Motivator (GB)
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Andrew Caulfield, October 26, 2004–Motivator (GB) P EDIGREE INSIGHTS Everything about Montjeu suggested that he would improve considerably from two to three, and the colt BY ANDREW CAULFIELD came to the notice of Michael Tabor. In a deal handled by John Warren, a consultant to the colt's owners RACING POST TROPHY-G1, £200,000, Doncaster, Tsega Ltd, Tabor purchased a substantial interest in the 10-23, 2yo, c/f, 1mT, 1:42.62, sf. colt bred by Sir James Goldsmith. Tabor, of course, has 1--s@#MOTIVATOR (GB), 126, c, 2, by Montjeu (Ire) had his colors carried by numerous top-notch 1st Dam: Out West (SW-Eng), by Gone West performers, but it is debatable whether any of them has 2nd Dam: Chellingoua, by Sharpen Up (GB) shown more talent than Montjeu, who went on to be 3rd Dam: Uncommitted, by Buckpasser rated 137 by Timeform both at three and four years. (75,000gns yrl ‘03 TATOCT). O-The Royal Ascot The compilers of the International Classifications paid Racing Club; B-Deerfield Farm; T-M Bell; J-K Fallon; him the considerable compliment of rating him 135 at £120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £124,803. *1/2 three, eight pounds ahead of Dubai Millennium, to Auggies Here (Hilal {Ire}), MGSP-US, $111,665. Sendawar and Stravinsky and 10 pounds ahead of **First G1SW for freshman sire (by Sadler’s Wells). Charismatic, the top-ranked American three-year-old. This means that Montjeu is officially rated Sadler's Click for the Racing Post chart or the brisnet.com Wells' best son, better than such major winners as catalogue-style pedigree. Galileo, High Chaparral, In the Wings, Barathea, Opera House, Old Vic and Carnegie. As Saturday may well show, the Breeders' Cup Yet Montjeu had some prejudices to overcome when sometimes represents too big a task for even the most he joined the Coolmore team at the end of 2000, not talented European horses at the end of a hard season, least the fact that the bottom half of his pedigree could as Montjeu showed in 2000. Starting favorite for the be deemed old-fashioned. It is packed with stamina and Turf, even though he was nursing an ankle problem, mainly comprises classic French bloodlines, with no Montjeu could finish only seventh, which was a far American influences. from appropriate way to finish a glorious career. In 15 Yet these predominantly French bloodlines had been previous starts, this elegant son of Sadler’s Wells had highly effective. Montjeu's dam Floripedes, who was won 11 times, with the French and Irish Derbys, the second in French St Leger, is by Top Ville, who had Arc and the King George among his six Group 1 won the French Derby 20 years before Montjeu ran victories. away with the same Classic. Top Ville's sire High Top By modern standards, Montjeu was very stoutly bred, won the 2000 Guineas and Floripedes' other grandsire, as his dam, Floripedes, had been a Group 3 winner over Tennyson, was second in the 1973 French Derby prior 1 7/8 miles and Floripedes' half brother Dadarissime to winning the Grand Prix de Paris over 1 15/16 miles. had won two group races at around the same distance. Move on to Floripedes' eight great-grandparents and Under the circumstances, Montjeu did extremely well to you'll find that they include Charlottesville (French win both his juvenile starts. Derby and Grand Prix de Paris), La Sega (French 1000 www.coolmore.com Guineas and French Oaks), Val de Loir (French Derby), colt to Michael Bell, trainer of Motivator. Tidra (second in the French Oaks) and Zeddaan (French It is quite easy to see why Montjeu would be seen as 2000 Guineas). a good choice for daughters of Gone West. Whereas he Incidentally, High Top has played a significant part in is a rangy, fine-boned, quality individual who was a bit Sadler's Wells' success story, as have his sire unfurnished in training, the Gone Wests are normally Derring-Do and his son Top Ville. It was a Derring-Do powerfully built with good bone. And, with an average mare which produced Old Vic, who completed the winning distance of a mile for his mature stock in French and Irish Derby