Three Troikas: Difference between revisions
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Three Troikas won her only start at two in November 1979 at [[Longchamp]] under [[Freddy Head|Head]]. |
Three Troikas won her only start at two in November 1979 at [[Longchamp]] under [[Freddy Head|Head]]. |
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Racing as a three-year-old, Three Troikas began the season with an impressive three-length win over [[Dunette]] in the [[Prix Vanteaux]] on April 16th. A fortnight later she defeated Nonoalco when landing the [[Poule d'Essai des Pouliches]] at Longchamp. In the [[Prix Saint-Alary]] she set a new course record which had been held by Solitude since 1961<ref name="TheArc">{{cite book |author=Arthur Fitzgerald| title= The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe| publisher=Genesis Publications Limited|year=1997|isbn=0-904351-59-9}}</ref> when accounting for Pitasia with the free-running Dunette only fifth. |
Racing as a three-year-old, Three Troikas began the season with an impressive three-length win over [[Dunette]] in the [[Prix Vanteaux]] at Longchamp on April 16th. A fortnight later she defeated Nonoalco when landing the [[Poule d'Essai des Pouliches]] at Longchamp. In the [[Prix Saint-Alary]] she set a new course record which had been held by Solitude since 1961<ref name="TheArc">{{cite book |author=Arthur Fitzgerald| title= The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe| publisher=Genesis Publications Limited|year=1997|isbn=0-904351-59-9}}</ref> when accounting for Pitasia with the free-running Dunette only fifth. |
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| ⚫ | Three Troikas was next saddled for the [[Prix de Diane]] at [[Chantilly]]. It poured rain throughout the day and the filly did not appear to move easily on the going.<ref name="TheArc">{{cite book |author=Arthur Fitzgerald| title= The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe| publisher=Genesis Publications Limited|year=1997|isbn=0-904351-59-9}}</ref> Having seen off Nonoalco and Producer at the 200 metre mark she was caught on the line by the late challenge of Dunette, going down by a nose. Criquette believed the defeat may have been caused by a bruised foot.<ref name="TheArc">{{cite book |author=Arthur Fitzgerald| title= The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe| publisher=Genesis Publications Limited|year=1997|isbn=0-904351-59-9}}</ref> Rested until the [[Prix Vermeille]] on September 16th, Three Troikas was opposed by Epsom Oaks winner Scintillate. Intent on not giving her a hard race before the Arc, Head did not push the filly out close home and she had only a short head to spare over Pitasia, when she could certainly have won by much more. Scintillate finished a disappointing ninth.<ref name="TheArc">{{cite book |author=Arthur Fitzgerald| title= The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe| publisher=Genesis Publications Limited|year=1997|isbn=0-904351-59-9}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Three Troikas was next saddled for the [[Prix de Diane]] at [[Chantilly]]. It poured rain throughout the day and the filly did not appear to move easily on the going.<ref name="TheArc">{{cite book |author=Arthur Fitzgerald| title= The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe| publisher=Genesis Publications Limited|year=1997|isbn=0-904351-59-9}}</ref> Having seen off Nonoalco and Producer at the 200 metre mark she was caught on the line by the late challenge of Dunette, going down by a nose. Criquette believed the defeat may have been caused by a bruised foot.<ref name="TheArc">{{cite book |author=Arthur Fitzgerald| title= The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe| publisher=Genesis Publications Limited|year=1997|isbn=0-904351-59-9}}</ref> Rested until the [[Prix Vermeille]] on September 16th, Three Troikas was opposed by Epsom Oaks winner Scintillate. Intent on not giving her a hard race before the Arc, Head did not push the filly out close home and she had only a short head to spare over Pitasia, when she could certainly have won by much more. Scintillate finished a disappointing ninth.<ref name="TheArc">{{cite book |author=Arthur Fitzgerald| title= The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe| publisher=Genesis Publications Limited|year=1997|isbn=0-904351-59-9}}</ref> |
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==The Arc== |
==The Arc== |
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Revision as of 01:27, 25 December 2017
| Three Troikas | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Lyphard |
| Grandsire | Northern Dancer |
| Dam | Three Roses |
| Damsire | Dual |
| Sex | Filly |
| Foaled | 1976 |
| Country | France |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Artur Pfaff |
| Owner | Ghislaine Head |
| Trainer | Criquette Head |
| Record | ?: 7-5-? |
| Earnings | F3,549,000 |
| Major wins | |
| Prix Vanteaux (1979) Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1979) Prix Saint-Alary (1979) Prix Vermeille (1979) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1979) Prix d'Harcourt (1980) | |
| Awards | |
| Top-rated European three-year-old (1979) Timeform Top-rated three-year-old filly (1979) Top-rated Older mare in France (1980) Timeform rating 133 | |
| Honours | |
| Three Troikas Stakes at Turffontein Racecourse | |
| Last updated on December 1, 2006 | |
Three Troikas (foaled 1976) was a French Thoroughbred champion racehorse who was owned, trained, and raced by the three members of the famous Head family. The highlight of her career coming in an impressive victory in the 1979 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Early Life
A daughter of Lyphard and the Irish mare Three Roses, the filly was purchased by Alec Head's Haras du Quesnay at Tattersalls, Newmarket for 41,000gns from South African construction magnate Artur Pfaff. The mating was planned based on the physical compatibility of sire and dam with the diminutive Lyphard mated to the big well-made Irish mare Three Roses.[1] Three Troikas would go on to race in the colours of Head's wife Ghislaine, was trained by their daughter Criquette at Chantilly, and ridden by their son Freddy.
