Cherokee Rose (1 March 1991 – ca. 2012) was an Irish-bred, French-trained

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorse and

broodmare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...

. She showed promise as a two-year-old in 1993 when she won one of her three races and finished a very close second in the Group Three

Prix du Calvados The Prix du Calvados is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs) and it is scheduled to ...

. She failed to win in an interrupted three-year-old season. She emerged as a top class performer in 1995 when she won the Prix du Palais-Royal, Prix de la Porte Maillot,

Prix Maurice de Gheest The Prix Maurice de Gheest is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,300 metres (about 6½ furlongs), and it is s ...

, and the

Haydock Sprint Cup The Sprint Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), a ...

. After her retirement from racing she has considerable success as a dam of winners.

Background

Cherokee Rose is a bay mare bred in Ireland by her owner Sheikh Mohammed. Her sire Dancing Brave was the most highly rated British racehorse of the 1980s winning a series of major races culminating in the

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...

. At stud, he was a modest success, siring the

Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...

winners Commander in Chief, White Muzzle, Wemyss Bight and Ivanka before being sold and exported to Japan in 1991. Cherokee Rose's dam Celtic Assembly won one minor race and finished second in the

Lupe Stakes Lupe is a given name, short for ''Guadalupe'', and may refer to: People * Lupe Aquino (born 1963), Mexican boxer * Lupe Fiasco (born 1982), American hip hop artist * Lupe Ontiveros (1942–2012), Mexican-American film and television actress * Lup ...

in 1984. As a broodmare she also produced

Volksraad The Volksraad was a people's assembly or legislature in Dutch or Afrikaans speaking government. Assembly South Africa * Volksraad (South African Republic) (1840–1902) * Volksraad (Natalia Republic), a similar assembly that existed in the Natalia ...

who became a leading sire in New Zealand. She was a great-granddaughter of Mesopotamia an Irish broodmare whose other female-line descendants have included Halling, Galaxy Libra (

Man o' War Stakes The Man o' War Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four-years-old and older. It is run over a distance of one and three-eighth miles on grass, turf and is scheduled annually for early May at Be ...

), Balla Cove, and Just The Judge. Sheikh Mohammed sent the filly to race in France where she was trained by John Hammond.

Racing career

1993: two-year-old season

Cherokee Rose began her racing career by finishing fourth at

Compiègne Compiègne (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department of northern France. It is located on the river Oise (river), Oise, and its inhabitants are called ''Compiégnois'' (). Administration Compiègne is t ...

on 12 July 1993 and then recorded her first success in a minor race at

Vichy Vichy (, ; ) is a city in the central French department of Allier. Located on the Allier river, it is a major spa and resort town and during World War II was the capital of Vichy France. As of 2021, Vichy has a population of 25,789. Known f ...

eighteen days later. On 29 August the filly was stepped up in class for the Group Three

over 1400 metres at

Deauville Racecourse Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques is a race track for thoroughbred horse racing located in Deauville in the Calvados département, in the Normandy ''région'' of France. Originally called Hippodrome de la Touques, it was named for the Touques River ...

and finished second, beaten a short head by Far Mist.

1994: three-year-old season

In 1994, Cherokee Rose failed to win in four starts. She finished ninth in the Prix Amandine at

Saint-Cloud Racecourse Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud is a grass race course for Thoroughbred flat horse racing opened in 1901 at 1 rue du Camp Canadien in Saint-Cloud near Paris, France. During World War 1, the race course site housed the No. 4 Canadian Stationary Hospita ...

in March and sixth in the Prix de la Calonne at Deauville in April. The filly was then off the course until November when she finished third to Light Fresh Air in the Listed Prix Solitude over 1600 metres at Saint-Cloud. Later in the month over the same distance at

Evry Racecourse EVRY A/S was a Norwegian information technology company that supplied services relating to computing, including operation, outsourcing and online banking. The company was headquartered in Oslo. It was established through a merger between EDB B ...

she contested the Listed Prix Isola Bella and finished fourth, beaten two and a quarter lengths by the

André Fabre André Fabre (; born 9 December 1945) is a French thoroughbred horse racing horse trainer, trainer. The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He beg ...

-trained winner Mrs Arkada.

