Pilsudski (horse)
Encyclopedia
Pilsudski is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland
, but trained in the United Kingdom
during a racing career which lasted from 1994 to 1997. In a four season career he progressed from winning modest handicap races to become regarded as one of the best racehorses in the world. He won eleven races in five different countries, six of them at Group One level. He also finished second in successive runnings of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
.
described him as "no oil painting". He was bred in Ireland by his owner's Ballymacoll Stud
near Dunboyne
, County Meath
. Pilsudski was sired by Polish Precedent, a son of Champion sire
Danzig
out of the Troy
mare Cocotte.
Polish Precedent won the Prix Jacques le Marois
and the Prix du Moulin
in 1989 and went on to sire the winners of almost five hundred races. Apart from Pilsudski, his most notable offspring was the champion miler Rakti
. Apart from Pilsudski, Cocotte produced at least seven other winners, most notable Fine Motion, the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup
and the Shūka Sho
.
Pilsudski was trained throughout his career by Michael Stoute at Newmarket, Suffolk. He was jointly owned by Lord Weinstock
and his son Simon, until Simon's death in May 1996. Pilsudski was named after the Polish politician and patriot Józef Piłsudski (1867-1935) who was known for his love for horses.
behind the future Gran Premio del Jockey Club
winner Court of Honour. He was then made favourite for a similar race at Leicester
but made no impression, finishing eighth.
and then running down the field in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot.
In July, Pilsudki won at his fifth attempt, staying on strongly to win a mile and a quarter handicap at Newmarket under a light weight. Two weeks later, he followed up over a mile and a half at Glorious Goodwood, winning another handicap by a neck from Rokeby Bowl. On his final start of the year he finished third to the future Caulfield Cup
winner Taufan's Melody in a handicap at Ascot
in September.
He had proved himself to be a useful handicapper, but his official handicap rating of 95 suggested that he was about a stone below Group class
.
at Sandown, but belied his odds by running second to his stable companion Singspiel
. A month later in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes
over the same course and distance he recorded his first important win, beating Lucky Di by half a length.
At Royal Ascot, Pilsudski was moved up to Group Two class for the Prince of Wales's Stakes
for which was made 4/1 favourite and was reportedly well-fancied by his trainer. He disputed the lead until the straight, but then faded into eighth place behind First Island. It was to be the last occasion on which Pilsudski finished out of the first three. In August he was sent abroad for the first time and won the Group Three Royal Whip Stakes
at The Curragh
, taking the lead two furlongs out and beating I'm Supposin by one and a half lengths. in "convincing" style.
It was in the Autumn of 1996 that Pilsudski first showed his best form. In September he recorded a Group One win at his first attempt, taking the lead a furlong out and staying on strongly under pressure to win the Grosser Preis von Baden
by three quarters of a length. Although he was obviously improving, Pilsudski was not regarded as a serious contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
and started at odds of just over 22/1. Ridden by Walter Swinburn Pilsudki tracked the leader Helissio throughout the race. In the straight the French colt pulled away to win easily, but Pilsudki stayed on strongly to hold on to second place ahead of numerous top class performers including Swain
, Shaamit
and Pentire
.
On his final start of the year, Pilsudski was sent to Canada
for the Breeders' Cup Turf
at Woodbine Racetrack
. He was matched against his stable companion Singspiel, six months on from their meeting at Sandown. The rest of the European challenge included Swain and the St Leger
winner Shantou
, while the North American runners were headed by the local champion Chief Bearheart and Diplomatic Jet from the United States
. Ridden again by Swinburn, Pilsudski raced prominently as first Diplomatic Jet and then Singspiel led. In the straight Pilsudki moved up to challenge his stablemate and pulled ahead inside the final furlong to win by one and a quarter lengths. Swain and Shantou finished next to complete a "clean sweep" for European-trained horses. Much attention was given to the human aspects of the victory: Swinburn had recovered from life threatening injuries earlier in the year, and had been criticised for his riding style in previous American races, while Stoute recorded his first Breeders' Cup victory in fifteen attempts.
took over as Pilsudski's regular jockey, and the horse had his most successful season, winning four Group One races from eight starts. His season began slowly, as he finished a well beaten third to Helissio in the Prix Ganay
and was then beaten by Predappio when starting favourite for the Hardwicke Stakes
at Royal Ascot, where he was unsuited by the soft ground.
At Sandown in July he won his most important European race to date, taking the lead a furlong out in the Eclipse Stakes
and running on well to beat the Epsom Derby
winner Benny the Dip
by one and a quarter lengths with the odds-on favourite Bosra Sham
(who had been unable to obtain a clear run) in third. Although much of the coverage of the race focused on Bosra Sham's defeat, Pilsudski was given credit for his win and was described by Mick Kinane as "fit, hard and ready to fight." In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot three weeks later Pilsudski ran on strongly after being switched to the outside to finish second to Swain, ahead of Helissio, Singspiel, Shantou and Predappio in a contest which was described as the "race of the decade".
