Pharaoh's Delight (2 April 1987 – 2015) was an Irish-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 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 was one of the best two-year-old fillies in Europe in 1989 when she won the Windsor Castle Stakes, Princess Margaret Stakes and

Phoenix Stakes The Phoenix 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 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is ...

as well as finishing second in 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 ...

. Although she never won again the filly raced until the age of four and was placed in several top-class sprint races including 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 ...

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 ...

and

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 ...

. She was retired from racing at the end of the 1991 season and had some success as a dam of winners.

Background

Pharaoh's Delight was a bay mare bred in Ireland by A Tarry. During her racing career she was owned by Al-Deera Bloodstock. She was initially sent into training with Peter Hudson in England. Her sire Fairy King, who was full-brother to

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 ...

, failed to win a race after being injured on his debut, but sired the winners of over 500 races, including Helissio, Falbrav,

Turtle Island Turtle Island is a name for Earth or North America, used by some Indigenous peoples of the Americas, American Indigenous peoples, as well as by some Indigenous rights, Indigenous rights activists. The name is based on a creation myth common to se ...

Oath Traditionally, an oath (from Old English, Anglo-Saxon ', also a plight) is a utterance, statement of fact or a promise taken by a Sacred, sacrality as a sign of Truth, verity. A common legal substitute for those who object to making sacred oaths ...

and

Encosta De Lago Encosta De Lago (27 October 1993 – 6 October 2018) was an Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse that won three group races from eight starts including the Group One (G1), Vic Health Cup against older horses. He was the Leading sire in Austra ...

. Pharaoh's Delight's dam Ridge the Times showed some racing ability, winning a race at

Hamilton Park Racecourse Hamilton Park racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue in Hamilton, Scotland to the south of Glasgow. It is a flat racing venue, with a season which runs from May to September. The very first race to take place in Hamilton was in 1782 ...

as a two-year-old in 1983. She was a granddaughter of the American broodmare Take A Stand whose other descendants have included Open Mind and Peaks and Valleys.

Racing career

1989: two-year-old season

Pharaoh's Delight made her first appearance 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 ...

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 ...

Leicester Racecourse Leicester Racecourse is a horse racing course in Oadby, Leicestershire, about three miles south of Leicester city centre. History of horse racing in Leicester The earliest evidence suggests that racing took place at Abbey Meadow, Leicester ...

on 10 June in which he started the 100/30 second favourite but came home sixth of the nine runners behind Bright Flower. Less than two weeks after he defeat at Leicester the filly was 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 ...

and dropped in distance to contest the five furlong Windsor Castle Stakes in which she was ridden as on her debut by

Pat Eddery Patrick James John Eddery (18 March 1952 – 10 November 2015) was an Irish flat racing jockey and trainer. He rode three winners of the Derby and was Champion Jockey on eleven occasions. He rode the winners of 4,632 British flat races, a f ...

. Starting at odds of 11/2 she went to the front before half way and drew right away from her nine rivals to win by six lengths. A month later the filly returned to Ascot and moved up in class for the

Group 3 Group 3 may refer to: * Group 3 element, chemical element classification * Group 3 (motorsport), FIA classification of cars used in auto racing and rallying * Group 3, the third tier of races in worldwide Thoroughbred horse racing * Group 3 image ...

Princess Margaret Stakes. With Eddery again in the saddle, she started the 7/4 favourite against five opponents including Palace Street (third in the Cherry Hinton Stakes). Pharaoh's Delight took the lead from the start and won "comfortably" by one and a half lengths from Routilante.

Ray Cochrane Ray Cochrane (born 18 June 1957 in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland) is a retired Northern Irish horse racing jockey and current sports agent. Cochrane was the winning jockey in three of the five British Classic Races: the 1000 Guine ...

took the ride when Pharaoh's Delight was stepped up to Group 1 level for the Phoenix Stakes at

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 ...

on 13 August. She was made the 2/1 favourite ahead of the

Vincent O'Brien Michael Vincent O'Brien (9 April 1917 – 1 June 2009) was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history in a worldwide poll hosted by the ''Racing Pos ...

-trained Wedding Bouquet while the other eight runners included Princess Taufan (

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 ...

), Red Henry (runner-up in the

Molecomb Stakes The Molecomb Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old horses. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is scheduled to take plac ...

), Aminata (

Curragh Stakes The Curragh Stakes is a Conditions races, Listed Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh Racecourse, Curragh over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 ...

) and Duck And Dive ( Chesterfield Stakes). Racing on softer ground than she had previously encountered Pharaoh's Delight won by a length from Duck And Dive with Wedding Bouquet a length away in third place. In September the filly was sent back to Ireland and started favourite for the

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 ...

but proved no match for the

Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil (11 January 1943 – 11 June 2013) was a British flat racing horse trainer. Cecil was very successful, becoming Champion Trainer ten times and training 25 domestic Classic winners. These comprised four winners o ...

