Lyric Fantasy
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Lyric Fantasy was an Irish-bred, British-trained champion
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. She was named European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly at the 1992
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 ...
, and was the highest rated filly in the International Classification. In her championship season Lyric Fantasy won five of her six races including the Group Three
Queen Mary Stakes The Queen Mary Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled to take place ...
and the Newbury Sales Super Sprint. Her most notable win however, was in the
Nunthorpe Stakes The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is sc ...
in which she became one of only three juveniles to win a
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 ...
race in open-age competition. Her speed and diminutive stature led to her being nicknamed "The Pocket Rocket".


Background

Lyric Fantasy, a small (often described as "tiny") bay filly, was sired by
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out of the Auction Ring mare Flying Melody. She was bred in Ireland by the
County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...
based Minch Bloosdtock. Tate Gallery, who won the
National Stakes The Vincent O'Brien National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 me ...
as a two-year-old, was a full-brother to multiple champion sire
Sadler's Wells Sadler's Wells Theatre is a London performing arts venue, located in Rosebery Avenue, Islington. The present-day theatre is the sixth on the site. Sadler's Wells grew out of a late 17th-century pleasure garden and was opened as a theatre buil ...
. Lyric Fantasy was the best horse he sired before his death in 1990. Flying Melody was a successful racehorse who produced several other winners, most notably the European Champion Sprinter Royal Applause and the
Dewhurst Stakes The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mi ...
winner In Command. As a descendant of the broodmare Oola Hills, Lyric Fantasy was related to notable thoroughbreds including
Park Top Park Top (May 1964 – 10 May 1989) was a top-class British-bred racehorse. She had an unfashionable pedigree, cost only 500 guineas as a yearling. Her grand-dam Oola Hills was the dam of the leading sprinter Pappa Fourway. Unlike him, Pa ...
and Pappa Fourway. Lyric Fantasy was sent to the sales as a yearling and was sold for 12,500 gns to Heron Bloodstock. At the end of her two-year-old season she was sold for 340,000 gns at
Tattersalls Tattersalls (formerly Tattersall's) is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Founding It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall (1724–1795), who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. ...
to Paul Shanahan, a representative of
John Magnier John Magnier (born 10 February 1948) is an Irish business magnate. He is a leading thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside the horse-breeding industry. Magnier was a senator in the upper house of the Oireachtas, ...
. She was trained throughout her career by Richard Hannon Sr. and was ridden in her championship year by Michael Roberts. Lyric Fantasy was reportedly named after a painting by
Augustus John Augustus Edwin John (4 January 1878 – 31 October 1961) was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a time he was considered the most important artist at work in Britain: Virginia Woolf remarked that by 1908 the era of John Singer Sarg ...
which hung in the
Tate Gallery Tate is an institution that houses, in a network of four art galleries, the United Kingdom's national collection of British art, and international modern and contemporary art. It is not a government institution, but its main sponsor is the UK ...
.


Racing career


1992: two-year-old season


Spring

Lyric Fantasy never ran in a
maiden race In horse racing, a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the s ...
instead beginning her career against more experienced fillies in the Lady Caroline Stakes at
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in April. She raced prominently and ran on strongly in the closing stages to win by half a length from the future
Premio Regina Elena The Premio Regina Elena is a Group 3 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Capannelle in April or May. It is Italy's equivalent of the ...
winner Ancestral Dancer. A month later she was moved up to Listed class for the
National Stakes The Vincent O'Brien National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 me ...
at
Sandown Park Sandown Park is a horse racing course and leisure venue in Esher, Surrey, England, located in the outer suburbs of London. It hosts 5 Grade One National Hunt races and one Group 1 flat race, the Eclipse Stakes. It regularly has horse racin ...
. She took the lead at half way and quickly pulled clear to win by six lengths.


