NEWS
Champion, two-time Breeders' Cup winner Miesque dies
Posted: Friday, January 21, 2011 10:10 AM
MIESQUE
photos by Z/Thoroughbred Times
by Jeff Lowe
Miesque, the first two-time winner of a Breeders’ Cup race and the dam of major sire Kingmambo, was euthanized on Thursday at age 27 as a pensioned broodmare due to the infirmities of old age at the Oak Tree Division of Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky.
The 1999 Racing Hall of Fame inductee had been boarded in Kentucky since she retired from racing in 1988 following her second Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) victory.
Bred in Kentucky by the Niarchos family and based in France during her racing career, Miesque garnered the Eclipse Award as champion turf female in both 1987 and 1988 in recognition of her dominant consecutive wins in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. She won by 3 ½ lengths in 1987 at Hollywood Park and by four lengths in 1988 at Churchill Downs.
“Miesque was part of our lives," the Niarchos family said in a statement. "She was unique and gave us immense pleasure.”
The margins were the two largest in the history of the Mile until Miesque’s Approval, by Kingmambo’s full brother Miesque’s Son, scored by four lengths in 2006 at Churchill.
Miesque, by Nureyev out of the Prove Out mare Pasadoble, also was an eight-time Group 1 winner in Europe, including a 1987 double in the One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and Dubai Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1) (French One Thousand Guineas).
Kingmambo, her first foal, emulated his mother as a French classic winner, and he ranked among the leading sires in both the U.S. and Europe throughout his stud career. The Mr. Prospector stallion was second on the American general sire list in 2004 and third in 2008 and stood for as much as $300,000.
Freddie Head was the regular jockey of both Miesque and he rode Kingmambo early in his career. Head later trained Goldikova (Ire), the first three-time Breeders’ Cup winner who has won each Mile since 2008.
“She has a place in history, there’s no doubt,” Head said. “She was a great, great racemare and a great broodmare. I’m glad that when I was in Kentucky for the Breeders’ Cup [in November], I went to Lexington and saw her. We knew it would happen one day, but it’s very, very sad. It brings along a lot of memories.”
Miesque’s second foal was the Private Account filly East of the Moon, and she captured two French classics herself. Miesque’s Son, her third foal, was a Group 3 winner. Miesque also produced the dam of European champion filly Rumplestiltskin, and her son Kitalpha, by Mr. Prospector, stands in Central Kentucky after a stint as the leading sire in Zimbabwe. Another Group 3-winning son, Mingun, by A.P. Indy, stood for a time at Lane’s End.
In addition to producing horses who excelled on the racetrack and in the breeding shed, Miesque also produced commercially successful foals. Ama, a 2004 filly by Storm Cat, sold for $3,885,840 at the 2007 Tattersalls autumn breeding stock sale. Myhrr, a 1997 Mr. Prospector filly, sold for $4.6-million at the 2000 Keeneland November mixed sale. Monevassia, a 1994 Mr. Prospector mare, sold for $1.75-million at the 1998 Keeneland November sale.
Miesque was buried in the cemetery at the Oak Tree Division of Lane's End.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
READER COMMENTS
|
|
|
Posted by: John, Somerset, KY on January 22, 2011 at 06:12 AM
This has to be a really tough blow for Freddie Head. Miesque was his Goldikova that he road instead of the one that he trained. A great loss to the sport.
Report Abuse 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: Richie, Weston, VT on January 22, 2011 at 02:36 AM
What a wonderful mare she was both on the racetrack and on the farm. Her two BC wins were breathtaking. She will be remembered as one of the best mares of all times. A sad day but she had a good long life. R.I.P old girl-you will not be forgotten.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: amy, horseland, IL on January 22, 2011 at 12:33 AM
RIP sweet one your sons and duaghters have carried on your legacy! goodbye pretty one!! we love you and we are all glad you lived a very long good life!!
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: Alli, Reisterstown, MD on January 21, 2011 at 10:16 PM
What a racehorse she was. Truly one of the very best milers in the world. It seems like only yesterday she was winning the Breeder's Cup Mile. Man how time will fly by.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: Otherlyn, Grand Rapids, MI on January 21, 2011 at 08:49 PM
RIP Beautiful Miesque. You did good. That sweet faced Boxer, standing near the welcoming gate, as you stepped into the pure light of Thisgoodplace, is my beloved Angeluna. She passed on the day before they sent you. Touch noses with her. She is frenly. So grateful that Love follows Love to that beautiful place of Peace.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
