Sikeston (horse)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Sikeston (foaled 9 April 1986 – after 2003) was an American-bred, British-trained
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 had his greatest success in Italy. In five years on the track, he ran 34 times and won 11 races, seven of them at
Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (motorsport), a regulation set of the FIA for series-production touring cars used in motorsport. * Group One Thoroughbred horse races, the leading e ...
level, three at Group 2 and one at Group 3 and was also placed in several major races. He produced most of his best performances on soft or heavy going. He won the
Gran Criterium The Gran Criterium is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to two-year-old thoroughbred Colt (horse) entire colts only . It is run at Milan over a distance of 1,500 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October ...
as a two-year-old in 1988 and the
Premio Parioli The Premio Parioli is a Group 3 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Capannelle in April. It is Italy's equivalent of the 2000 Gu ...
in the following spring. As a four-year-old in 1990 he won the Premio Natale di Roma, Premio Ribot and
Premio Vittorio di Capua The Premio Vittorio di Capua 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 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September or Oct ...
. In the following season he took the Premio Vittorio di Capua for a second time as well as the Premio Presidente della Repubblica,
Queen Anne Stakes The Queen Anne Stakes 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 1 mile (1,609 metres), and is scheduled to take p ...
and
Premio Roma The Premio Roma is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Capannelle over a distance 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in November. History The e ...
. In his final season on the track he won a second Premio Presidente della Repubblica and the Irish International Stakes.


Background

Sikeston was a bay horse bred in Kentucky by John R Gaines, H R Hart & W Simon. As a yearling he was put up for auction at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Summer Yearling Sale and bought for $25,000 by V M Zuco. The colt entered the ownership of the Italian entrepreneur
Luciano Gaucci Luciano Gaucci (December 28, 1938 – February 1, 2020) was an Italian entrepreneur and sportsman. He was the owner of various clubs: * Perugia Calcio, a football club based in Perugia, Umbria. * Viterbese Calcio, a football club based in Viterbo, ...
's Allevamento White Star and was sent into training with John Dunlop at Arundel, West Sussex. He was sired by Lear Fan, an American stallion who raced in Europe, winning the
Prix Jacques le Marois The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run in August each year at Deauville over a distance of ...
in 1984. His other progeny included Good Ba Ba and Ryafan. Sikeston's dam Small Timer was unraced but produced several other winners including Klokka ( Magic Night Stakes). She was a female-line descendant of Top Flight.


Racing career


1988: two-year-old season

Sikeston made his racecourse debut 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 seven
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 ...
on good to firm ground at
Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket Racecourse is a British Thoroughbred horse racing venue in Newmarket, Suffolk, Newmarket, Suffolk, comprising two individual racecourses: the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Newmarket is often referred to as the headquarters of ...
in which he started at odds of 16/1 and finished second, beaten two lengths by 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 Samoan. The colt ran second when odds-on favourite for a minor race at
York Racecourse York Racecourse is a horse racing venue in York, North Yorkshire, England. It is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot Racecourse, Ascot in prize money offered per meeting. It att ...
in July and then finished third at
Chepstow Chepstow () is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the western end of the ...
in September. On his final run of the season Sikeston made his first appearance in Italy when he contested the
Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (motorsport), a regulation set of the FIA for series-production touring cars used in motorsport. * Group One Thoroughbred horse races, the leading e ...
Gran Criterium over 1600 metres on soft ground at
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, ...
in Milan. Ridden by
Gianfranco Dettori Gianfranco Dettori (born 25 April 1941) is a retired Italian jockey. Dettori was born in Serramanna, in what is now the Province of South Sardinia, son of a miner. He was thirteen times Italian champion jockey. He also had success in British Cla ...
he won by eight lengths from Lacbell and Star Shareef (also trained by Dunlop).


1989: three-year-old season

On his debut as a three-year-old Sikeston started a 33/1 outsider for the Greenham 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 ...
on 15 April and finished tenth of the twelve runners behind Zayyani. Fifteen days after his poor run at Newbury, the colt was sent to Italy again for the Premio Parioli at Capannelle Racecourse in Rome in which he was again partnered by Dettori. After racing towards the rear of the nineteen-runner field he took the lead 100 metres from the finish and won by a length from the French-trained Lioubovnik. In May he was stepped up in distance for the
Derby Italiano The Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres (about 1 mile and 3 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year ...
over 2400 metres at Capanelle and ran unplaced behind the
Michael Jarvis Michael Jarvis (14 August 1938 – 20 September 2011) was a Thoroughbred horse trainer in England. Based in Newmarket, Jarvis trained numerous Group One winners including three winners of the British Haydock Sprint Cup. Jarvis's horses also ...
-trained Prorutori.