Summer

Lyric Fantasy was then sent to
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 ...
for the
Queen Mary Stakes The Queen Mary Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled to take place ...
for which she was made 11/8 favourite. Roberts let her lead from the start and she went clear to record an "impressive" five length win. Her winning time of 59.72 broke the all-aged course record. Her next target was the Super Sprint Trophy at Newbury. This race is restricted to two-year-olds who have been sold at auction, with the basic weights being set by the sale price. As Lyric Fantasy had been a relatively cheap yearling, the race was an obvious target, although there were concerns about the soft ground. She was made 2/5 favourite and was never in danger of defeat, showing "blistering early speed" to take the lead after a furlong and drawing steadily away to win easily by six lengths. After the race, Richard Hannon paid tribute to his filly saying, "she's only tiny, but her speed is breathtaking and she improves from race to race." A week later, the form of her Ascot win was boosted when Marina Park, who had been beaten nine lengths by Lyric Fantasy, won the Group Three
Princess Margaret Stakes The Princess Margaret Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to tak ...
. Hannon then took the unusual decision to run Lyric Fantasy against colts and older horses in the
Nunthorpe Stakes The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is sc ...
at
York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
. The fact that there are no European
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 ...
races restricted to two-year-olds over five furlongs sometimes leads trainers to enter juveniles in races like the Nunthorpe and 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 ...
, but these attempts are rarely successful. The last success for a two-year-old in open Group One competition had been Sigy in the 1978 Prix de l'Abbaye, although Paris House had finished second in the Nunthorpe in 1991. Lyric Fantasy was made 8/11 favourite despite the presence in the field of her stable companion, 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 ...
winner
Mr Brooks ''Mr. Brooks'' is a 2007 American psychological thriller film directed by Bruce A. Evans starring Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, and William Hurt. It was released on June 1, 2007. The film follows the eponymous character, a celebrated Po ...
. In the race Roberts, who had been surviving on "virtually no food" to ride at 7-8 (120 pounds), kept the filly in behind the pace before sending her to the lead two furlongs out. As expected, Mr Brooks emerged as the main challenger, but Lyric Fantasy ran on strongly to win by half a length. After the race she was offered at 14/1 for the following year's
1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ...
although doubts were expressed about whether her "precocious brilliance" would be as effective over a mile.


Autumn

On her final appearance Lyric Fantasy was moved up to six furlongs for the first time for the
Cheveley Park Stakes The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres) and is ...
at Newmarket. Only three fillies opposed her, but they included the
Moyglare Stud Stakes The Moyglare Stud Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is schedu ...
winner
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 ...
, and Poker Chip, who had won the
Flying Childers Stakes The Flying Childers Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old horses. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 5 furlongs and 3 yards (1,008 metres), and it is sch ...
. Roberts tracked
Walter Swinburn Walter Robert John Swinburn (7 August 1961 – 12 December 2016) was a flat racing jockey and trainer who competed in Great Britain and internationally. Biography Swinburn was born in Oxford. He was the son of Wally Swinburn, who won t ...
on Sayyedati before making his challenge a furlong out. On this occasion however, Lyric Fantasy could make no progress against the leader and was beaten two lengths. There were no real excuses, although she did not look impressive before the race and may not have been suited by being held up.


1993: three-year-old season

On her three-year-old debut, Lyric Fantasy was sent straight for the
1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ...
at Newmarket, in which she was ridden by
Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane (born 22 June 1959) is an Irish former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009. A prolific winner of the Irish, English and French Classic races over two decades, Kinane h ...
. In her only attempt at the one mile distance she finished sixth of the twelve runners, beaten just under three lengths by Sayyedati after apparently failing to stay. On the same course a month later, she was dropped down to Listed class and recorded a "comfortable" win over six furlongs. Her last two starts were disappointing, despite returning to the minimum distance of five furlongs. She ran unplaced behind Elbio in the
King's Stand Stakes The King Charles III Stakes (formerly the King's Stand 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 5 fu ...
at
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 ...
and then finished last of the eleven starters behind
Lochsong Lochsong (26 April 1988 – 27 May 2014) was a bay Thoroughbred filly who twice won the Cartier Award as Top European Sprinter and was voted 1993 European Horse of the Year. Background Lochsong was a bay mare bred by her owner, Jeff Smith's L ...
in the Nunthorpe.


Race record


Assessment

At the 1992
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 ...
, Lyric Fantasy was named European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. She was also officially rated the best two-year-old filly in Europe in the International Classification.


Stud career

Lyric Fantasy produced at least ten foals. She has two known winners: El Faro (by Woodman) and Fusaichi Seishiro (by
Fusaichi Pegasus Fusaichi Pegasus (, ; April 12, 1997 – May 23, 2023) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2000 Kentucky Derby, and subsequently set a record at auction—selling for US$70 million to Coolmore Stud. Background The colt w ...
).


Pedigree


References

{{reflist, 2 1990 racehorse births Cartier Award winners Thoroughbred family 26 Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Racehorses bred in Ireland