Inspiral (foaled 14 March 2019) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the leading two-year-olds in Europe in 2021 when she was unbeaten in four races, including the Fillies' Mile. As a three-year-old she won the Coronation Stakes and the Prix Jacques Le Marois, which she retained as a four-year-old in 2023 as well as winning the Sun Chariot Stakes. In November of that year, Inspiral won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and was awarded the Eclipse award as American Champion Female Turf Horse.[3]
| Inspiral | |
|---|---|
 Racing silks of Cheveley Park Stud | |
| Sire | Frankel |
| Grandsire | Galileo |
| Dam | Starscope |
| Damsire | Selkirk |
| Sex | Filly |
| Foaled | 14 March 2019[1] |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Cheveley Park Stud |
| Owner | Cheveley Park Stud |
| Trainer | John Gosden & Thady Gosden |
| Record | 13: 9-2-0 |
| Earnings | US$3,639,932[2] |
| Major wins | |
| Star Stakes (2021) May Hill Stakes (2021) Fillies' Mile (2021) Coronation Stakes (2022) Prix Jacques Le Marois (2022, 2023) Sun Chariot Stakes (2023) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2023) | |
| Awards | |
| Cartier Champion Two-year-old Filly (2021) U.S. Champion Female Turf Horse (2023) | |
| Last updated on February 6, 2024 | |
Background edit
Inspiral is a bay filly with a white blaze bred and owned by the Newmarket-based Cheveley Park Stud. She was sent into training with John and Thady Gosden at Clarehaven Stables.
She was from the sixth crop of foals sired by Frankel, an undefeated racehorse whose other progeny have included Cracksman, Adayar, Soul Stirring and Hurricane Lane.[4] Inspiral's dam Starscope won only one minor race but was a top-class performer who finished second in both the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes.[5] Starscope's dam Moon Goddess was a half-sister to Medicean and a descendant of the broodmare Life Hill, making her a distant relative of Sherluck and Caro.[6]
Racing career edit
2021: two-year-old season edit
Inspiral made her track debut in a maiden race over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 26 June when she was ridden by Robert Havlin and started the 2/1 joint-favourite. After starting slowly she made steady progress in the last quarter mile, gained the advantage in the closing stages and won by one and a half lengths from Ardbraccan and Calm Skies.[7] Frankie Dettori took over from Havlin when the filly was stepped up in class and started favourite for the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown Park on 22 July. After being restrained in the early stages Inspiral went to the front approaching the final furlong and drew away to win "comfortably" by three and a half lengths from Wild Beauty (later to win the Natalma Stakes).[8] John Gosden commented "She's always been a classy filly. She'd done normal work at home on the bridle and won very nicely at Newmarket... She’s never been in front like that before, so she's done well... She'd shown a lot of ability and I thought she'd enjoy the track here. She'll have no problem getting a mile... she has a big frame, so she doesn't want over-racing this year."[9]
On 9 September at Doncaster Racecourse Inspiral went off at odds of 2/9 for the Group 2 May Hill Stakes over one mile on good to firm ground. She tracked the leaders before going to the front inside the last quarter mile and won "readily" by three and three quarter lengths from Prosperous Voyage despite being eased down by Dettori near the finish.[10] After the race Thady Gosden said "She’s done it very well. Obviously there were a few good fillies in the race and the ground was probably a bit too quick for her, but she showed plenty of class. She an exceptional filly, but if you see her walking around here she’s still got plenty of growing to do, so we’d be hopeful she’ll progress through the winter."[11]
For her final run of the season Inspiral was moved up to Group 1 class for the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket on 8 October when she was again partnered by Dettori. She started the 8/11 favourite in a nine-runner field which also included Wild Beauty, Prosperous Voyage, Mise En Scene (Prestige Stakes), Concert Hall (Weld Park Stakes), Magical Lagoon (Flame of Tara Stakes) and Majestic Glory (Sweet Solera Stakes). After racing towards the rear of the field in the early stages she took the lead approaching the final furlong and pulled away to win by two and a half lengths with Prosperous Voyage taking second place again.[12] John Gosden said "Inspiral is improving with her racing and was pretty professional today. She's a big girl but she's getting stronger all the time. We'll see how she comes through the winter as regards to next year but if we have a cold one with those east winds we could go straight for the 1000 Guineas. She'll get a mile and a quarter no problem."[13]
On 10 November Inspiral was named Champion Two-year-old Filly at the Cartier Racing Awards.[14]
Statistics edit
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade/ Group |
Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 – two-year-old season | |||||||||||
| 26 Jun 2021 | 7 furlongs | Maiden | Newmarket | 2/1* | 8 | 1 | 1:27.09 | 1+1⁄2 lengths | Robert Havlin | [15] | |
