Kazzia was a German-bred
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, who was trained in Germany, the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...
and the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. In a racing career which lasted from September 2001 until October 2002 she ran seven times and won five races in four different countries. She is best known for successfully completing the
Classic
A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of Masterpiece, lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or Literary merit, highest quality, class, or rank – something that Exemplification, exemplifies its ...
double of the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks. She was the first German-bred horse to win a
British Classic. After her retirement from racing she became a successful
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 ...
. Kazzia died in March 2013 from post-foaling complications.
Background
Kazzia, described by
Timeform
Timeform is a sports data and content provider located in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1948, it provides systematic information on form to punters and others involved in the horse racing industry. The company was purchased by th ...
as an "angular filly" was bred in Germany by Roswitha Grunewald. She was sired by the British-bred stallion
Zinaad, winner of the
Jockey Club Stakes, out of the German mare Khoruna, making her a half-sister to the
Schwarzgold-Rennen
The Schwarzgold-Rennen is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Cologne in May.
History
The event is named after Schwarzgold, ...
winner Kimbajar. She was originally sent into training at the
Bremen
Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...
stable of Andreas Wöhler.
Racing career
2001: two-year-old season
Kazzia began her career in September 2001 by winning a minor race at
Hoppegarten
Hoppegarten is a municipality in the district Märkisch-Oderland, in Brandenburg, Germany.
History
The current municipality was created in 2003 when the former municipalities of Hönow and Münchehofe were united with Dahlwitz-Hoppegarten. The ...
. She was then immediately stepped up to
Group race
Group races, also known as Pattern races, or Graded races in some jurisdictions, are the highest level of races in Thoroughbred horse racing. They include most of the world's iconic races, such as the Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomp ...
company, traveling to
Milan
Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
's
San Siro Racecourse
The Hippodrome of San Siro () is a horse racing venue in Milan, Italy, which takes its name from the San Siro, Milan, neighborhood of the same name in which it is located.
History
Designed in 1913 to replace the then-used Trotter in Via Padova, ...
for the Premio Dormello. She proved herself to be a useful staying filly, catching the English-trained Kootenay a
furlong
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 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...
from home and pulling away to win by two and a half
lengths.
Her performance attracted the attention of the Godolphin team who were in Milan to watch Kutub run in the
Gran Premio del Jockey Club
The Gran Premio del Jockey Club is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Milan over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
T ...
. According to Simon Crisford, "Sheikh Mohammed was very impressed with the filly and liked her a lot so he made an offer to the owners."
Kazzia was sent to join Saeed bin Suroor at the Godolphin winter base in Dubai.
2002: three-year-old season
Spring
Whilst still in Dubai, Kazzia reportedly showed promise when finishing a close second in a private trial race to the
Cherry Hinton Stakes
The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), ...
winner Silent Honor. She was primarily regarded as a staying prospect and attracted attention as a possible Oaks winner, but
Sheikh Mohammed insisted on sending her straight for the 1,000 Guineas, taking on specialist milers on fast ground. Sent off a
14/1 outsider in "dismal" conditions, Kazzia raced prominently, took the lead a
furlong
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 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...
out, and stayed on strongly to beat Snowfire by a neck. Her rider,
Frankie Dettori
Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori (; born 15 December 1970), is an Italian jockey who was based in England for a career spanning over 35 years. He was British flat racing Champion Jockey three times (1994, 1995 and 2004) and rode the winners of 287 ...
felt that the filly had done very well, particularly as she was essentially a stayer- "She really wants more than a mile."
Summer
The Oaks, a month later, was run on unusually soft ground, and promised to be a test of stamina. Kazzia was made favourite at 100–30, although there was strong support for the
Musidora Stakes
The Musidora Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards ( ...
winner,
Islington
Islington ( ) is an inner-city area of north London, England, within the wider London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's #Islington High Street, High Street to Highbury Fields ...
. Adapting well to the conditions, Kazzia went off in front and by the two-furlong pole all her opponents were struggling except for the Irish-trained
Quarter Moon
Quarter Moon (foaled 31 January 1999) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2001 she showed considerable promise, taking the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on the second of her two starts. In the following year ...
. Both fillies stayed on strongly, but Kazzia prevailed by half a length, with the rest of the field, including the disappointing Islington, beaten by at least fourteen lengths. The conditions were so testing that the winning time of 2:44.52 was the slowest since 1964. After the race Goldolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford spoke confidently of the filly's future: "The
Triple Crown dream is alive... there's no reason why the St Leger isn't a possibility."
