Royal Ascot, a contest that was expected to be one of the best of the meeting. Fantastic Light raced behind the leaders before being moved up by Dettori to take the lead in the straight. He soon went clear with what the Telegraph described as a "ruthless display of speed", and although Kalanisi attempted to challenge, Fantastic Light stayed on to win "comfortably" by two and a half lengths. After the race, Sheikh Mohammed
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
talked confidently about a meeting with the unbeaten Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner Galileo
Galileo (horse)
Galileo is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known for winning the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby Stakes, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001 and for his rivalry with the Godolphin champion Fantastic Light...
.
Fantastic Light and Galileo did meet at Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, for which the Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
-trained three-year-old was sent off the 1/2 favourite ahead of Fantastic Light at 7/2. The race was the subject of considerable advance publicity, and was portrayed as a clash between the two most powerful forces in European racing; Godolphin, represented by Fantastic Light, and Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle is a racehorse training facility located in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is a sister thoroughbred facility to Coolmore Stud, and both are owned by John Magnier...
/Coolmore
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
represented by Galileo. As in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, Dettori settled Fantastic Light in the early stages before moving him out to challenge in the straight. Galileo had already taken the lead but Fantastic Light moved up and went level a furlong out. The two horses raced side-by-side for several strides, but Galileo then pulled ahead to win by two lengths.
Autumn
The second meeting between Fantastic Light and Galileo was scheduled for the Irish Champion Stakes at LeopardstownLeopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...
in Sepetember and was highly anticipated. This time Dettori rode Fantastic Light more positively as part of an agreed Godolphin plan, sending him past the Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle is a racehorse training facility located in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is a sister thoroughbred facility to Coolmore Stud, and both are owned by John Magnier...
pacemaker to take the lead two furlongs out. Michael Kinane immediately brought Galileo to challenge and the two horses raced alongside each other all the way to the line. Galileo appeared to gain a slight advantage, but Fantastic Light, stayed on strongly under pressure to regain the lead and win by a head in a "thrilling" contest. The British Horseracing Authority described the event as "one of the greatest races witnessed throughout the current decade", whilst readers of the Racing Post
Racing Post
The Racing Post is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting newspaper, appearing in print form and online.From 30 May 2011 - 3 July 2011 it had a circulation of 56,507.-History:...
placed it seventh (the third highest for a flat race) in their list of the 100 Greatest Races.
For Fantastic Light's final start, he was sent back to America for a second attempt at the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
, held in October 2001 at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
. It was expected that he would run against Galileo again in the Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
, while Godolphin's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
winner, Sakhee
Sakhee
Sakhee is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by the racing interests of Dubai's Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, his sire Bahri was almost exclusively a miler who won two Group One races at that distance...
was aimed for the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
. Shortly before the race, however, the two Godolphin horses switched targets, the rationale apparently being that Sakhee would be better suited by the dirt surface. In the Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
, Dettori placed Fantastic Light just behind the pace as the race was led first by With Anticipation and then by Timboroa. Making his challenge in the straight, Fantastic Light took the lead just over a furlong out and held off the strong late challenge of the St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
winner Milan to win by three quarters of a length, with the rest of the runners more than five lengths further back. The time of 2:24.36 was a new course record. Summarising Fantastic Light's career, Crisford called him "the ultimate modern-day racehorse."
A projected run in the Japan Cup did not materialise and his retirement was announced shortly afterwards. He had already amassed sufficient points to secure a second Emirates World Series.
