Nayef (horse)

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Nayef
Racing colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum
SireGulch
GrandsireMr. Prospector
DamHeight of Fashion
DamsireBustino
SexStallion
Foaled1 May 1998[1]
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederShadwell Stud
OwnerSheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
TrainerMarcus Tregoning
Record19: 9-2-4
Earnings£2,350,401
Major wins
Rose of Lancaster Stakes (2001)
Select Stakes (2001)
Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2001)
Champion Stakes (2001)
Dubai Sheema Classic (2002)
International Stakes (2002)
Prince of Wales's Stakes (2003)
Timeform rating: 129
Last updated on 2 August 2022

Nayef (foaled 1 May 1998) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. Bred in the United States and trained in the United Kingdom, his racing career ran from 2000 to 2003. He is best known for winning a series of important races, including four Group One races: the Champion Stakes, the Dubai Sheema Classic, the International Stakes and the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Background[edit]

Nayef is a large, powerfully built[2] bay horse bred in Kentucky by his owner, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. He was sired by Gulch and was the last foal of the notable[3] broodmare Height of Fashion, making him a half-brother to Derby winner Nashwan and multiple Group race winner Unfuwain.[4][5]

He was trained throughout his career by Marcus Tregoning at Kingwood Stables in Lambourn and ridden in seventeen of his nineteen races by Richard Hills.

Racing career[edit]

2000: two-year-old season[edit]

Unlike most racehorses, Nayef bypassed maiden races, making his debut instead against more experienced colts in the Listed Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes at Newbury. He was nevertheless made 7-4 favourite on the basis of his reputation and won by a neck from Tamburlaine.[6] The form of the race looked particularly strong when the runner-up went on to finish second in the Group One Racing Post Trophy later in the season. Nayef followed up in the Autumn Stakes at Ascot, taking the lead a furlong from the finish and pulling away to win by an "impressive" six lengths.[7] Once again, the form of the race was boosted by later events, when the third-placed Count Dubois won the Group One Gran Criterium in Milan two weeks later.

Nayef's two-year-old career had followed a family pattern: Unfuwain had won the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes in 1987, while Nashwan won the Autumn Stakes a year later.[8]

Nayef was made winter favourite for both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby, despite never having contested a Group race. The official handicapper, Matthew Tester, awarded him "the highest rating a two-year-old has ever been given without running in Group company".[9] One writer later noted that Nayef had been "hyped as the second coming of Pegasus".[10]

2001: three-year-old season[edit]

Nayef failed to realise his promise in the early part of 2001. He began with an odds-on defeat to Tobougg on soft ground in the Craven Stakes.[11] and in the 2,000 Guineas he appeared to be outpaced after disputing the lead for most of the way and faded to finish eighth behind Golan.[12] A week before the Derby, Marcus Tregoning withdrew Nayef from the race, feeling that he was not mature enough for Epsom and saying that the colt had "grown an awful lot and I just feel his strength has gone for the time being".[13]

On his return to the racecourse, Nayef finished third in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, prompting one columnist to write that "if there has been one disappointment this season, it has been Nayef".[14]

From that point on however, his form improved steadily. He won the Rose of Lancaster Stakes[15] at Haydock by five lengths despite being eased down in the closing stages and then took the Select Stakes "easily" by six.[16] In September he won his third Group race in a row, "ploughing" through soft ground at Ascot in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes. Jim McGrath, writing in the Telegraph, said, "Nayef has been a revelation in the last few weeks, showing signs that he is starting to mature into the colt many hoped he would be."[17]

In October, he was moved up to the highest level to run in the Group One Champion Stakes at Newmarket. Nayef recorded his most important success so far, taking the lead inside the last furlong and beating Tobougg by three quarters of a length in "courageous and decisive" style. Tregoning said, "I always knew we had the item."[10]

2002: four-year-old season[edit]

Nayef began 2002 by being taken to the UAE to participate in the Dubai World Cup. He was well supported in the betting, being offered at odds of 11/2, but shortly before the race he was withdrawn by Hamdan Al Maktoum, who preferred to rely on Sakhee.[18] Nayef was re-routed to the longer Dubai Sheema Classic which he won easily[19] by two lengths from a field that included runners from France, Germany, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan and the UAE.[20]

For the second consecutive year, Nayef took time to produce his best form in Europe. In the Tattersalls Gold Cup on soft ground at the Curragh, he was beaten as odds-on favourite by the Irish filly Rebelline, and at Royal Ascot he finished fourth, seven lengths behind Grandera, in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.[21]

In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, Nayef ran his best race since returning from Dubai. He was sent into the lead by Richard Hills in the straight, but despite staying on well under pressure, he was overtaken fifty yards from the finish and beaten a head by Golan. He improved further at York, where he reversed the form with Golan in the International Stakes. The two colts were again closely matched, but this time Nayef prevailed by half a length, prompting his connections to talk of travelling to Chicago for the Breeders' Cup.[22]

However, Nayef was unable to compete in any of the major autumn races. Shortly before a scheduled attempt to win a second Champion Stakes, he contracted a respiratory infection which forced him to miss the rest of the season.[23]

