Was is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She is best known for winning The Oaks on her third racecourse appearance.

Was
Racing silks of Derrick Smith
SireGalileo
GrandsireSadler's Wells
DamAlluring Park
DamsireGreen Desert
SexMare
Foaled11 May 2009
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederLodge Park Stud
OwnerDerrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor
TrainerAidan O'Brien
Record9: 2-1-3
Major wins
Epsom Oaks (2012)

Background

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Was is a bay filly with a narrow white blaze and white socks on her hind feet, bred by the Lodge Park Stud in County Kilkenny, Ireland. She was sired by the 2001 Epsom Derby winner Galileo out of the mare Alluring Park, a half-sister of the Derby winner New Approach.[1] In October 2010, the filly was sent to the Tattersalls sales where she was bought for 1,200,000 guineas by the bloodstock agent Dermot "Demi" O'Byrne on behalf of John Magnier's Coolmore organisation.[2] The price made her the most expensive European yearling of 2010.[3]

Racing career

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2011: two-year-old season

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Was first appeared on a racecourse in a maiden race at the Curragh on 7 August. Ridden by her trainer's son Joseph O'Brien, she won by two and a half lengths from her stable companion, Cabin, and ten other fillies.[4]

2012: three-year-old season

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Was made her three-year-old debut in the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on 16 May. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, she finished third of the six runners behind Princess Highway. On 1 June Was started a 20/1 outsider for the Epsom Oaks, in which O'Brien ran five fillies including Maybe who started second favourite. Was went into the lead from the start but was then settled behind the leaders by Heffernan. She regained the lead two furlongs from the finish and ran on under pressure to win by a neck from Shirocco Star.[5] The filly was expected to run in the Pretty Polly Stakes on 1 July, but was withdrawn (along with Maybe) because of the extremely soft ground.[6] In the Irish Oaks three weeks later, Was appeared to be badly hampered in the straight before finishing fourth, beaten more than five lengths by Great Heavens. In August, Was was brought back in distance for the ten furlong Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, and finished third behind The Fugue and Timepiece. Later that month she finished third to Shareta and The Fugue in the Yorkshire Oaks. On her final appearance of the year she finished unplaced behind Sapphire in the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes.

2013: four-year-old season

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Was began her third season in the Abu Dhabi Stakes over one mile at the Curragh on 25 May. Ridden by Joseph O'Brien she started at odds of 11/2 and finished fourth of the eight runners behind Chigun. On 30 June Was started 5/2 favourite for the Pretty Polly Stakes and finished second, half a length behind the winner Ambivalent and a neck ahead of Shirocco Star.

Breeding career

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Was retired from racing in 2014 and was bred to War Front, to whom she produced the filly Darkness Falls in January 2015[7] and the colts Globe Theatre (2016) and Knight of Malta (2017).

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Was (IRE), bay filly, 2009[8]
Sire
Galileo (IRE)
1998
Sadler's Wells
1981 
Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Fairy Bridge Bold Reason
Special
Urban Sea
1989 
Miswaki Mr. Prospector
Hopespringseternal
Allegretta Lombard
Anatevka
Dam
Alluring Park (IRE)
2002
Green Desert
1983
Danzig Northern Dancer
Pas de Nom
Foreign Courier Sir Ivor
Courtly Dee
Park Express
1983
Ahonoora Lorenzaccio
Helen Nichols
Matcher Match
Lachine (Family:19-b)[9]

References

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  1. ^ "There Was an upset in the Oaks – Handicappers' Edge". Brisnet.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Tattersalls October Yearlings (Book 1) 2010". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  3. ^ By Nancy Sexton 4:35PM 1 JUN 2012 (15 February 2012). "Oaks success for 1.2 million guineas filly". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Results from the 2.05 race at CURRAGH (IRE) – 7 August 2011". Racing Post. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Results from the 4.05 race at EPSOM – 1 June 2012". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  6. ^ Last Updated: July 1, 2012, 9:08 BST (26 June 2012). "O'Brien pair miss Polly". Sporting Life. Retrieved 1 July 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Staff. "Mare Produce Records- Was". Equineline. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Was pedigree". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Constantia – Family 19-b". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 1 June 2013.