Protectionist (21 March 2010 – 14 November 2023) was a

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 ...

bred and trained in Germany. He was bred by Christoph Berglar, and owned by Berglar in conjunction with an Australian syndicate. Protectionist was the winner of the

2014 Melbourne Cup The 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup was the 154th running of the Melbourne Cup, Australia's most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race. The race, run over 3,200 metres, was held on 4 November 2014, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. Protectioni ...

, ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by , and became the first German-trained horse to win the race.

Background

Protectionist was sired by

Monsun Monsun (4 March 1990 – 9 September 2012) was a bay Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion bred in Germany by Gestüt Isarland and owned by Baron Georg von Ullmann. Background Monsun was a son of Germany's first triple crown winner and champion ...

, who also sired the 2013 Melbourne Cup winner,

Fiorente Fiorente (26 February 2008 – 30 May 2023) was a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ireland and trained in Australia. When racing in Europe, he showed high-class form, winning the Princess of Wales's Stakes in 2012. He had greater success when cam ...

. The horse was part-owned by his breeder, Christoph Berglar, and also by Australian Bloodstock, a syndicate based in

Newcastle, New South Wales Newcastle, also commonly referred to as Greater Newcastle ( ; ), is a large Metropolitan area, metropolitan area and the second-most-populous such area of New South Wales, Australia. It includes the cities of City of Newcastle, Newcastle and Ci ...

. Protectionist was the second foal out of the

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 ...

mare Patineuse. Protectionist died in November 2023, at the age of 13.

Racing career

Protectionist won his first race in

Hanover Hanover ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Lower Saxony. Its population of 535,932 (2021) makes it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-l ...

during his two-year-old season, and later in the season placed second in a Group 3 race in

Krefeld Krefeld ( , ; ), also spelled Crefeld until 1925 (though the spelling was still being used in British papers throughout the Second World War), is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its c ...

, the

Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen The Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Krefeld over a distance of 1,700 metres (1 mile and 99 yards), and it is scheduled to take place each year in November. History ...

. He appeared only twice in his three-year-old season, winning one listed race and placing second in another. During his 2014 European campaign, Protectionist won two races from four starts. He ran second in the listed Preis von Dahlwitz and the Group 2 Großer Preis der Badischen Unternehmen, and then won back-to-back Group 2 victories in the

Hansa-Preis The Hansa-Preis is a Conditions races, Group 2 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Horner Rennbahn, Hamburg-Horn over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and ...

(in

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

) and the

Prix Kergorlay The Prix Kergorlay is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 3,000 metres (about miles), and it is scheduled to ...

(in

Deauville Deauville () is a communes of France, commune in the Calvados (department), Calvados department, Normandy (administrative region), Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its port, harbour, Race track, race course, marinas, con ...

, France). He was ridden by Eduardo Pedroza for both wins. Protectionist was brought to Australia for the 2014

Spring Racing Carnival The Spring Racing Carnival is the name of an Australian Thoroughbred horse racing series held annually in Melbourne during October and November. The Carnival and its status in the wider community Although racing in Australia is held every day e ...

, with his trainer, Andreas Wöhler, making his first appearance in Australia since he contested the 2004

Cox Plate The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racin ...

with Paolini. Protectionist ran fourth in the Group 2

Herbert Power Stakes The Herbert Power Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under quality handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and older, over a distance of 2400 metres. It is held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbo ...

, ridden by Craig Williams, and was subsequently installed as an early favourite for the Melbourne Cup with some bookmakers, though this status was acquired by

Admire Rakti Admire Rakti (20 February 2008 – 4 November 2014) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Diamond Stakes in Japan and the Caulfield Cup in Australia. He died in his stall after competing in the 154th Melbourne Cup on 4 November ...

closer to the race, after his win in the

Caulfield Cup The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under Handicap (horse racing), handicap conditions. This is for all horses aged three years old and older. It takes place over a distance of 2400 met ...

. At the

, Protectionist was ridden by British jockey Ryan Moore, who had won the

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

ten days earlier. He won the 3,200-metre race by four lengths from Red Cadeaux, who become the first horse to place second in three Melbourne Cups. Protectionist is the first German-trained horse to win the race. He ran the race in 3:17.71, the fastest time since

Media Puzzle Media Puzzle (May 7, 1997 – June 22, 2006), foaled in the United States was an Irish horse best known for his win in the 2002 Melbourne Cup. Background Media Puzzle was bred by Walter Haefner's Moyglare Stud Farm and owned by Dr. M. W. Smurfi ...

in the 2002 race, and the fourth-fastest overall. His winning margin was the biggest victory since

Doriemus Doriemus (17 November 1990 – 11 January 2015) was a Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who began his career in New Zealand and rose to prominence in Australia by winning the Caulfield Cup, Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 1995. He was the eig ...

won the 1995 race.Bren O'Brien (4 November 2014)
"Protectionist's Cup Win - By the Numbers"
– Racing.com. Retrieved 4 November 2014.

Pedigree

References

External links

{{Commonscat-inline 2010 racehorse births 2023 racehorse deaths Melbourne Cup winners Racehorses bred in Germany Racehorses trained in Germany Thoroughbred family 9