Race record
| Date | Race | Dist (f) | Course | Class | Prize (£K) | Odds | Runners | Placing | Margin | Time | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carshalton Novice Stakes | 7 | Sandown | 4 | 8/1 | 5 | 1 | 1.75 | 1:33.35 | John Reid | Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
||
| Sun Conditions Stakes | 8 | Sandown | 4 | 7/2 | 5 | 1 | 0.75 | 1:44.02 | John Reid | Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
||
| Stardom Stakes | 8 | Goodwood Goodwood Racecourse Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House... |
Listed Conditions races Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving... |
13 | 9/4 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 1:44.70 | Ray Cochrane Ray Cochrane Ray Cochrane is a retired horse racing jockey and current sports agent.He was the winning jockey in three of the five British Classic Races: the Oaks Stakes, 1,000 Guineas Stakes and Epsom Derby Stakes... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
| Sandown Classic Trial Sandown Classic Trial The Sandown Classic Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.The event was established in 1953, and it... |
10 | Sandown | 3 | 39 | 13/2 | 7 | 1 | Short head | 2:15.73 | Darryll Holland Darryll Holland Darryll Paul Holland is a United Kingdom flat racing jockey who has ridden for trainers such as Luca Cumani, Geoff Wragg, and Mark Johnston.... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
| Lingfield Derby Trial Lingfield Derby Trial The Lingfield Derby Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.The event was established in 1932, and... |
12 | Lingfield | 3 | 32 | 3/1 | 5 | 4 | 6.75 | 2:30.31 | Darryll Holland Darryll Holland Darryll Paul Holland is a United Kingdom flat racing jockey who has ridden for trainers such as Luca Cumani, Geoff Wragg, and Mark Johnston.... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
| Prince of Wales's Stakes Prince of Wales's Stakes The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... |
10 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
2 | 88 | 14/1 | 8 | 2 | Head | 2:04.37 | Gary Stevens | Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
| Eclipse Stakes Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a... |
10 | Sandown | 1 | 174 | 6/1 | 8 | 3 | 0.75 | 2:06.42 | Gary Stevens | Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
| Great Voltigeur Stakes Great Voltigeur Stakes The Great Voltigeur Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.... |
12 | York York Racecourse York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August... |
2 | 57 | 4/1 | 7 | 1 | 1.25 | 2:29.05 | Gary Stevens | Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
| Arc Trial Arc Trial The Arc Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 5 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.The event was established in 1997, and it was... |
11 | Newbury Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps... |
Listed Conditions races Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving... |
28 | 9/4 | 6 | 1 | 0.75 | 2:21.51 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
| Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the... |
12 | Longchamp | 1 | 538 | 33/1 | 14 | 11 | 29 | 2:38.50 | John Reid | Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
| Dubai Sheema Classic Dubai Sheema Classic The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in... |
12 | Nad Al Sheba Nad Al Sheba Nad Al Sheba is a locality in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . Situated south of the Dubai Creek, Nad Al Sheba is best known for its racecourse, the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which hosted the Dubai World Cup annually until 2009... |
3 | 731 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 2:27.70 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
||
| Coronation Cup Coronation Cup The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... |
12 | Epsom Epsom Downs Racecourse Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half... |
1 | 150 | 7/4 | 4 | 2 | 0.75 | 2:41.83 | Chris McCarron Chris McCarron Christopher John "Chris" McCarron is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He is currently working as a racing analyst for TVG Network.... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
| Eclipse Stakes Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a... |
10 | Sandown | 1 | 216 | 5/1 | 8 | 5 | 6.25 | 2:05.32 | John Reid | Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
| King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 12 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
1 | 435 | 12/1 | 7 | 2 | 1.75 | 2:29.98 | John Reid | Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
| Man o' War Stakes Man O' War Stakes The Man o' War Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Now Raced in July, it is a Grade I event offering a purse of $500,000 and is open to horses three-years-old and up. Run at one and three-eighths mile on the grass, the race sometimes attracts top European horses... |
11 | Belmont Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905... |
1 | 182 | 13/20 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2:17.44 | Jerry Bailey Jerry Bailey Jerry D. Bailey is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey. He began his racing career in November 1974. His first mount was on a horse named Pegged Rate, who ran off the board. He notched his first career win the next day on his second career mount, Fetch, at New Mexico's Sunland Park, and has... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
| Turf Classic Invitational | 12 | Belmont Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905... |
1 | 274 | 7/5 | 12 | 4 | 3.5 | 2:28.58 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
| Breeders' Cup Turf Breeders' Cup Turf The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner... |
12 | Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs... |
1 | 786 | 119/10 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 2:26.96 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
| Japan Cup Japan Cup The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event... |
12 | Tokyo Tokyo Racecourse is located in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1933 for horse racing, it is considered the "racecourse of racecourses" in Japanese horseracing. It has 13,750 seats, with a capacity of 223,000.... |
1 | 1504 | 79/10 | 16 | 3 | 0.25 | 2:26.10 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
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| Hong Kong Cup Hong Kong Cup The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December.... |
10 | Sha Tin Sha Tin Racecourse Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.Penfold Park is encircled by the track.-History:... |
1 | 628 | 19/10 | 14 | 1 | 1.75 | 2:02.20 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
