Levmoss
Levmoss | |
---|---|
![]() Levmoss and Bill Williamson return after winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 1969 | |
Sire | Le Levanstell |
Grandsire | Le Lavandou |
Dam | Feemoss |
Damsire | Ballymoss |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 1965 |
Country | Ireland |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | McGrath Trust Company |
Owner | Seamus McGrath |
Trainer | Seamus McGrath |
Record | 13:8-0-2 |
Earnings | £142,226 |
Major wins | |
Oxfordshire Stakes (1968) Prix du Cadran (1969) Ascot Gold Cup (1969) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1969) | |
Awards | |
Timeform Horse of the Year (1969) Timeform rating 133 | |
Last updated on September 27, 2008 |
Levmoss (1965–1977) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse whose career lasted from 1967 to 1969. He was the leading stayer in Europe in 1969, when he won the premier long-distance races in England (Ascot Gold Cup) and France (Prix du Cadran). In October of that year he moved down to middle distances to win Europe's most prestigious weight-for-age race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Background
Levmoss was a bay horse bred in Ireland by the McGrath Trust Company, a family breeding organisation headed by Joseph McGrath. His sire was the McGrath-owned Le Levanstell, who won the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 1961 before a successful stud career. Levmoss's dam, Feemoss came from a strong staying family, being a daughter of the Yorkshire Oaks winner Feevagh and a half-sister of the Queen Alexandra Stakes winner Laurence O. After, Levmoss, Feemoss went on to produce the Prix de Diane winner Sweet Mimosa and the champion stayer Le Moss.[1]
Racing career
Early career
Levmoss ran twice as a two-year-old winning once at Gowran Park. At three he developed into a useful stayer. After winning a race at the Phoenix Park Racecourse he was sent to England where he finished fourth in the Lingfield Derby Trial. A month later he finished fourth in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot before returning to England for the third time where he produced his best performance of the year when winning the Oxfordshire Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, beating the St Leger Stakes runner-up Canterbury and the leading filly Park Top. That Autumn he finished third in the Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) and ended the year by winning the Leopardstown November Handicap over two miles carrying top weight of 130 pounds.[2]
1969: four-year-old season
Levmoss began his four-year-old season by running unplaced in the Gladness Stakes and was then sent to France where he finished third behind Zamazaan in the Prix Jean Prat over 3100m at Longchamp Racecourse. He returned to Longchamp the following month and recorded his most important victory up to that time as he beat Zamazaan into third place in the 4000m Prix du Cadran. Having won the most important French staying race, Levmoss was then sent to Royal Ascot to contest the English equivalent, the Ascot Gold Cup. He started 15/8 favourite and won easily by four lengths from Torpid.[3]
Levmoss returned to Ireland in September to win the Leinster Handicap at the Curragh by three lengths, carrying a weight of 150 pounds (10st 10lbs). In October, Levmoss was dropped back in distance for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2400m at Longchamp. His opponents included Park Top, Blakeney, Prince Regent (Irish Derby) and Crepellana (Prix de Diane). As he was considered a specialist stayer, Levmoss was not considered a serious contender and started a 52/1 outsider.[3] Ridden by the Australian Bill Williamson, Levmoss was prominent throughout before moving to the front turning into the straight and galloping on strongly all the way to the line, to win by three quarters of a length from Park Top.[4]
Assessment
In their book "A Century of Champions", based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Levmoss a "superior" Arc winner and the ninth best Irish racehorse of the 20th century.[3]
Stud record
Levmoss went to stud as a five-year-old after accumulating eight wins worth £142,226. He stood for most of his life in Ireland, where he had been trained by Seamus McGrath, but moved to France for the 1977 season and died on 1 October 1977. The Irish St. Leger winner M-Lolshan, Prix du Cadran winner Shafaraz and Musidora Stakes winner Moonlight Night were his best winners. He was also the damsire of Ardross.