| 22 Jul 2021 | 7 furlongs | Star Stakes | Listed | Sandown Park | Evens* | 9 | 1 | 1:28.17 | 3+1⁄2 lengths | Frankie Dettori | [16] |
| 9 Sep 2021 | 1 mile | May Hill Stakes | II | Doncaster | 2/9* | 6 | 1 | 1:37.47 | 3+3⁄4 lengths | Frankie Dettori | [17] |
| 8 Oct 2021 | 1 mile | Fillies' Mile | I | Newmarket | 8/11* | 9 | 1 | 1:38.44 | 2+1⁄2 lengths | Frankie Dettori | [18] |
| 2022 – three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| 17 Jun 2022 | 7 furlongs 213 yards | Coronation Stakes | I | Royal Ascot | 15/8* | 12 | 1 | 1:40.70 | 4+3⁄4 lengths | Frankie Dettori | [19] |
| 8 Jul 2022 | 1 mile | Falmouth Stakes | I | Newmarket | 1/7* | 5 | 2 | 1:36.03 | (1+3⁄4 lengths) | Frankie Dettori | [20] |
| 14 Aug 2022 | 1,600 metres | Prix Jacques Le Marois | I | Deauville | 1.80* | 9 | 1 | 1:34.07 | neck | Frankie Dettori | [21] |
| 15 Oct 2022 | 1 mile | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | I | Ascot | 11/10* | 9 | 6 | 1:45.53 | (5 lengths) | Frankie Dettori | [22] |
| 2023 – four-year-old season | |||||||||||
| 20 Jun 2023 | 1 mile | Queen Anne Stakes | I | Royal Ascot | 11/4 | 12 | 2 | 1:40.70 | (neck) | Frankie Dettori | [23] |
| 2 Aug 2023 | 1 mile | Sussex Stakes | I | Goodwood | 5/1 | 5 | 5 | 1:47.16 | (8+1⁄2 lengths) | Frankie Dettori | [24] |
| 13 Aug 2023 | 1,600 metres | Prix Jacques Le Marois | I | Deauville | 7.80 | 11 | 1 | 1:36.62 | 1+1⁄4 lengths | Frankie Dettori | [25] |
| 7 Oct 2023 | 1 mile | Sun Chariot Stakes | I | Newmarket | 10/11* | 8 | 1 | 1:35.65 | 3+3⁄4 lengths | Frankie Dettori | [26] |
| 4 Nov 2023 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | I | Santa Anita | 2.50* | 12 | 1 | 1:59.06 | neck | Frankie Dettori | [27] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Inspiral was the post-time favorite.
Pedigree edit
| Sire Frankel (GB) 2008 |
Galileo (IRE) 1998 |
Sadler's Wells (USA) | Northern Dancer (CAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairy Bridge | |||
| Urban Sea (USA) | Miswaki | ||
| Allegretta (GB) | |||
| Kind (IRE) 2001 |
Danehill (USA) | Danzig | |
| Razyana | |||
| Rainbow Lake (GB) | Rainbow Quest (USA) | ||
| Rockfest (USA) | |||
| Dam Starscope (GB) 2009 |
Selkirk (USA) 1988 |
Sharpen Up (GB) | Atan (USA) |
| Rocchetta | |||
| Annie Edge (IRE) | Nebbiolo (GB) | ||
| Friendly Court | |||
| Moon Goddess (GB) 1998 |
Rainbow Quest (USA) | Blushing Groom (FR) | |
| I Will Follow | |||
| Mystic Goddess (USA) | Storm Bird (CAN) | ||
| Rose Goddess (IRE) (Family: 3-o)[6] |
- Inspiral is inbred 3 × 4 to Rainbow Quest, meaning that this stallion appears in both the third and fourth generations of he pedigree.
References edit
- ^ a b "Inspiral pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ "Profile of Inspiral (GB)". Equibase. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Inspiral voted leading US turf female at Eclipse awards". thoroughbrednews.com.au. Racing Post. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Frankel - Progeny". Racing Post.
- ^ "Starscope; Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
- ^ a b "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Black Corrie – Family 3-o". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Close Brothers Maiden Fillies' Stakes result". Racing Post. 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Star Stakes result". Racing Post. 22 July 2021.
- ^ "Inspiral impresses under Dettori in Sandown's Star Stakes". Racing TV. 22 July 2021.
- ^ "May Hill Stakes result". Racing Post. 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Inspiral proves class with Cazoo May Hill Stakes win". ITV Racing. 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Fillies' Mile result". Racing Post. 8 October 2021.
- ^ Milnes, David (8 October 2021). "Inspiral Delights Dettori With Fillies' Mile Win". The Blood-Horse.
- ^ Milnes, David (10 November 2021). "St Mark's Basilica voted horse of the year at annual ceremony in London". Racing Post.
- ^ "Close Brothers Maiden Fillies' Stakes (GBB Race)". 26 June 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "British Stallion Studs EBF Star Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies)". Racing Post. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Cazoo May Hill Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies)". Racing Post. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "bet365 Fillies' Mile (Group 1)". Racing Post. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Coronation Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) (British Champions Series)". 17 June 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (British Champions Series)". Racing Post. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (Group 1) (3yo+ No Geldings)". Racing Post. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1) – Race 4". sportinglife.com. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) – Race 1". 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ "Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1)". racingpost.com. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (Group 1) (3yo+ No Geldings)". Racing Post. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (British Champions Series)". Racing Post. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "2023 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Grade 1 - (race 4)". Equibase. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.