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| Dubai Sheema Classic Dubai Sheema Classic The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in... |
12 | Nad Al Sheba Nad Al Sheba Nad Al Sheba is a locality in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . Situated south of the Dubai Creek, Nad Al Sheba is best known for its racecourse, the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which hosted the Dubai World Cup annually until 2009... |
2 | 800 | 7/4 | 16 | 2 | Nose | 2:28.23 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
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| Tattersalls Gold Cup Tattersalls Gold Cup The Tattersalls Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.... |
10.5 | The Curragh Curragh Racecourse The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :... |
1 | 100 | 5/4 | 6 | 1 | Neck | 2:13.40 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
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| Prince of Wales's Stakes Prince of Wales's Stakes The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... |
10 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
1 | 145 | 100/30 | 9 | 1 | 2.5 | 2:04.40 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
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| King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 12 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
1 | 435 | 7/2 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2:27.71 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
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| Irish Champion Stakes Irish Champion Stakes The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and... |
10 | Leopardstown Leopardstown Racecourse Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse... |
1 | 384 | 9/4 | 7 | 1 | Head | 2:01.80 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
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| Breeders' Cup Classic Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships... |
12 | Belmont Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905... |
1 | 741 | 7/5 | 12 | 1 | 0.75 | 2:24.20 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
Assessment, honours and awards
From the mid 1990s the International Classification Committee (representing Europe) and the North American Rating Committee drew up an annual International Classification which included all horses who raced in Europe, North America and Japan. These ratings did not include Southern Hemisphere horses and were not therefore, "World" rankings.In the 2000 International Classification, Fantastic Light was assessed at 124, placing him fourteenth in the ratings (eighth in Europe), ten pounds below Dubai Millennium
Dubai Millennium
Dubai Millennium was a Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, bred in the United States but trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai during his racing career which ran from 1998 and 2000. He is notable for winning a series of major races in 1999 and 2000 including the Dubai World Cup...
. In the 2001 International Classification Fantastic Light was assessed at 129 (equal with Galileo ), making him the third highest rated horse behind Sakhee
Sakhee
Sakhee is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by the racing interests of Dubai's Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, his sire Bahri was almost exclusively a miler who won two Group One races at that distance...
and Point Given
Point Given
Point Given is an American Hall of Fame champion racehorse foaled on March 27, 1998 in Kentucky. As a three-year-old, he won the 2001 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, along with the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year...
.
Fantastic Light was assessed at 134 by Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
. A rating in excess of 130 is considered the mark of an above average Group One winner.
In 2001 he was named European Champion Older Horse and European Horse of the Year
European Horse of the Year
European Horse of the Year is an award in European Thoroughbred horse racing. Since 1991 the honor has been part of the Cartier Racing Awards. It is presented annually by Cartier SA to a horse of any age racing in Europe.-Honorees:...
at the Cartier Racing Awards.
In February 2002 Fantastic Light was voted the Eclipse Award for American Champion Male Turf Horse in the Eclipse Awards, beating Val Royal
Val Royal
Val Royal was a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed successfully in France and the United States. Best known for winning the 2001 Breeders' Cup Mile, he was bred and raced by Jean-Luc Lagardere. Val Royal's dam was Vadlava, a daughter of the 1981 French Derby winner, Bikala...
and With Anticipation in the voting.
Stud career
Retired at the end of the 2001 racing season, Fantastic Light stood for the Darley StudDarley Stud
Darley Stud is a Thoroughbred breeding operation owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. Darley breeds horses in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Dubai, Japan and Australia....
stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at Dalham Hall
Dalham Hall
Dalham Hall is a Grade 2 listed country house and estate, located in the village of Dalham, Suffolk, near Newmarket, and west of Bury St Edmunds....
in Newmarket, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, before being moved to their Japanese base in Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
for the 2007 season.
He has also been shuttled to stand in Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. During five seasons at stud in Australia he was the sire of 427 live foals that included Mission Critical, who won the group one Waikato Race Club's International Stakes
New Zealand International Stakes
The International Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton in early February every year. The 2010 running was sponsored by the connections of stallion Darci Brahma, after being sponsored for many years by Whakanui Stud....
.
He has sired the winners of more than three hundred races including Scintillo, winner of the Winter Derby
Winter Derby
The Winter Derby is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in March....
, the Gran Criterium
Gran Criterium
The Gran Criterium is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October....
and the Grand Prix de Chantilly
Grand Prix de Chantilly
The Grand Prix de Chantilly is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May or early June....
(Group 2).
Pedigree
- Although there is no inbreedingInbreedingInbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
visible in the table above, four of the horses in the fourth generation (Narsullah, Hail To Reason, Nearctic and Nangela) are direct descendants of NearcoNearcoNearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
, who as a result appears twice in the fifth, and twice in the sixth generation of Fantastic Light's extended pedigree.