Racing Career
Three Troikas won her only start at two in November 1979 at Longchamp under Head.
Racing as a three-year-old, Three Troikas began the season with an impressive three-length win over Dunette in the Prix Vanteaux at Longchamp on April 16th. A fortnight later she defeated Nonoalco when landing the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp. In the Prix Saint-Alary she set a new course record which had been held by Solitude since 1961[2] when accounting for Pitasia with the free-running Dunette only fifth.
Three Troikas was next saddled for the Prix de Diane at Chantilly. It poured rain throughout the day and the filly did not appear to move easily on the going.[2] Having seen off Nonoalco and Producer at the 200 metre mark she was caught on the line by the late challenge of Dunette, going down by a nose. Criquette believed the defeat may have been caused by a bruised foot.[2] Rested until the Prix Vermeille on September 16th, Three Troikas was opposed by Epsom Oaks winner Scintillate. Intent on not giving her a hard race before the Arc, Head did not push the filly out close home and she had only a short head to spare over Pitasia, when she could certainly have won by much more. Scintillate finished a disappointing ninth.[2]
The Arc
Having already had a fine season, Three Troikas was among the fancies for the 1979 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The outstanding British colt, Troy, who had won the Derby in such impressive fashion was destined however to go off a hot favourite at odds of 8/10 on the Pari-Mutuel, coupled with his pacemakers Player and Rivadon. Three Troikas went off 88/10 fourth choice coupled with the Head-owned Fabulous Dancer. A crowd of 34,182[2], swelled by a great number of English visitors, flocked to see the end of season finale.
Troy looked superb in the paddock[2], as did Three Troikas and Le Marmot. Major Dick Hern said before the race that Troy was as well as he had been for the Derby. Criqette Head reported that Three Troikas had been particularly impressive in a piece of work with Gay Mecene (second to Troy in the King George) and Fabulous Dancer[2].
Troy's pacemaker Rivadon set the early pace while Three Troikas tacked across to the inside rail from a high draw. Crimson Beau then surprisingly went into a long lead ahead of Troy's pacemakers. Top Ville began to struggle as they entered the straight while Three Troikas loomed on the outside going very easily. The crack French filly went on to win going away by three lengths from Le Marmot and a staying on Troy. The victory was an outstanding triumph for the Head family and made Criquette Head the first, and still only, woman in history to train an Arc winner. Three Troikas' 1979 performance made her the highest-rated three-year-old in Europe in the International Classification.[3]
Champion Older Mare
At age four, during an injury-interrupted campaign Three Troikas enjoyed some success, winning the Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp in April. She was then beaten by Le Marmot in the Ganay before injuring a metacarpal bone in her off-fore foot when running third behind Northern Baby and Strong Gale in the Prix Dollar[2] and running a creditable fourth behind Detroit in the Arc.[4] Taken to Belmont for the Turf Classic, Three Troikas could not handle the exceptionally heavy going and finished last. This injury blighted campaign was nonetheless enough for her to be crowned Champion Older Mare in Europe in 1980.
Stud Record
Madame Alec Head sold the mare privately to an American syndicate in 1981 which involved Overbrook Stud. She was covered the same year by Exclusive Native. She threw a chestnut filly to this mating before suffered three covering seasons without offspring. In 1991 however, she foaled a brown filly by Halo, named Three Angels that showed a semblance of her dam's own brilliance, winning the Gr. 3 Prix Des Reservoirs at Longchamp and running-up in the Gr.1 Prix Saint-Alary. In a generally disappointing stud career, interestingly her best progeny were thrown to the Hail To Reason stallion, [[[Halo]]], from which she threw three winners and two stakes performers.
References
- ^ http://www.sportingpost.co.za/profile/john-kramer/
- ^ a b c d e f g h Arthur Fitzgerald (1997). The Arc - The Grand History of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Genesis Publications Limited. ISBN 0-904351-59-9.
- ^ Timeform staff (1980). Racehorses of 1979. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-29-4.
- ^ Timeform staff (1981). Racehorses of 1980. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-31-6.