2003: five-year-old season[edit]

Nayef began his five-year-old career by once again travelling to Dubai as a leading hope for the Dubai World Cup, but this time he was allowed to take part. He started 11/8 favourite but, having his first run for seven months and racing on dirt for the first time, he finished third to Moon Ballad.[24]

Nayef returned to England to record his last important victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Taking the lead in the straight, he pulled clear to claim a two and a half length win, beating a field which included Rakti, Falbrav, Grandera, Islington and Moon Ballad. After this win Marcus Tregoning described him as, "a super racehorse, everybody's dream of a racehorse".[2]

Hopes of securing a £1,000,000 "Summer Triple Crown" bonus ended in his next race when he finished strongly but was unable to overhaul Falbrav in the Eclipse Stakes after Richard Hills had been unable to find space for a clear run in the early part of the straight.[25] Despite this defeat, Nayef was made favourite for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three weeks later but was unable to produce any serious challenge in finishing seventh to Alamshar.[26] It was the first time that he had finished out of the prize money since his run in the 2,000 Guineas well over two years previously.

In his last two starts, Nayef was unable to recapture his form. In the International Stakes, he finished three lengths further behind Falbrav than he had done in the Eclipse[27] and in the Champion Stakes, he faded in the closing stages to finish eighth of the twelve runners behind Rakti.[28]

Assessment[edit]

In the 2000 International Classification, Nayef was rated 119, making him the fourth-highest-rated two-year-old colt in Europe.[29] A year later, he was rated 121, making him the sixth-highest-rated three-year-old colt in Europe.[30] In 2002, Nayef was rated 125, making him the eighth-highest-rated horse in the Classification.[31]

In the 2003 edition of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, Nayef was again rated at 125, making him the eleventh best horse in the world.[32]

Nayef was given a peak Timeform rating of 129.[33]

Stud career[edit]

Nayef was retired from racing to stand as a stallion at his owner's Nunnery Stud.[34][35]

His successful progeny include Tamayuz, Lady Marian (Prix de l'Opéra), Spacious (Windsor Forest Stakes) and Confront (Joel Stakes).[36]

Pedigree[edit]

Pedigree of Nayef (USA), bay stallion, 1998[1]
Sire
Gulch (USA)
1984 		Mr. Prospector (USA)
1970 		Raise a Native Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger Nashua
Sequence
Jameela (USA)
1976　 		Rambunctious Rasper
Danaë
Asbury Mary Seven Corners
Snow Flyer
Dam
Height of Fashion (GB)
1979 		Bustino (GB)
1971　 		Busted Crepello
Sans Le Sou
Ship Yard Doutelle
Paving Stone
Highclere (GB)
1971 		Queen's Hussar March Past
Jojo
Highlight Borealis
Hypericum (Family: 2-f)[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Nayef pedigree". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Grand Slam beckons as Nayef grows in stature". The Independent. 19 June 2003. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  3. ^ Nigel Pullen (4 November 2001). "Nayef pedigree article". Pedigreepost.net. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Nayef pedigree". Shadwell Stud. Archived from the original on 29 July 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Hyacinthus Mare – Family 2-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Haynes, Hanson & Clark Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Autumn Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Nayef race record". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Millennium is an also ran in greatest race". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Late-maturing Nayef finally comes of age". The Independent. 21 October 2001. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  11. ^ J A McGrath (19 April 2001). "Nayef flops in Craven upset". Telegraph. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  12. ^ "2,000Guineas". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  13. ^ "Nayef not ready for demands of Derby". The Independent. 1 June 2001. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  14. ^ "Newmarket & Haydock Park". Telegraph. 10 August 2001. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Rose of Lancaster Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  16. ^ "Select Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  17. ^ J A McGrath (30 September 2001). "Pacemakers under scrutiny". Telegraph. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Nayef pulled from Dubai World Cup". BBC News. 20 March 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  19. ^ "Dubai Sheema Classic". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  20. ^ "Nayef Earns Second Straight Group I Win in Sheema Classic". BloodHorse. 23 March 2002. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  21. ^ "Prince of Wales's Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  22. ^ J A McGrath (21 August 2002). "Nayef comes good in International". Telegraph. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  23. ^ "Royal Ascot to keep the party going on Saturday". The Independent. 16 October 2002. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  24. ^ Mossop, James (30 March 2003). "Ballad is on song for Dettori". Telegraph. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  25. ^ "Eclipse fortune favours Falbrav". The Independent. 6 July 2003. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  26. ^ Hannan, Martin. "Accent is back on youth". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  27. ^ "International Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  28. ^ "Tanaka's Rakti Plays Spoiler in Champion Stakes". BloodHorse. 18 October 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  29. ^ "End Material" (PDF). Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  30. ^ "End Material" (PDF). Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  31. ^ "2002 International Classifications". www.horse-races.net.
  32. ^ "Ratings" (PDF). www.horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Thoroughbredinternet/Newsmore". www.thoroughbredinternet.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  34. ^ "Nayef Retired to Nunnery in England". BloodHorse. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  35. ^ Tony Morris. "NAYEF". Shadwell Stud. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  36. ^ "Nayef stud record". Racing Post. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
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