-trained Chimes of Freedom and was beaten six lengths into second place,

1990: three-year-old season

Pharaoh's Delight began her second season with two races over one mile/ 1600 metres. She finished sixth to Houseproud in the

Poule d'Essai des Pouliches The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) ...

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 ...

in May and fifth to Chimes of Freedom in the

Coronation Stakes The Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 7 furlong and 213 yards (1,603 metres), and it is sche ...

at Royal Ascot a month later. A switch to sprinting brought no initial improvement as he came home eighth of the nine runners behind

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

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 ...

. Better was to follow in August as she finished second to Pole Position in the

Prix de Meautry The Prix de Meautry is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is schedule ...

and then ran third to the year's leading sprinter

Dayjur Dayjur (6 February 1987 – 25 September 2013) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist sprinter, he ran eleven times between June 1989 and October 1990 and won seven races. In 1990 he dominated European sprint ...

in the

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 ...

. In September she finished third behind Dayjur and Royal Academy in the

but then ran disappointingly when she was the beaten favourite in a minor race at Newbury, and a distant fifth behind the French-trained colt Ron's Victory in the Diadem Stakes. On her final appearance of the season Pharaoh's Delight returned to her best form as she finished third to Dayjur in the

on 7 October.

1991: four-year-old season

For the 1991 season Pharaoh's Delight was transferred to Ireland and entered the stable of

Dermot Weld Dermot K. Weld (born 29 July 1948), in Kildare, is a former jockey, and one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers, setting the record in 2000 for the most winners trained in Ireland with 2,578. He won the Irish Flat Training Champion ...

. She began her campaign by running fourth in the Greenlands Stakes on 14 May but then lost her form and finished unplaced in the Ballyogan Stakes in June and two handicap races in August. On her final racecourse appearance she finished second to Wild Jester when favourite for a minor race at the Curragh in September.

Breeding record

After her retirement from racing, Pharaoh's Delight became a broodmare for the Ballylinch Stud. She produced fourteen foals and at least seven winners. *Matikanehanafubuki, a bay filly, foaled in 1993, sired by

Caerleon Caerleon ( ; ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in Newport, Wales. Situated on the River Usk, it lies northeast of Newport city centre, and southeast of Cwmbran. Caerleon is of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable ...

. Failed to win in eight races in Japan. *Machikane Emmusubi, bay filly, 1994, by Caerleon. Won four races in Japan. *Pharmacist, bay filly, 1996, by Machiavellian. Won Rochestown Stakes: dam of

Red Rocks Red Rocks Amphitheatre (also known colloquially as simply Red Rocks) is an open-air amphitheater in the western United States near Morrison, Colorado, approximately southwest of Denver. It is owned and operated by the city of Denver. In addi ...

. *Mutamarkiz, bay colt, 1997, by Rainbow Quest. Won one race. *Conspirator chestnut, colt, 1998, by Machiavellian. Won at least one race. *Phariseek, bay filly, 1999, by Rainbow Quest. Won one race: dam of the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle winner Hisaabaat. *Pyramid Painter, bay filly, 2000,

Peintre Celebre Peintre Celebre (17 March 1994 – 19 October 2018) was an American-bred, French-trained champion thoroughbred racehorse. He won the French Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1997. Background Peintre Celebre was bred and owned by busi ...

. Unraced. *Hadji Bey, bay filly, 2002,

Darshaan Darshaan (18 April 1981 – 21 May 2001) was a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse and a Champion sire and broodmare sire. Background Darshaan was a brown horse bred by his owner the Aga Khan IV. He was sired by th ...

. Unraced. *Officer Krupke, chestnut colt (gelded), 2003, by

Daylami Daylami (20 April 1994 – 5 April 2023) was a Thoroughbred Champion racehorse and sire who was bred in Ireland, but trained in France, Dubai and the United Kingdom. In a career which lasted from 1996 until 1999, he raced in five different ...

. Won one

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

race. *Dookus, grey filly, 2005, by Linamix. Failed to win in two races. Dam of US Law ( Prix Thomas Bryon) and Frankuus ( Rose of Lancaster Stakes) *La Pinta, bay filly, 2006, by Bachelor Duke. Failed to win in four races. *Days of Summer, bay filly, 2008, Bachelor Duke. Won one race. *T Bag, bay colt (gelded), 2009, by Bachelor Duke. Raced in Norway. *Pharadelle, chestnut filly, 2012, by

Lope de Vega Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio (; 25 November 156227 August 1635) was a Spanish playwright, poet, and novelist who was a key figure in the Spanish Golden Age (1492–1659) of Spanish Baroque literature, Baroque literature. In the literature of ...

. Failed to win in five races.

Pedigree

References

{{Reflist 1987 racehorse births 2015 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Racehorses trained in Ireland Thoroughbred family A29