Choisir (18 September 1999 – 7 December 2021) was an Australian-bred dual hemisphere-winning Thoroughbred racehorse. He became the first Australian-trained winner of the Group Two King's Stand Stakes.[1] The same year, Choisir also won the Golden Jubilee Stakes and was second in the July Cup.[2]
| Choisir | |
|---|---|
 Racing silks of Choisir | |
| Sire | Danehill Dancer (IRE) |
| Grandsire | Danehill (USA) |
| Dam | Great Selection (AUS) |
| Damsire | Lunchtime (GB) |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 18 September 1999 |
| Died | 7 December 2021 (aged 22) |
| Country | Australia |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | R.M. Daisley, NSW |
| Owner | Terry Wallace & Partners |
| Trainer | Paul Perry |
| Record | 23: 7-5-6 |
| Earnings | $2,258,545 |
| Major wins | |
| 2003 Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes 2003 VRC Lightning Stakes 2003 King's Stand Stakes | |
| Awards | |
| 2001-02 Champion 2yo colt in Australia 2003 Champion older sprinter in Europe | |
| Honours | |
| Australian Racing Hall of Fame | |
| Last updated on 28 August 2011 | |
Breeding
editHe was sired by the Group one (G1) winner Danehill Dancer (sire of over 500 individual starters for nine G1 winners); his dam Great Selection was by Lunchtime (GB). Choisir was a full brother to Danny Dancer, who won five races in Australia, and a half-brother to Supermarket (by Zephyr Zip ((NZ)), won eight races in Australia and dam of three winners) and Great Chic (by Prince of Birds ((USA)), dam of three winners).
Racing career
editChoisir was trained by Paul Perry who was based at Broadmeadow Racecourse.
At two years
editAt two Choisir won the Group 3 STC Skyline Stakes over 1,200 metres, the listed AJC Breeders' Plate over 1,000 m., Inglis 2 YO Classic (1,200 m.) and was second in the Group one (G1) AJC Sires Produce Stakes, G2 STC Pago Pago Stakes, 2 YO Conditions Handicap, along with third placings in the G1 STC Golden Slipper Stakes and AJC Champagne Stakes.
At three years
editChoisir won the G1 VRC Lightning Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes, had third placings in the G1 MRC Oakleigh Plate, G1 2002 Caulfield Guineas,[3] G2 AJC Stan Fox Stakes, G3 VRC L'Oreal Paris Plate.
At four years
editAt four Choisir won the G1 Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes (6 f.) and the G2 King's Stand Stakes (5 f.) as well as placing second in the G1 Newmarket July Cup.
When Choisir's career was over, Perry hoped that Fastnet Rock would repeat Choisir's successful English campaign, however Fastnet Rock suffered from travel sickness and was unable to race in the United Kingdom.
Stud record
editCoolmore Stud Australia purchased Choisir to begin a new career as a shuttle stallion just two days after Choisir had finished second in the July Cup.
Choisir was standing at a service fee of $29,700 at Coolmore Stud in 2019.[4] He was pensioned from the breeding barn at the end of the 2020 breeding season.[5]
Choisir died at Coolmore Stud on 7 December 2021.[6]
Notable stock
editChoisir sired 12 individual Group 1 winners.
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major wins |
| 2005 | Sacred Choice | f | Myer Classic, Doncaster Handicap |
| 2006 | Starspangledbanner | c | Caulfield Guineas, Oakleigh Plate, Golden Jubilee Stakes, July Cup |
| 2007 | Historian | g | Zabeel Classic, Thorndon Mile |
| 2008 | Obviously | g | Shoemaker Mile Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint |
| 2009 | Choice Bro | g | Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes |
| 2010 | Kushadasi | g | South Australian Derby |
| 2010 | Olympic Glory | c | Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Lockinge Stakes, Prix de la Forêt |
| 2012 | Japonisme | g | Coolmore Stud Stakes |
| 2013 | Divine Prophet | c | Caulfield Guineas |
| 2014 | The Last Lion | c | Middle Park Stakes |
| 2014 | The Mission | c | Champagne Stakes |
| 2016 | Snapdancer | f | Robert Sangster Stakes, Memsie Stakes |
Choisir also sired Proisir, a Group 3 winner who went on to become a leading stud stallion in New Zealand.
References
edit- ^ Wray Vamplew; Joyce Kay (2003). Encyclopedia of British Horseracing. Routledge. p. 38. ISBN 0-7146-5356-X.
- ^ "The spectator". The Spectator. F.C. Westley: 46. 2003.
- ^ Michael Lynch (10 November 2009). "Shooting Star". WAtoday.
- ^ "Choisir". Coolmore Stud. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Tzaferis, James. "Coolmore confirms Choisir's death". Racing.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Leading sire and trailblazing sprinter Choisir passes away at age 22". Coolmore Stud. Retrieved 11 December 2021.