Mother's Day: Fantastic mares on and off the track

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Today, is the time to think of how great Mothers have been to bring us up and teach us the ways of the world. That doesn’t just apply to people but also racehorses.

To celebrate Mother’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of just some of the great broodmares in British racing over the years. Taking a look back at some of their great moments on the track and then becoming great Mums.

In no particular order, here’s some of the greats over Jumps and on the Flat.

JUMPS

Annie Power

One of the most talented mares Jump racing has ever seen. She transcended the sport, there were highs and there were lows but whichever race she was involved in, it was box office.

A winner of five Grade 1 races in Britain and Ireland including the ultimate for any Jumps racehorse – a Cheltenham Festival winner.

The 2016 Champion Hurdle win was made all the more special after falling at the final fence in the Mares Hurdle the previous year. Redemption.

Since she’s retired in 2017, she gave birth to a beautiful Galileo foal. Here she is her handsome newborn colt one year ago.

They grow up so quickly don’t they! This is just a few weeks ago.

Quevega

A model of consistency. Quevega holds the record for most races won at the Festival with six, all of which came in the Mares Hurdle between 2009 and 2014. To win that many races consecutively you need that ‘never give in’ attitude, jumping ability, power and stamina up the hill, and Quevega had it all. She was a real favourite for trainer Willie Mullins. After her sixth straight Cheltenham win, Mullins said, “she is so brave, she is never beaten. I love Quevega”.  
Quevega is now enjoying life at the Irish National Stud in County Kildare. Patrick Diamond who works with Quevega said “she’s a lovely, strong filly and she looks like an exciting prospect for her owners”. Here she is with her first foal  

FLAT

Ouija Board

Ouija Board, one of the greatest fillies in the modern era. Fondly known as ‘The People’s Champion’, her ability to bounce back from losses and spirited determination won everyone’s hearts. She was simply sensational on the track amassing seven Group One races all over the globe. The filly won the 2004 Oaks in spectacular fashion, taking victory by seven lengths to help Kieran Fallon complete the Oaks / Derby double.

When Ouija Board retired, her trainer Ed Dunlop said, “having her outweighs everything, she’s changed my career, she’s changed my life”.

Ouija Board went onto to become a wonderful broodmare. She mothered Australia who went to win the Derby in 2014.

Here’s mother and son – Ouija Board and Australia. So much talent in one photo!

Oh So Sharp

The last filly to win the English Fillies’ Triple Crown; The 1000 Guineas, The Oaks and The St Leger. In its over 200-year history, she is only the ninth horse to achieve the incredible feat.

Here she is completing the Triple Crown at Doncaster

She had everything, speed, stamina and a heart of a lioness. Physically she wasn’t the biggest but her athletic chestnut frame simply glided over the turf.

She went off favourite in every race and no bigger than 2/1. A record of nine races, seven wins. Without doubt one of Sir Henry Cecil’s best ever horses.

oh so sharp cecil
She retired in 1985 and had nine foals, seven of which went on to win on the racetrack including a Group One winner in France.

Minding

The complete racehorse, a fantastic physique and a great mind for racing. As well as being very well-named, Minding was consistently brilliant, winning five Group 1s as a three-year-old is some achievement. Aidan O’Brien said “she was one of the best fillies I have ever trained” which is some accolade considering the huge number of fantastic fillies O’Brien has trained. Here she is beating a very talented male field of Galileo Gold, Ribchester and Lightning Spear in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Champions Day 2016.  
She retired in 2017 sadly due to injury but she is enjoying herself and doing well in retirement. She’s loving spending time with her Deep Impact foal at Coolmore Stud.  

There’s so many more great Flat horses across the generations who also became broodmares – Pebbles, Dahlia, Taghrooda, Bosra Sham, Alexandrova, Ramruma.

 

Who would make your list as the greatest British mares that also became Mothers?

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