1990: four-year-old season

After a break of well over ten months, Sikeston returned in April 1990 for the Group 3 Premio Natale di Roma over 1600 metres at Capannelle. Racing on heavy ground, and partnered by Michael Roberts he won by one and a half lengths from Irgaim. For his second run of the season he was sent to France for the
Prix Jacques le Marois The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run in August each year at Deauville over a distance of ...
at Deauville Racecourse in August and came home unplaced behind Priolo. After this race he was transferred to the stable of
Clive Brittain Clive Brittain (born 15 December 1934) is a retired British race-horse trainer. He started in racing as an apprentice in 1949, and became a licensed trainer from 1972 after working for Noel Murless. He trained at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket ...
at
Newmarket, Suffolk Newmarket is a market town and civil parish in the West Suffolk (district), West Suffolk district of Suffolk, England, 14 miles west of Bury St Edmunds and 14 miles northeast of Cambridge. In 2021, it had a population of 16,772. It is a global ...
. In September he produced arguably his best performance up to that time when he contested the Phoenix Champion Stakes in Ireland for which he started a 66/1 outsider and finished second, beaten half a length by Elmaamul. In October he ran unplaced in both 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 ...
and the
Champion Stakes The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong a ...
. Sikeston's last three races of 1990 were in Italy. On 4 November he came home five lengths clear of Irgaim to win the Group 2 Premio Ribot over 1600 metres on heavy ground at Capannelle and a week later, at the same track he ran third to
Legal Case Legal proceeding is an activity that seeks to invoke the power of a tribunal in order to enforce a law. Although the term may be defined more broadly or more narrowly as circumstances require, it has been noted that " e term ''legal proceedings'' ...
and the Premio Parioli winner Candy Glen in the Group 1
Premio Roma The Premio Roma is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Capannelle over a distance 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in November. History The e ...
over 2000 metres. On his final run of the year he contested the Group 1 Premio Vittorio di Capua over 1600 metres at Milan on 16 November. With Roberts in the saddle he won by three lengths and a neck from Candy Glen and Zoman.


1991: five-year-old season

In April in Paris Sikeston began his fourth season with two starts at Longchamp, finishing second to Panoramic in the Prix d'Harcourt and fourth behind Kartajana in the
Prix Ganay The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) at L ...
. The Premio Presidente della Repubblica over 2000 metres on heavy ground at Capannelle on 12 May saw Sikeston matched against eight opponents. After turning into the straight in fifth place he took the lead 400 metres from the finish and kept on well to win by half a length from Fleeting Wish. After finishing sixth to Sanglamore in the
Prix d'Ispahan The Prix d'Ispahan 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 1,850 metres (about 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs), ...
at
Chantilly Racecourse Chantilly Racecourse (In French: "Hippodrome de Chantilly") is a Thoroughbred grass, turf race track, racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris. Chantilly Racecourse is located in the ...
on 2 June, Sikeston 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 ...
sixteen days later for the Queen Anne Stakes (then a Group 2 race open to three-year-olds) over the straight mile course. In a nine-runner field he started the 9/1 fifth choice in the betting behind Candy Glen, Bold Russian, Lord Charmer and Rami. After tracking the leaders, he went to the front approaching the final furlong and "held on gamely" to win by a head from Rami. In his next three races Sikeston finished fourth to Second Set in 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 ...
at Goodwood in July, seventh to Priolo in the
Prix du Moulin The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is s ...
at Longchamp and seventh behind Selkirk in 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 ...
at Ascot on 28 September. On 13 October Sikeston attempted to repeat his 1990 success in the Premio Vittorio di Capua and faced nine opponents on heavy ground. He took the lead 300 metres out, and opened up a clear lead before being eased down by Roberts in the final strides to by one and a half lengths from the Premio Parioli winner Misil. After being beaten by Misil in the Premio Ribot, Sikeston ended his campaign in the Premio Roma on 10 November when he faced ten opponents including Legal Case, Zoman, Passing Sale ( Gran Premio del Jockey Club) and Lara's Idea ( Premio Lydia Tesio). He turned into the straight in second place, went to the front 400 metres from the finish and won by two lengths from Lara's Idea, with Zoman in third.


1992: six-year-old season

Sikeston made no impact on his first two starts as a six-year-old, finishing towards the rear in the Prix d'Harcourt on 5 April and the THF Mile 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 ...
later that month. On 17 May in Rome the horse's bid to land back-to-back editions of the Premio Presidente della Repubblica saw him opposed by six rivals including Lara's Idea and 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 ...
winner Sillery. After being restrained by Robert in the early running he took the lead in the last 300 metres and held off a late challenge from Sillery to win by half a length. Sikeston's victory was his tenth Group race win and his seventh at Group 1 level. In his next two races, Sikeston ran third to Misil in the Premio Emilio Turati in Rome on 7 June and third again in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot nine days later. In the latter event he produced one of his best efforts in defeat as he was beaten a head and half a length by Lahib and Second Set with Exit To Nowhere in fourth. On 28 June ran in Ireland for the first time in almost two years when he started 3/1 second favourite for the Group 2 Sea World International Stakes over one mile 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 ...
. Carrying a weight of 140 pounds, he won by two lengths and a head from Sure Sharp and Rami. In his last two races, Sikeston finished fifth to Marling in 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 then ran unplaced behind Exit To Nowhere in the
Prix Jacques le Marois The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run in August each year at Deauville over a distance of ...
at Deauville Racecourse on 16 August.


Stud record

At the end of his racing career, Sikeston was retired to become a breeding stallion in Italy. He sired several minor winners, but no horses of any consequence. His last foals were born in 2004.


Pedigree


References

{{Reflist 1986 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Thoroughbred family 4-m