Once again, Pilsudski produced his best form in the Autumn. The build-up for the Irish Champion Stakes
in September suggested that the race was effectively a match between Pilsudski and the three-year-old Desert King
, the winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas
and Derby. Pilsudski tracked the leaders before taking the lead in the straight and pulling well clear. Even though he was eased down close to the finish he still crossed the line four and a half lengths ahead of Desert King. The performance was described by one national newspaper correspondent as "truly awesome". In his second attempt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
he started third favourite and again proved to be a clear second best, finishing five lengths behind Peintre Celebre
, but two and a half lengths ahead of the rest of the field.
Two weeks later at Newmarket, Pilsudki was made evens favourite for his final European start in the Champion Stakes
. Kinane held the horse up before switching him to the outside to obtain a clear run inside the final quarter of a mile. Pilsudki accelerated to catch and pass the French colt Loup Sauvage inside the final furlong and pulled away to win by two lengths. The Sunday Mirror
described his win as "a demolition job" and Kinane paid tribute to the winner, saying that "they don't come any tougher than this horse - not only is he the toughest I've ridden, he's one of the best." On his final start, Pilsudski was sent to Tokyo for the Japan Cup
. Pilsudki was held up in the early stages before producing a sustained run in the straight to take the lead inside the final furlong. In a "courageous, fibre-testing performance", he held off a strong late challenge from the Tenno Sho
winner Air Groove to win by a neck.
Pilsudski was then retired from racing and was sent back to Japan to begin his stud career in January 1998.
at the Shizunai Stallion Station
at Hokkaidō
in Japan
from 1997 until 2003. He was then purchased by the Irish National Stud
and Anngrove Stud and was returned to Ireland. He is currently based at the Anngrove Stud at Mountmellick
, County Laois
where he stands at a fee of €2,500 (2010).
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 and active sire who was bred in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, but trained in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during a racing career which lasted from 1994 to 1997. In a four season career he progressed from winning modest handicap races to become regarded as one of the best racehorses in the world. He won eleven races in five different countries, six of them at Group One level. He also finished second in successive runnings of 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...
.
Background
Pilsudski is a "big, imposing" bay horse, although not a partcularly beautiful one- Walter SwinburnWalter Swinburn
Walter R. Swinburn is a retired flat racing jockey who competed in Great Britain and Ireland as well as internationally.Swinburn was born in Oxford...
described him as "no oil painting". He was bred in Ireland by his owner's Ballymacoll Stud
Ballymacoll Stud
Ballymacoll Stud is a Thoroughbred stud farm of 300 acres in County Meath, Ireland. It is located in the townland of Ballymacoll, approximately two miles from the village of Dunboyne and four miles from the town of Maynooth...
near Dunboyne
Dunboyne
Dunboyne is a town in County Meath in Ireland. For the most part, it is a dormitory town for the city of Dublin.-Location:Dunboyne is centred on the crossroads formed by the R156 regional road and the old Maynooth Road ....
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Pilsudski was sired by Polish Precedent, a son of Champion sire
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
Danzig
Danzig (horse)
Danzig was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as a leading sire. He was purchased for $310,000 by Henryk de Kwiatkowski at the 1978 Saratoga Yearling Sale...
out of the Troy
Troy (horse)
Troy was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned by industrialist Sir Michael Sobell and his son-in-law Lord Weinstock, under trainer Dick Hern the colt notably won the 1979 Epsom and Irish Derbys en route to earning 3-Year-Old Champion honors as well as the British flat racing Champion Owner...
mare Cocotte.
Polish Precedent won the Prix Jacques le Marois
Prix Jacques le Marois
The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
and the Prix du Moulin
Prix du Moulin de Longchamp
The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older...
in 1989 and went on to sire the winners of almost five hundred races. Apart from Pilsudski, his most notable offspring was the champion miler Rakti
Rakti
Rakti was a British Thoroughbred racehorse, who won six Group One races in Italy and the United Kingdom in a career which lasted from 2001 to 2005.-Background:...
. Apart from Pilsudski, Cocotte produced at least seven other winners, most notable Fine Motion, the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup
Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup
The Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup is an International Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbred fillies and mares run over a distance of 2,200 metres on the turf at Kyoto Racecourse in November.The race was first run in 1976 over a distance of 2,400 metres...
and the Shūka Sho
Shūka Sho
The is a Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies run over a distance of 2,000 metres at the Kyoto Racecourse, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture in October....
.
