Levmoss (1965–1977) was an Irish

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 Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

whose career lasted from 1967 to 1969. He was the leading stayer in Europe in 1969, when he won the premier long-distance races in England (

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4 ...

) and France (

Prix du Cadran The Prix du Cadran 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 4,000 metres (about 2 miles), and it is scheduled to t ...

). In October of that year he moved down to middle distances to win Europe's most prestigious

weight-for-age {{use dmy dates, date=October 2022 Weight for Age (WFA) is a term in thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. History The principle of WFA was developed by Admiral Rous, a handicapper with the English Jockey Club. Rou ...

race, 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 ...

Background

Levmoss was a bay horse bred in Ireland by the McGrath Trust Company, a family breeding organisation headed by Joseph McGrath. His sire was the McGrath-owned Le Levanstell, who won the

Sussex Stakes The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), a ...

and the

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is ...

in 1961 before a successful stud career. Levmoss's dam, Feemoss came from a strong staying family, being a daughter of 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 ...

winner Feevagh and a half-sister of the

Queen Alexandra Stakes The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot each June over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 143 yards (4355 ...

winner Laurence O. After, Levmoss, Feemoss went on to produce 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 Sweet Mimosa and the champion stayer Le Moss.

Racing career

Early career

Levmoss ran twice as a two-year-old winning once at

Gowran Park Gowran Park is a horse race course in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the Annely Estate near the village of Gowran. The first meeting was held in 1914. and the first ever racecourse commentary in Ireland took place here in 1952. Gowra ...

. At three he developed into a useful stayer. After winning a race at the

Phoenix Park Racecourse Phoenix Park Racecourse was a horse racing venue in Ireland. It was located in the townlands of Ashtown, Dublin, Ashtown and Castleknock in the civil parish of Castleknock on the northern edge of the Phoenix Park in Dublin. The course was foun ...

he was sent to England where he finished fourth in the Lingfield Derby Trial. A month later he finished fourth in the

Queen's Vase The Queen's Vase is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 6 furlongs and 34 yards (2,847 metres), and it is schedu ...

Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Gra ...

before returning to England for the third time where he produced his best performance of the year when winning the Oxfordshire Stakes at

Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse and events venue in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury, Berkshire, Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps. It hosts one of Great Britain's List of ...

, beating the

St Leger Stakes 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 ...

runner-up Canterbury and the leading filly Park Top. That Autumn he finished third in the Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) and ended the year by winning the Leopardstown November Handicap over two miles carrying top weight of 130 pounds.

1969: four-year-old season

Levmoss began his four-year-old season by running unplaced in the Gladness Stakes and was then sent to France where he finished third behind Zamazaan in the

Prix Jean Prat The Prix Jean Prat is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs), and it is s ...

over 3100m 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 ...

. He returned to Longchamp the following month and recorded his most important victory up to that time as he beat Zamazaan into third place in the 4000m

. Having won the most important French staying race, Levmoss was then sent to Royal Ascot to contest the English equivalent, the

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4 ...

. He started 15/8 favourite and won easily by four lengths from Torpid. Levmoss returned to Ireland in September to win the Leinster Handicap at the

Curragh The Curragh ( ; ) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the larges ...

by three lengths, carrying a weight of 150 pounds (10st 10lbs). In October, Levmoss was dropped back in distance for the

over 2400m at Longchamp. His opponents included Park Top, Blakeney, Prince Regent (

Irish Derby The Irish Derby ( Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) 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 dista ...

) and Crepellana (

). As he was considered a specialist stayer, Levmoss was not considered a serious contender and started a 52/1 outsider. Ridden by the Australian

Bill Williamson William James Williamson (19 December 1922 – 28 January 1979) was an Australian jockey who enjoyed considerable success in Australia during the 1950s and in Europe during the 1960s. He was named after his father William James Williamson, a m ...

, Levmoss was prominent throughout before moving to the front turning into the straight and galloping on strongly all the way to the line, to win by three quarters of a length from Park Top.

Assessment

In their book "A Century of Champions", based on the

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 ...

rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Levmoss a "superior" Arc winner and the ninth best Irish racehorse of the 20th century.

Stud record

Levmoss went to stud as a five-year-old after accumulating eight wins worth £142,226. He stood for most of his life in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, where he had been trained by Seamus McGrath, but moved to

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

for the 1977 season and died on 1 October 1977. The Irish St. Leger winner M-Lolshan,

winner Shafaraz and Musidora Stakes winner Moonlight Night were his best winners. He was also the damsire of Ardross.

Sire line tree

*LevmossBay Middleton Sire Line
/ref> **Moss Trooper ***King Aussie **Nuthatch **Shantallah ***Salt Lake **Shafaraz ** M-Lolshan **Curioso

Pedigree

References

* The Complete Encyclopedia of Horse Racing - written by Bill Mooney and George Ennor {{Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Winners Arc winners 1965 racehorse births 1977 racehorse deaths Racehorses trained in Ireland Racehorses bred in Ireland Thoroughbred family 1-k Byerley Turk sire line