Kazzia had a twelve-week break before the
Yorkshire Oaks
The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile ...
which was run on much firmer ground. Her unbeaten run came to an end as she proved no match for Islington and faded into fourth place. Kazzia's connections felt that she may have been under-prepared for the race. Crisford expressed the view that they had "been a little bit too easy with her", while Richard Edmondson, writing in the ''Independent'' described her as looking "soft as putty".
Autumn
It was still intended that Kazzia should run in the
St Leger
The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over ...
, where her stamina would have been a major strength, but a foot abscess forced her late withdrawal, and she was re-routed to the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes at
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 ...
. Carrying 118 lbs on soft ground, Kazzia'a stamina once again came to the fore, as she led from the start and held off the strong late run of the French-trained Turtle Bow by a neck, with the leading American mares
Starine and England's Legend well beaten. Godolphin's American assistant trainer called Kazzia "a very game and honest filly" and a decision was made to pay a $90,000 supplementary charge to run her in the Breeders' Cup at
Arlington Park
Arlington Park (formerly known as Arlington International Racecourse) is a former horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Once called the ''Arlington Park Jockey Club'', it was located adjacent to the Illinois Rou ...
.
On her final racecourse appearance, Kazzia showed uncharacteristic signs of temperament, when reluctant to enter the stalls for the
Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She led the field into the straight but faded to finish sixth, beaten just under three lengths, behind Starine.
Her retirement was announced in November, shortly after the Cartier Racing Awards ceremony.
Race record
Assessment
Kazzia was named European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at the
Cartier Racing Awards
The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races (40%) plus the votes cast by British racing journalists (30%) and readers of th ...
, although in the 2002 International Classification her rating of 119 placed her one-pound behind Islington and the
Prix de Diane
The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is one of the most important and prestigious Group 1 horse races in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at C ...
winner Bright Sky
She was assessed at 121 by
Timeform
Timeform is a sports data and content provider located in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1948, it provides systematic information on form to punters and others involved in the horse racing industry. The company was purchased by th ...
.
Stud career
Kazzia was retired to her owner'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 made an immediate impact as a broodmare, her first foal being the
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 (approximately miles; 2410 metres since 2010) on the turf track a ...
winner Eastern Anthem, by
Singspiel
A Singspiel (; plural: ; ) is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera. It is characterized by spoken dialogue, which is alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias which were often strophic, or folk- ...
. On 11 March 2013 it was announced that Kazzia had died after giving birth to a filly foal by
Dubawi
Dubawi (foaled 7 February 2002) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse. He has proven himself a top-class sire (horse), sire.
Background
Dubawi is a bay horse with no white markings bred in Ireland by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Moham ...
(which survived) at the
Dalham Hall 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 ...
. The stud's director Liam O'Rourke called Kazzia "a wonderful racehorse, and an excellent mother, with a delightful temperament."
2004 Eastern Anthem (IRE) : Bay colt, foaled 27 February, by Singspiel (IRE) - won G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, Nad Al Sheba; 2nd G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, Baden-Baden; 2nd G1 Preis von Europa, Cologne; 3rd G1 Rheinland Pokal, Cologne
2005 - 2006 Barren
2007 Zeitoper (GB) : Brown colt (gelded), foaled 14 February, by Singspiel (IRE) - won G3 Prix de Conde, Longchamp in France 2009
2008 Moonsail (GB) : Bay filly, foaled 30 March, by Monsun (GER) - placed second twice from 4 races in England 2010/11
2009 Kailani (GB) : Bay filly, foaled 13 April, by Monsun (GER) - won 2 races in England 2011/12 including LR Pretty Polly Stakes, Newmarket
2010 Barren
2011 King's Land (GB) : Bay colt (gelded), foaled 23 January, by New Approach (IRE) - placed third from one race in England 2013
2012 Kazziana (GB) : Bay filly, foaled 10 February, by Shamardal (USA) - won 1 race and placed third only 2 starts to date in England 2015
2013 Bay filly (GB), foaled 11 March, by Dubawi (IRE)
Pedigree
References
External links
youtube clip of 2002 Oaks
{{Cartier Champion Three-year-old Filly
1999 racehorse births
2013 racehorse deaths
Cartier Award winners
Racehorses bred in Germany
Thoroughbred family 5-h
1000 Guineas winners
Epsom Oaks winners