Pilsudski was trained throughout his career by Michael Stoute at Newmarket, Suffolk. He was jointly owned by Lord Weinstock
Arnold Weinstock
Arnold Weinstock, Baron Weinstock was an English businessman whom The Guardian newspaper called "Britain's premier post-second-world-war industrialist."...
and his son Simon, until Simon's death in May 1996. Pilsudski was named after the Polish politician and patriot Józef Piłsudski (1867-1935) who was known for his love for horses.
1994: two-year-old season
Pilsudski's racing career began unremarkably in September 1994 when he ran sixth in a nineteen runner maiden race at NewmarketNewmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
behind the future Gran Premio del Jockey Club
Gran Premio del Jockey Club
The Gran Premio del Jockey Club is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.Past winners of the event include Tenerani and...
winner Court of Honour. He was then made favourite for a similar race at Leicester
Leicester Racecourse
Leicester Racecourse is a horse-racing course in Oadby, Leicestershire, England.The course is oval shaped and nearly 2 miles in extent. It was opened ante 1773....
but made no impression, finishing eighth.
1995: three-year-old season
Pilsudski failed to win in his early three-year-old career, finishing second in a maiden at RiponRipon Racecourse
Ripon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. It has been used for horse racing for more than 300 years and is nicknamed the Garden Racecourse. The course is a right-handed oval of approximately 1m5f with a 5f finishing straight and a 6f chute...
and then running down the field in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot.
In July, Pilsudki won at his fifth attempt, staying on strongly to win a mile and a quarter handicap at Newmarket under a light weight. Two weeks later, he followed up over a mile and a half at Glorious Goodwood, winning another handicap by a neck from Rokeby Bowl. On his final start of the year he finished third to the future Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
winner Taufan's Melody in a handicap at 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...
in September.
He had proved himself to be a useful handicapper, but his official handicap rating of 95 suggested that he was about a stone below Group class
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...
.
1996: four-year-old season
1996 saw Pilsudski make the transition from handicapper to Group One winner. On his debut he started a 16/1 outsider for the Gordon Richards StakesGordon Richards Stakes
The Gordon Richards Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four 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 April.The event was established in 1963, and...
at Sandown, but belied his odds by running second to his stable companion Singspiel
Singspiel (horse)
Singspiel was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. The Bay horse was out of the Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare, Glorious Song...
. A month later in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes
Brigadier Gerard Stakes
The Brigadier Gerard Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four 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 late May or early June.The event was established in...
over the same course and distance he recorded his first important win, beating Lucky Di by half a length.
At Royal Ascot, Pilsudski was moved up to Group Two class for 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....
for which was made 4/1 favourite and was reportedly well-fancied by his trainer. He disputed the lead until the straight, but then faded into eighth place behind First Island. It was to be the last occasion on which Pilsudski finished out of the first three. In August he was sent abroad for the first time and won the Group Three Royal Whip Stakes
Royal Whip Stakes
The Royal Whip Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at 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 :...
, taking the lead two furlongs out and beating I'm Supposin by one and a half lengths. in "convincing" style.
It was in the Autumn of 1996 that Pilsudski first showed his best form. In September he recorded a Group One win at his first attempt, taking the lead a furlong out and staying on strongly under pressure to win the Grosser Preis von Baden
Grosser Preis von Baden
The Grosser Preis von Baden is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Baden-Baden over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early September.-History:The event was established in 1858, and it...
by three quarters of a length. Although he was obviously improving, Pilsudski was not regarded as a serious contender 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 started at odds of just over 22/1. Ridden by Walter Swinburn Pilsudki tracked the leader Helissio throughout the race. In the straight the French colt pulled away to win easily, but Pilsudki stayed on strongly to hold on to second place ahead of numerous top class performers including 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...
, Shaamit
Shaamit
Shaamit was an Irish-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 1996.Shaamit was foaled on 11 February 1993 and was sired by Mtoto, winner of the Eclipse Stakes in 1987 and 1988 and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1988...
and Pentire
Pentire
Pentire is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.-Background:Pentire was bred by Lord Halifax, he was purchased for 54,000 guineas by Mollers Racing, the racing stable Trust of brothers Eric and Budgie Moller.-Racing career:...
.
On his final start of the year, Pilsudski was sent to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
at Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
. He was matched against his stable companion Singspiel, six months on from their meeting at Sandown. The rest of the European challenge included Swain and 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 Shantou
Shantou (horse)
Shantou is a classic-winning thoroughbred racehorse. He won the St. Leger, the Gran Premio del Jockey Club and the Gran Premio di Milano....
, while the North American runners were headed by the local champion Chief Bearheart and Diplomatic Jet from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Ridden again by Swinburn, Pilsudski raced prominently as first Diplomatic Jet and then Singspiel led. In the straight Pilsudki moved up to challenge his stablemate and pulled ahead inside the final furlong to win by one and a quarter lengths. Swain and Shantou finished next to complete a "clean sweep" for European-trained horses. Much attention was given to the human aspects of the victory: Swinburn had recovered from life threatening injuries earlier in the year, and had been criticised for his riding style in previous American races, while Stoute recorded his first Breeders' Cup victory in fifteen attempts.
