Mark of Esteem
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| Mark of Esteem | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Darshaan |
| Grandsire | Shirley Heights |
| Dam | Homage |
| Damsire | Adjal |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1993 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Dallham Hall Stud |
| Owner | Godolphin |
| Trainer | Saeed bin Suruor |
| Record | 7: 4-1-0 |
| Earnings | £365,139 |
| Major wins | |
| 2,000 Guineas Stakes (2001) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2002) Prix Niel (2001) | |
Mark of Esteem is a retired Irish bred thoroughbred racehorse. In his two years racing he achieved 4 wins and 1 placed finish from 7 Runs amassing total Prize Money of £365,139.00. As a juvenile he finished second on his first start before winning his maiden at Goodwood by three lengths.
His first three year old start came in the first Classic of the 1996 season. Mark Of Esteem faced a tough task in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket with no preparation run but proved a colt of the highest class, coming out best by a short head in a photo finish from Even Top and Bijou d'Inde.
His next start in the St James Palace stakes was disappointing when he was well beaten by his former Guineas victim Bijou d'Inde. He'd missed his engagement in the Derby because he'd been running a high temperature, and the way he went here suggests he wasn't right, either, though it's worth bearing in mind he did have a very hard race for one so inexperienced in the Guineas, and this all out effort could well have left a long-term mark. Forced wide to start his challenge once in line for home, he never looking like quickening up sufficiently well to mount a challenge and weakened over a furlong out.
Mark Of Esteem progressed physically through the summer, winning the Group Two Celebration Mile at Goodwood by three and a half lengths, and crowning his campaign in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. He used impressive acceleration to crush a high-class field there, scoring by over a length from Classic-winning Henry Cecil filly Bosra Sham. He was always travelling strongly but had to wait briefly for a gap over 1½f out before a fantastic high kicking burst settled the ace in a matter of strides. He went on in the final ½f to win impressively going away. This was the third win of the day for jockey Frankie Dettori at a major meeting when he famously went on to win all seven races. Official handicappers hailed it as the best performance of his generation over a mile for a decade. Mark of Esteem,'s final start was in America but he failed to show the same acceleration from mid-division in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Woodbine.
Mark Of Esteem was retired with a Timeform rating of 137. He now stands at stud under the Darley banner where he has had much success including his siring of Derby winner Sir Percy. His progeny also include group winners High Accolade, Reverence and Ordnance Row. um