1995: four-year-old season

The American jockey

Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen (born March 15, 1962, in Agar, South Dakota, Agar, South Dakota) is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his paren ...

took over the ride on Cherokee Rose in 1995 and rode her in all seven of her races. On her debut as a four-year-old she finished third to Neverneyev and Nec Plus Ultra in the Listed Prix de Montretout over 1400 metres at

Longchamp Racecourse The Longchamp Racecourse (, ) is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes at the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, 16th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is used for flat racing and is noted for ...

on 7 May. Eighteen days later she contested the Group Three Prix du Palais-Royal over the same course and distance and started at odds of 5.8/1. The British filly

Sayyedati Sayyedati (26 January 1990 – August 2007) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from June 1992 to October 1995 she ran twenty-two times winning six races and being placed eight times. Sayyedati ...

started favourite ahead of Neverneyev and Poplar Bluff with Nec Plus Ultra completing the five-runner field. She turned into the straight in fourth place and made steady progress, catching Sayyedati in the final strides and winning by a head. On 22 June, Cherokee Rose ran for the third consecutive times over Longchamp's 1400 metre course and started joint favourite with Neverneyev in the Group Three Prix de la Porte Maillot. The other three runners were Poplar Bluff, Bashaayeash (runner-up in the Prix de La Jonchere) and Sixieme Sens. The filly took the lead 200 metres out accelerated clear of her rivals to win by two and a half lengths from Bashaayeash. On 6 August at Deauville Cherokee Rose was moved up to Group One class for the first time and started the 1.7/1 favourite for the Prix Maurice de Gheest over 1300 metres. Her nine opponents were Diffident ( Prix de Ris-Orangis), General Monash (

Prix Robert Papin The Prix Robert Papin is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it ...

), Atticus (

Prix de Fontainebleau The Prix de Fontainebleau is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at L ...

), Nec Plus Ultra,

Fard ' () or ' () or fardh in Islam is a religious duty commanded by God in Islam, God. The word is also used in Turkish language, Turkish, Persian language, Persian, Pashto, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali language, Bangla (''spelled farz or faraz''), and Mal ...

(

Middle Park Stakes The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it i ...

), Young Ern (

Hungerford Stakes The Hungerford Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is schedul ...

), Hoh Magic (

Prix Morny The Prix Morny is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is schedule ...

), Wessam Prince ( Benazet-Rennen) and

Lavinia Fontana Lavinia Fontana (24 August 1552–11 August 1614) was an Italian Mannerist painter active in Bologna and Rome. She is best known for her successful portraiture, but also worked in the genres of mythology and religious painting. She was trained ...

(

). Cherokee Rose raced in fourth as Lavinia Fontana set the pace before moving up into third on the turn into the straight. She overtook Lavina Fontana inside the last 200 metres and stayed on "gamely" under pressure to hold off the late challenge of Young Ern to win by a short head. After the race Hammond commented "she seems to be getting faster as she gets older". Cherokee Rose was sent overseas for the first time when she contested the Group One Sprint Cup over six

furlongs A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to any of 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains, or approximately 201 metres. It is no ...

Haydock Park Haydock Park Racecourse is a racecourse in Merseyside, North West England. The racecourse is set in an area of parkland bounded by the towns of Haydock to the west, Ashton-in-Makerfield to the north, Golborne to the east and Newton-le-Willows ...

in England on 2 September. The British-trained colt

Lake Coniston Lake Coniston (21 February 1991 – 29 May 2014) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire (horse), sire. After being sold as a yearling (horse), yearling for 22,000 guinea (coin), guineas he was sent to be trained in E ...

was made 1/3 favourite after a four-length win in the

July Cup The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 me ...

with Cherokee Rose second choice in the betting on 5/1. The other four runners were the 1994 winner Lavinia Fotana,

Owington Owington (6 February 1991 – 12 August 1996) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire (horse), sire. He showed very good form as a juvenile, winning the Moët & Chandon Rennen in Germany and finishing a close second in the Middle Park Stak ...

, Branston Abby (

Chipchase Stakes The Chipchase Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to tak ...

) and Mind Games (

Temple Stakes The Temple Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled ...

