| YEATS (IRE) | ||
| b h Sadler's Wells (USA) (Northern Dancer) - Lyndonville (IRE) (Top Ville) | ||
| Foaled: 23 April 2001 | ||
| Owner: Sue Magnier and Diane Nagle | ||
| Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Ballydoyle | ||
| Jockeys: Jimmy Fortune, Jamie Spencer, J A Heffernan, Kieren Fallon, Mick Kinane, Johnny Murtagh | ||
| Lad: Davy Hickey | ||
| Work Rider: Andrew | ||
| Breeder: David and Diane Nagle, Barronstown Stud, Ireland | ||
THE HORSE
Attributes
What does Yeats have that most other racehorses do not have? Plenty!
Most obviously FOUR Ascot Gold Cups! The only other horse to manage three was the great stayer French bred Sagaro. He and Lester Piggot did it in 1975/76/77. A few have taken two, and failed to either line up for a third, or were thwarted at the post. But none have made four, until now.
Yeats has what many others pretend to have, speed, stamina and versatility, and more rare than even that mythical combination - the ability to quicken at the end of his races whether they are over 1m6f or the gruelling 2 1/2 miles of the holy grail for stayers, the Ascot Gold Cup. He oozes class but he is tough and this one can kick a bit too! Those who watched what happened after he won his third Gold Cup when Frankie Dettori was pulling up his mount and went up his inside will know what I mean. Even after that long battle up the heartbreaking Ascot straight Yeats was not letting any horse get past him.
Yeats seems different from all the others, and his esteemed trainer Aidan has informed us that facts say heis. His heart and lungs are bigger than most horses and it is this physical quality which allows him to keep going, and go even faster, when others have no more to give.
As well as all of his physical attributes he has the all important X-factor. There was always something about him. Breeders often say that they did not know that a horse they have bred was going to be great, nothing set them apart at an early age. Not Yeats, David Nagle knew he had something and was reluctant to let this one go. Yeats has always had presence and lets everyone know that he knows you are looking at him.
He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, no doubt about that. The vision and patience of his connections have made him what he is today. He is not a horse that just anyone could have handled and brought out the best in, over several seasons.
And more than that, Yeats has one thing on his cv that few horses ever manage. He came back. They say they never come back - but this one did. This is rare in racing and yet, Yeats is not alone in that. His imperious spirit would have proved invaluable in his recovery and rescaling of the heights, but it is no coincidence that some of his stablemates can also claim this notable achievement, Duke of Marmalade, Septimus and Mount Nelson.
No doubt about it Yeats is a heartbreaker. Deadly good looks and turn of foot. He is what many women would like in their men, a tall dark and handsome aristocrat who is generous, fast and stays the distance! He has broken a few hearts along the way, including his three time runner up the admirable Geordieland. Everyone who has ever ridden him has succumbed to his charm and talent and those who work with him hold him in great respect. Even his owners, who have had their share of greatness know he is something very special indeed.
However, this is not the first Yeats to be trained at Ballydoyle. Vincent O'Brien trained Yeats too!
THE NAME
It is tempting to offer a prose tribute to a racehorse named Yeats, but you would be mistaken. This Yeats was not named after the great poet but his brother Jack Butler Yeats, the painter.What He Did
This horse was many people’s idea of the perfect Ascot Gold Cup horse for four seasons, and he delivered each time it mattered. Yeats is not one for gifting his connections with small trifles, like many of the well loved National Hunt horses his gifts are more precious than prize money, he makes history where others have failed before him. History waits for no one, except Yeats. After injury prevented him from taking part in the Derby when he was favourite he came back at the age of 4 and took Epsom by storm front running to set his own pace to win the Coronation Cup over course and distance proving he could have won the Derby the year before, the first Irish-based horse to win the race since Roberto in 1973and bringing that trophy back to Ballydoyle for the first time. At 5 he set a course record when winning the Goodwood Cup, gave connections their first Ascot Gold Cup and became the first horse in 11 years to win the Goodwood and Ascot Gold Cups in the same season. This is made even more remarkable when you realise that the Ascot Gold Cup was his first start of that season, and he came there 247 days after his run in the Canadian International at Woodbine. At 6 he gave Aidan O'Brien one of the few prizes missing from his CV, his first success in the Irish St Leger, at 7 when most flat entires have long been stallions Yeats gave connections a record equalling three Ascot Gold Cups. At 8 he brought the house down, silenced any critics and gave his fans the best that they had ever dreamed or hoped for.
