Montjeu
Encyclopedia
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
.
Bred by Sir James Goldsmith
, Montjeu was named for his owner's chateau
outside Autun
in France
. Goldsmith died in 1997 before the colt began racing and his ownership went to a holding company
owned by Laure Boulay de la Meurthe, mother of two of Goldsmith's children. After two starts, she sold the colt to Michael Tabor
and Montjeu went on to be unbeaten as a two-year-old. Trained by John E. Hammond
and ridden by Michael Kinane
, at age three Montjeu won 1999's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
, the Irish Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club
and was voted that year's Cartier Three-Year-Old European Champion Colt
and World Champion
.
Montjeu raced successfully at age four and earned honors as Champion older horse in Europe. In 2000, his victories included the Group 1
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a performance that had to be seen to be believed in comfortably beating a high class field without breaking sweat, Tattersalls Gold Cup
, and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
.
After 16 lifetime racing starts, a record of 11-2–0, and a Timeform rating
of 137, Montjeu was retired to Coolmore Stud
in Ireland
2001. He is already one of the top sires in the world and has produced several noted champions:
As of June 30, 2009, he had produced 12 individual Group 1 winners and 62 Stakes placed horses
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
and sire of champions. Sired by Sadler's Wells
Sadler's Wells (horse)
Sadler's Wells was a Thoroughbred racehorse that was later a leading sire in France, Great Britain & Ireland and North America during the 1990s. He was foaled in 1981 in the United States, but achieved most of his racing and breeding fame in Europe....
from the dam Floripedes, Montjeu is a grandson of Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
.
Bred by Sir James Goldsmith
James Goldsmith
Sir James Michael "Jimmy" Goldsmith was an Anglo-French billionaire financier and tycoon. Towards the end of his life, he became a magazine publisher and a politician. In 1994, he was elected to represent France as a Member of the European Parliament and he subsequently founded the short-lived...
, Montjeu was named for his owner's chateau
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
outside Autun
Autun
Autun is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in Burgundy in eastern France. It was founded during the early Roman Empire as Augustodunum. Autun marks the easternmost extent of the Umayyad campaign in Europe.-Early history:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Goldsmith died in 1997 before the colt began racing and his ownership went to a holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
owned by Laure Boulay de la Meurthe, mother of two of Goldsmith's children. After two starts, she sold the colt to Michael Tabor
Michael Tabor
Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.-Thoroughbred racing career:...
and Montjeu went on to be unbeaten as a two-year-old. Trained by John E. Hammond
John E. Hammond
John E. Hammond is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in France.Based in Chantilly, Oise, Hammond has trained numerous Group One winners including Montjeu and Suave Dancer both of whom won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, France's most prestigious horse race...
and ridden by Michael Kinane
Michael Kinane
Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009....
, at age three Montjeu won 1999'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...
, the Irish Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and was voted that year's Cartier Three-Year-Old European Champion Colt
Cartier Racing Award
The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier jewelers. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph newspapers.Eight...
and World Champion
World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities , an organization established in 2003 with headquarters in Paris, France made up of members from around the world....
.
Montjeu raced successfully at age four and earned honors as Champion older horse in Europe. In 2000, his victories included the Group 1
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...
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a performance that had to be seen to be believed in comfortably beating a high class field without breaking sweat, 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....
, and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June.-History:...
.
After 16 lifetime racing starts, a record of 11-2–0, and a Timeform rating
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...
of 137, Montjeu was retired to Coolmore Stud
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....
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
2001. He is already one of the top sires in the world and has produced several noted champions:
- Hurricane RunHurricane RunHurricane Run is a world champion thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:Hurricane Run was trained by André Fabre, and ridden in most of his races by jockey Kieren Fallon for owner Michael Tabor....
- No. 1 in the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse RankingsThe 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings is the 2005 edition of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. It is an assessment of racehorses which was issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities in January 2006...
and winner of 2005 Prix de l'Arc de TriomphePrix de l'Arc de TriompheThe 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... - MotivatorMotivator (horse)Motivator is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known as the winner of the 2005 Epsom Derby.-Background:Motivator is a bay horse with a white star bred by Salah M...
- winner of the 2005 Epsom Derby2005 Epsom DerbyThe 2005 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday June 4, 2005. It was the 226th running of the Derby, and it was won by the pre-race favourite Motivator... - ScorpionScorpion (horse)Scorpion is a racehorse trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, and owned by Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor.As a three-year-old in 2005 he won the Grand Prix de Paris and the St. Leger Stakes. In 2007 he won the Coronation Cup.He now stands as a stallion for Coolmore's National Hunt breeding...
- winner of the 2005 Grand Prix de ParisGrand Prix de ParisThe Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
(in record time), the 2005 St. Leger StakesSt. Leger StakesThe 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...
, and the 2007 Coronation CupCoronation CupThe 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.... - AuthorizedAuthorized (horse)Authorized is an Irish-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 2007 Epsom Derby.-Background:...
- winner of the 2007 Epsom Derby2007 Epsom DerbyThe 2007 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Saturday June 2, 2007. It was the 228th running of the Derby, and it was won by the pre-race favourite Authorized... - Frozen FireFrozen FireFrozen Fire is a thoroughbred horse sired by Montjeu from the dam Flamingo Sea, who won the 2008 Irish Derby.-References:* - Frozen Fire's pedigree* - Frozen Fire's race record...
- winner of the 2008 Irish Derby - Montmartre - winner of the 2008 Grand Prix de ParisGrand Prix de ParisThe Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
- Fame and GloryFame and GloryFame and Glory is a thoroughbred horse from Ireland. Sired by Montjeu from the dam Gryada, Fame and Glory is a grandson of Sadler's Wells....
- winner of the 2009 Irish Derby, and 2010 Coronation CupCoronation CupThe 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.... - Hurricane FlyHurricane FlyHurricane Fly is a thoroughbred racehorse. The horse is owned by George Creighton & Mrs Rose Boyd and trained by Willie Mullins. On 15 March 2011, Hurricane Fly ridden by Ruby Walsh won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham....
- winner of the 2011 Champion HurdleChampion HurdleThe Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle... - Pour MoiPour MoiPour Moi is an Irish-bred and French-trained thoroughbred racehorse, most noted for winning the 2011 Epsom Derby.Trained by André Fabre, Pour Moi came into Derby consideration after a last-to-first win in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. He was made second-favourite for the 4 June 2011 Derby...
- winner of the 2011 Epsom Derby2011 Epsom DerbyThe 2011 Epsom Derby was the 232nd running of the Derby horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on 4 June 2011.The race was won by second-favourite Pour Moi, by a short distance of a head. He was the first Derby winner to have been trained in France since Empery in 1976.The winning horse was...
As of June 30, 2009, he had produced 12 individual Group 1 winners and 62 Stakes placed horses