). Cherokee Rose tracked the leaders Mind Games and Lake Coniston before being switched left by Asmussen to obtain a clear run approaching the final furlong. She accelerated psst her rivals in the closing stages and won "comfortably" by one and half lengths from Branston Abby. On 1 October, Cherokee Rose was dropped in distance and started odds on favourite for the

Prix de l'Abbaye The Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,000 metres (about 5 furlon ...

over 1000 metres at Longchamp and started odds-on favourite. She struggled to match the pace of the early leaders and although she stayed on strongly in the closing stages she never looked likely to win and was beaten two and a half lengths into second by the British filly

Hever Golf Rose Hever Golf Rose (22 February 1991 – September 1999) was a thoroughbred racehorse who was bred and trained in the United Kingdom, and campaigned throughout Europe in a career that lasted from 1993 to 1998. She was a specialist sprinter, showing ...

. For her final appearance the filly was sent to the United States and moved back up in distance for the

Breeders' Cup Mile The Breeders' Cup Mile is a conditions races, Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a sod, grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup World C ...

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...

on 28 October. She never looked likely to win and finished eighth of the thirteen runners behind the Irish filly

Ridgewood Pearl Ridgewood Pearl (1992–2003) was an Irish-based Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1995 won four Group/Grade 1 races in four countries including over male horses in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The filly was bred by ...

Breeding record

Cherokee Rose was retired from racing to become a broodmare for Sheikh Mohammed's

Darley Stud Darley Stud is located at Dalham Hall, the global breeding operation owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. It is on the outskirts of Newmarket, Suffolk, the internati ...

. She produced twelve foals and six winners between 1997 and 2012. *Moyesii, a bay filly, foaled in 1997, sired by

Diesis In classical music from Western culture, a diesis ( or enharmonic diesis, plural dieses ( , or "difference"; Greek: "leak" or "escape" is either an accidental (see sharp), or a very small musical interval, usually defined as the differe ...

. Won one race, dam of

Mastery A skill is the learned or innate ability to act with determined results with good execution often within a given amount of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills. Some examples of gene ...

and Kirklees (

Gran Criterium The Gran Criterium is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to two-year-old thoroughbred Colt (horse) entire colts only . It is run at Milan over a distance of 1,500 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October ...

). *Bowman, bay colt, 1999, by

Irish River {{Infobox racehorse , horsename = Irish River , image = , caption = , sire = Riverman , grandsire = Never Bend , dam = Irish Star , damsire = Klairon , sex = Stallion , foaled = 1976 , country = France , colour = Chestnut , breeder ...

. Won four races including the

. *Meilland, bay colt, 2000 by Carson City. Failed to win in two races. *Cara Bella, chestnut filly, 2001, by

Seeking The Gold Seeking The Gold (April 7, 1985 – July 28, 2016) was an American thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire. Background and Family Seeking The Gold, a bay colt, was bred in Kentucky by Ogden Phipps, who also owned him. One of numerous top ...

. Failed to win in five races. Dam of Bello (

Newmarket Handicap The Newmarket Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group One, Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1200 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Super Saturday in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carn ...

). *Rose Rush, chestnut colt, 2002, by

King's Best Kings Best (24 January 1997 – 16 April 2019) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2000 Guineas Stakes. He was described by his trainer Michael Stoute as the best miler he'd ever trained. Background King's Best ...

*Hint of Spring, bay filly, 2004, by Seeking The Gold. Won one race. *Rose de France, bay filly, 2005, by

Diktat A diktat (, ) is a statute, harsh penalty or settlement imposed upon a defeated party by the victor, or a dogmatic decree. The term has acquired a pejorative sense, to describe a set of rules dictated by a foreign power or an unpopular local power ...

. Failed to win in five races. Dam of Cable Bay ( Challenge Stakes). *Game Hunter, bay colt, 2006, by

Cape Cross Cape Cross (Afrikaans: ''Kaap Kruis''; German: ''Kreuzkap''; Portuguese: ''Cabo da Cruz'') is a headland in the South Atlantic in Skeleton Coast, western Namibia. History In 1484, Portuguese navigator and explorer Diogo Cão was ordered by ...

*Ahtoug, bay colt, 2008, by Byron. Won six races. *Trail of Tears, bay filly, 2009, by Exceed and Excel. Failed to win in six races. *Gilmer, bay colt (later gelded), 2011, by Exceed and Excel. Won four races. *Seven Clans, bay colt, 2012, by Cape Cross. Won one race. He was Cherokee Rose's last foal.

Pedigree

References

{{Reflist, 2 1991 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in France Thoroughbred family 10-c