- b c Danehill – Victoria Cross (Spectacular Bid)
- Foaled: 13th Feb 1998
- Breeder: Newgate Stud Co.
- Races: 10, Wins: 5
- Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
- Owner: Michael Tabor
Mozart European Champion Sprinter
One of the fastest horses to blaze the turf, Mozart’s achievements are awesome. By Danehill, Mozart was purchased for 340,000gns, the eighth foal of the unraced mare Victoria Cross.
He won his maiden at the Curragh in July 2000, over seven furlongs and followed up by taking the £400,000 Tattersalls sales race at Newmarket, defeating Pretty Girl.
Over seven again, he was fourth in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes to Tobougg.
Continue reading about Mozart
Returning to the fray in 2001, Mozart tasted defeat twice in Ireland, sent off both times at odds on prices. Tackling the Irish 2000 at the Curragh, Mozart was sent off 20-1 and finished second over the mile to Black Minnaloushe.
The next part of the story illustrates the amazing versatility of this magnificent racehorse.
Dropped back to seven, he took the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot defeating Aldebaran. Next time it was back to six, and in one of the most open July Cup’s in years – with no fewer than 15 horses rated within 10lb of the official top rated Pipalong – Mozart blew them away. The speed he showed in the Irish Guineas and the Jersey Stakes had been impressive, but he took apart the fastest horses in Britain to win by the sort of margin and in the sort of style seen only very rarely in top sprints. Jockey Michael Kinane took the colt to the stands rail ( those on the far side had little chance ), but no-one could deny that this was a performance out of the top drawer.
In August, Mozart showed he is the fastest horse in Europe with a remarkable victory in the Victor Chandler Nunthorpe Stakes at York – despite a slipping saddle.
However, he came close to disaster in the early stages here and only rewarded those who sent him off 4/9 favourite thanks to a miraculous ride from Michael Kinane. For the three-year-old’s saddle slipped leaving the stalls and his jockey’s main concern for most of the five-furlong trip was staying on board, rather than victory.
But Mozart, who had shown himself a top-notch six-furlong performer when running away with the Darley July Cup at Newmarket, was able to hold a position in touch with trail-blazing Repertory.
He hit the front around two furlongs out and held on bravely by two lengths from last year’s winner Nuclear Debate.
Mozart’s final race came in the Breeders Cup sprint where he was unable to handle the dirt against his speedy American rivals, and signed off his career before heading to Coolmore to take up stallion duties.
However, on 12th May 2002 the tragic news came that Mozart was not to see his first crop reach the track. The four-year-old, who was standing his first season at the Coolmore Stud, died from a non-responsive acute colitis. In a statement, Coolmore confirmed: “Mozart, the European Champion Sprinter of 2001, has died.
“The son of Danehill developed non-responsive acute colitis yesterday. In spite of intensive veterinary treatment throughout the day and night, he died at 6.15 this morning.”
Ironically, Mozart’s namesake, the famous composer, died well before his time at the age of 35. The son of Danehill was also taken from us at an early age.
Rest in Peace Mozart.