Sire line tree
- Levmoss[5]
- Moss Trooper
- King Aussie
- Nuthatch
- Shantallah
- Salt Lake
- Shafaraz
- M-Lolshan
- Curioso
- Moss Trooper
Pedigree
Sire Le Levanstell | Le Lavandou | Djebel | Tourbillon |
---|---|---|---|
Loika | |||
Lavande | Rustom Pasha | ||
Livadia | |||
Stella's Sister | Ballyogan | Fair Trial | |
Serial | |||
My Aid | Knight of the Garter | ||
Flying Aid | |||
Dam Feemoss | Ballymoss | Mossborough | Nearco |
All Moonshine | |||
Indian Call | Singapore | ||
Flittemere | |||
Feevagh | Solar Slipper | Windsor Slipper | |
Solar Flower | |||
Astrid Wood | Bois Roussel | ||
Astrid (Family: 1-k)[7] |
References
- ^ "Retired Irish Trainer Seamus McGrath Dead". BloodHorse.com. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1999). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- ^ a b c Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
- ^ "Longshot Levmoss Wins French Race". Boston Globe. 6 October 1969. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ Bay Middleton Sire Line
- ^ "Levmoss pedigree". 8 May 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ "Rouge Rose - Family 1-k". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- The Complete Encyclopedia of Horse Racing - written by Bill Mooney and George Ennor
- v
- t
- e
- 1920 Comrade
- 1921 Ksar
- 1922 Ksar
- 1923 Parth
- 1924 Massine
- 1925 Priori
- 1926 Biribi
- 1927 Mon Talisman
- 1928 Kantar
- 1929 Ortello
- 1930 Motrico
- 1931 Pearl Cap ♥
- 1932 Motrico
- 1933 Crapom
- 1934 Brantôme
- 1935 Samos ♥
- 1936 Corrida ♥
- 1937 Corrida ♥
- 1938 Eclair au Chocolat
- 1941 Le Pacha
- 1942 Djebel
- 1943 Verso
- 1944 Ardan
- 1945 Nikellora
- 1946 Caracalla
- 1947 Le Paillon
- 1948 Migoli
- 1949 Coronation ♥
- 1950 Tantieme
- 1951 Tantieme
- 1952 Nuccio
- 1953 La Sorellina ♥
- 1954 Sica Boy
- 1955 Ribot
- 1956 Ribot
- 1957 Oroso
- 1958 Ballymoss
- 1959 Saint Crespin
- 1960 Puissant Chef
- 1961 Molvedo
- 1962 Soltikoff
- 1963 Exbury
- 1964 Prince Royal
- 1965 Sea Bird
- 1966 Bon Mot
- 1967 Topyo
- 1968 Vaguely Noble
- 1969 Levmoss
- 1970 Sassafras
- 1971 Mill Reef
- 1972 San San ♥
- 1973 Rheingold
- 1974 Allez France ♥
- 1975 Star Appeal
- 1976 Ivanjica
- 1977 Alleged
- 1978 Alleged
- 1979 Three Troikas ♥
- 1980 Detroit ♥
- 1981 Gold River ♥
- 1982 Akiyda ♥
- 1983 All Along ♥
- 1984 Sagace
- 1985 Rainbow Quest
- 1986 Dancing Brave
- 1987 Trempolino
- 1988 Tony Bin
- 1989 Carroll House
- 1990 Saumarez
- 1991 Suave Dancer
- 1992 Subotica
- 1993 Urban Sea ♥
- 1994 Carnegie
- 1995 Lammtarra
- 1996 Helissio
- 1997 Peintre Celebre
- 1998 Sagamix
- 1999 Montjeu
- 2000 Sinndar
- 2001 Sakhee
- 2002 Marienbard
- 2003 Dalakhani
- 2004 Bago
- 2005 Hurricane Run
- 2006 Rail Link
- 2007 Dylan Thomas
- 2008 Zarkava ♥
- 2009 Sea the Stars
- 2010 Workforce
- 2011 Danedream ♥
- 2012 Solemia ♥
- 2013 Treve ♥
- 2014 Treve ♥
- 2015 Golden Horn
- 2016 Found ♥
- 2017 Enable ♥
- 2018 Enable ♥
- 2019 Waldgeist
- 2020 Sottsass
- 2021 Torquator Tasso
- 2022 Alpinista ♥
- 2023 Ace Impact