Prime Defender (30 March 2004 – 24 July 2012) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse.
| Prime Defender | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Bertolini |
| Grandsire | Danzig |
| Dam | Arian Da |
| Damsire | Superlative |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 30 March 2004[1] |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Christopher J Mason |
| Owner | Steve Falle, Matt Franklin and James Sumsion |
| Trainer | Barry Hills |
| Record | 57:8-6-3 |
| Earnings | £270,444 |
| Major wins | |
| European Free Handicap (2007) Sandy Lane Stakes (2007) Cammidge Trophy (2009) Duke of York Stakes (2010) | |
Background
editPrime Defender was a chestnut horse with a white blaze bred by Christopher J Mason. He was one of the best horses sired by Bertolini a "high class sprinter" who won the July Stakes in 1998.[2] He was trained by Barry Hills in Lambourn and owned by friends Steve Falle, Matt Franklin and James Sumsion.
Racing career
editAs a three-year-old, Prime Defender won the European Free Handicap at Newmarket Racecourse in April and the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park in May. After a long break without a major win he won the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster in March 2009. He recorded his most important victory as a six-year-old in August 2010 when he won the Group Two (Duke of York Stakes).[3] Prime Defender holds the juvenile and overall track record at Wolverhampton.
Stud career
editPrime Defender was retired to Hedgeholme Stud in County Durham at the end of the 2011,[4] but after having fertility problems he was returned to training the following year with the Nottinghamshire trainer Michael Appleby. He was being prepared for a return to racing when he died of a heart attack in a training gallop on 24 July 2012.[5]
Pedigree
edit| Sire Bertolini (USA) 1996 |
Danzig (USA) 1977 |
Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalma | |||
| Pas de Nom | Admiral's Voyage | ||
| Petitioner | |||
| Aquilegia (USA) 1989 |
Alydar | Raise a Native | |
| Sweet Tooth | |||
| Courtly Dee | Never Bend | ||
| Tulle | |||
| Dam Arian Da (GB) 1995 |
Superlative (IRE) 1981 |
Nebbiolo | Yellow God |
| Novara | |||
| Clariden | Hook Money | ||
| Matterhorn | |||
| Nell of the North (USA) 1977 |
Canadian Gil | Northern Dancer | |
| Julie Kate | |||
| Sprinkle Power | Balance of Power | ||
| Neila (Family: 4-o) |
References
edit- ^ a b "Prime Defender pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
- ^ "Bertolini – Stud Record". Racing Post.
- ^ "Prime Defender wins Group 2 Duke of York Blue Square Stakes at York Racecourse".
- ^ "Prime Defender to stand at Hedgeholme Stud". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
- ^ Paul Eacott (24 July 2012). "Prime Defender dies on gallops". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
- Prime Defender's record from Racing Post [1]