1997: five-year-old season
In 1997 Michael KinaneMichael Kinane
Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009....
took over as Pilsudski's regular jockey, and the horse had his most successful season, winning four Group One races from eight starts. His season began slowly, as he finished a well beaten third to Helissio in the Prix Ganay
Prix Ganay
The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May....
and was then beaten by Predappio when starting favourite for the Hardwicke Stakes
Hardwicke Stakes
The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 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 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
at Royal Ascot, where he was unsuited by the soft ground.
At Sandown in July he won his most important European race to date, taking the lead a furlong out in the 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...
and running on well to beat the Epsom 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 Benny the Dip
Benny the Dip
Benny the Dip was an American-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 1997 by a short head from the future St Leger winner Silver Patriarch....
by one and a quarter lengths with the odds-on favourite Bosra Sham
Bosra Sham
Bosra Sham is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse, bred in the United States and trained in the United Kingdom who won several important races between 1995 and 1997 and was one of the highest-rated fillies of modern times.-Background:...
(who had been unable to obtain a clear run) in third. Although much of the coverage of the race focused on Bosra Sham's defeat, Pilsudski was given credit for his win and was described by Mick Kinane as "fit, hard and ready to fight." In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot three weeks later Pilsudski ran on strongly after being switched to the outside to finish second to Swain, ahead of Helissio, Singspiel, Shantou and Predappio in a contest which was described as the "race of the decade".
Once again, Pilsudski produced his best form in the Autumn. The build-up for 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...
in September suggested that the race was effectively a match between Pilsudski and the three-year-old Desert King
Desert King
Desert King is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Desert King won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva ....
, the winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas
Irish 2000 Guineas
The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
and Derby. Pilsudski tracked the leaders before taking the lead in the straight and pulling well clear. Even though he was eased down close to the finish he still crossed the line four and a half lengths ahead of Desert King. The performance was described by one national newspaper correspondent as "truly awesome". In his second attempt at 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...
he started third favourite and again proved to be a clear second best, finishing five lengths behind Peintre Celebre
Peintre Celebre
Peintre Celebre, , is a champion thoroughbred racehorse.Bred and owned by Daniel Wildenstein , the renowned French art dealer and highly successful horseman, Peintre Celebre came from a line of outstanding thoroughbreds. He was a son of Nureyev, France's champion miler in 1980, who was in turn the...
, but two and a half lengths ahead of the rest of the field.
Two weeks later at Newmarket, Pilsudki was made evens favourite for his final European start in the Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three 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 October...
. Kinane held the horse up before switching him to the outside to obtain a clear run inside the final quarter of a mile. Pilsudki accelerated to catch and pass the French colt Loup Sauvage inside the final furlong and pulled away to win by two lengths. The Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
described his win as "a demolition job" and Kinane paid tribute to the winner, saying that "they don't come any tougher than this horse - not only is he the toughest I've ridden, he's one of the best." On his final start, Pilsudski was sent to Tokyo for 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...
. Pilsudki was held up in the early stages before producing a sustained run in the straight to take the lead inside the final furlong. In a "courageous, fibre-testing performance", he held off a strong late challenge from the Tenno Sho
Tenno Sho
The Tennō Shō is a horse race held twice a year in Japan, once in the spring and once in the autumn. "Tenno" means "Emperor of Japan". The races are both International Grade I races. Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were Japanese domestic Grade I races.-Spring:The Spring Tenno Sho...
winner Air Groove to win by a neck.
Pilsudski was then retired from racing and was sent back to Japan to begin his stud career in January 1998.
Assessment, Honours and Awards
Pilsudski was named European Champion Older Horse of 1997 at the Cartier Racing Awards. He was also the highest ranked older horse of 1997 in the International Classification with a rating of 134.Stud career
Retired from racing, Pilsudski stood at studHorse 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 the Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station is a Japanese Thoroughbred horse farm was opened in 1963 and is located on the island of Hokkaidō. Operated by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association , it is located in Shizunai whose sister city is Lexington, Kentucky...
at Hokkaidō
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...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
from 1997 until 2003. He was then purchased by the Irish National Stud
Irish National Stud
The Irish National Stud is a Thoroughbred horse breeding facility based at Tully, Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland...
and Anngrove Stud and was returned to Ireland. He is currently based at the Anngrove Stud at Mountmellick
Mountmellick
Other than that its a 15th-century settlement on the narrow Owenass river with an encampment on its banks at Irishtown. Overlooking this valley with its trees and wildlife was a small church called Kilmongan which was closed by the Penal Laws in 1640...
, County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
where he stands at a fee of €2,500 (2010).