double. And it is High Top's Irish Britain and Ireland, Gone West has the speed to balance Oaks winner Colorspin who is the dam of those highly the stamina in Montjeu's pedigree. distinguished brothers Opera House (King George, Another incentive for the mating is Sadler's Wells' Coronation Cup and Eclipse S.) and Kayf Tara (a dual success with Raise A Native-line mares, which have winner of both the Irish St Leger and Ascot Gold Cup). produced King's Theatre, Galileo and the 2000 Guineas Top Ville mares, for their part, have produced Montjeu, winners Entrepreneur and Refuse to Bend. the Australian Group 1 winner Darazari and the Hong Motivator's Futurity win possibly raised more Kong Group 1 winner River Dancer to Sadler's Wells, questions than it answered. For example, will he have plus the Irish Derby winner Winged Love to Sadler's enough speed to threaten Shamardal and Dubawi in the Wells' son In the Wings. 2000 Guineas next May? And will he be as effective on Opera House was sold directly to Japan (where he much faster ground, of the type often found at Epsom sired the Horse of the Year T.M. Opera O), while Kayf on Derby Day? Tara and Winged Love are now principally engaged in You certainly couldn't rule him out of the 2000 covering large numbers of jumping mares. This Guineas. His dam, Out West, was a Listed winner over suggested that breeders weren't guaranteed to give a mile and she is a 3/4 sister to that fast American Montjeu the level of support he so thoroughly deserved horse Western Borders, who twice finished third in the on the scores of ability, toughness, versatility and G1 Carter H. over seven furlongs. Out West also has correctness--unless the price was right. Coolmore two grandparents (Mr. Prospector and Uncommitted) in therefore started him at a fee of Ir30,000gns--roughly common with Gervazy, another smart sprinter-miler. one- seventh the fee that Sadler's Wells commanded at It is harder to answer the question about fast ground, that time--and Montjeu covered nearly 140 mares in his but Montjeu showed his brilliance on a wide variety of first season in 2001. ground. It is worth quoting some of Timeform's Many of the breeders who used Montjeu had reason assessment of Montjeu: to be pleased with their decision, as 16 of his first-crop "Montjeu was usually held up to make the most of yearlings sold for more than 100,000 guineas. Bearing his tremendous turn of foot. Montjeu, who had a rather in mind John Warren's earlier connections with short, unimpressive action, was unsuited by firm going, Montjeu, it was no surprise that he was an active buyer but probably acted on any other. Montjeu was never of Montjeu's first yearlings at Tattersalls' October Sale. more impressive than when winning the King George VI He bought three colts for 125,000, 85,000 and 75,000 and Queen Elizabeth S. on good-to-firm." guineas, and appears to have hit the jackpot with the Motivator seems to have inherited the turn of foot 75,000-guinea colt Motivator. and the short action, and he can also be expected to Motivator had sprinted six lengths clear in a mile follow in his sire's footsteps by improving from two to maiden at Newmarket in August and he was nearly as three. impressive when stepped up to Group 1 company in the Racing Post Futurity at Doncaster, quickening away to win by two and a half lengths. Motivator's Group 1 victory completed an excellent few days for his sire, who had notched up winner number 14 when Hurricane Run won a newcomers' race at Longchamp on October 21 and winner number 15 when Walk in the Park scored at Saint-Cloud the following day. Alpine Gold also won for Montjeu, whose other previous winners include the Group 1-placed Dash to the Top, the Listed winner Kings Quay and the Group 3-placed Red Peony. The scale of Montjeu's success has translated into some very good prices in the sales ring for his second crop, which is smaller than its predecessor. Three second-crop colts have sold for the equivalent of 320,000 guineas or more, with Michael Tabor paying 520,000 for a colt which shares the same broodmare sire, Gone West, as Motivator. Tabor is sending this.