:Ezzoud

{{Infobox racehorse

| name = Ezzoud

| image_name= Racing silks of Maktoum Al Maktoum.png

| caption = Racing colours of Maktoum Al Maktoum

| sire = Last Tycoon

| grandsire = Try My Best

| dam = Royal Sister

| damsire = Claude

| sex = Stallion

| foaled = 6 May 1989

| country = Ireland

| colour = Bay

| breeder = T J Monaghan

| owner = Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum

| trainer = Michael Stoute

| jockey =

| record = 22: 6-5-2

| earnings = $753,866

| race = Earl of Sefton Stakes (1993)
International Stakes (1993, 1994)
Eclipse Stakes (1994)

| awards =

| honours =

| updated = October 12, 2006

}}

Ezzoud (6 May 1989 – August 1998), was a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ireland and trained in the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from 1991 to 1994. He is best known for winning consecutive runnings of the International Stakes at York.

Background

Ezzoud was bred in Ireland by T. J. Monaghan. Sired by the Nunthorpe Stakes and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Last Tycoon, he was out of the mare Royal Sister, making him a half-brother to the Sussex Stakes winner Distant Relative.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/69582/ezzoud |publisher=Racing Post |title=Ezzoud pedigree|date=2011-06-02 |accessdate=2011-09-07}} His pedigree made him a valuable prospect and he fetched 360,000 guineas when put through the sales ring as a yearling.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Morris+on+Ezzoud%3A+Still+time+for+sire+to+shine%3B+Lancashire+Oaks...-a063283465 |title=Morris on Ezzoud |via=The Free Library |date= |accessdate=2011-08-28}} Bought by Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum, he was put into training with Michael Stoute at Newmarket.

He came to be regarded as a highly talented but unpredictable performer,{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Misunderstood+talent+who+divided+opinion%3B+MY+FAVOURITE+YORK+MOMENT...-a0234476071 |title=Misunderstood talent who divided opinion |via=The Free Library |date= |accessdate=2011-08-28}} who usually raced in a visor. His lack of consistency sometimes made him unpopular – according to Richard Edmondson, writing in the Independent, he was "called more names than the fat boy in the school playground" – and he was a notably lazy worker at home.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-ezzoud-shows-courage-of-the-genuine-article-york-ebor-meeting-a-favourite-if-enigmatic-whippingboy-responds-to-pressure-and-lays-to-rest-once-and-for-all-the-cowards-stigma-1377005.html |title=Ezzoud shows courage of the genuine article|work=The Independent |date=1994-08-17 |accessdate=2011-09-07}}

Ezzoud (ازود) is an Arabic term which can be translated as "provider" or "I provide".{{cite web | url=https://translate.google.com/#ar%7Ben%7B%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%AF | title=Google Translate }}

Racing career

=1991: two-year-old season=

Ezzoud's two-year-old career was brief, beginning with a short-head win in a Doncaster graduation stakes (a race open to horses who have won no more than once previously).{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/15/doncaster/1991-09-11/106859 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons Stakes Graduation |date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}} On his next start, he ran in the highly competitive Tiffany Highflyer Stakes. The field of 30 two-year-olds included the future Derby winner Dr. Devious, and the inexperienced Ezzoud finished well down the field after racing prominently for much of the way.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/38/newmarket/1991-10-02/107268 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Tiffany Highflyer Stakes |date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}}

=1992: three-year-old season=

At three, he began with a short-head defeat to Lucky Lindy in the Listed Easter Stakes, then won a minor stakes event at Sandown Park, beating the future July Cup winner Hamas.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/54/sandown/1992-05-05/108722 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Lbc Michael Parkinson Graduation Stakes |date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}} From this point on, he was campaigned at the highest level, beginning with a length defeat by Rodrigo de Triano in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. At Royal Ascot he produced another placed effort, finishing third to Brief Truce in the St James's Palace Stakes, ahead of Rodrigo de Triano and Arazi.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/2/ascot/1992-06-16/109612 |publisher=Racing Post |title=St James's Palace Stakes |date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}} After running unplaced behind St Jovite when attempting the mile-and-a-half distance in the Irish Derby his season was cut short by injury.

=1993: four-year-old season=

At four Ezzoud had some successes, but began to acquire a reputation for unpredictability. His nervous demeanour and high, awkward head carriage lead many observers to question his temperament. He began by recording his first Group win in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, beating Cloud of Dust by one and a half lengths.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/38/newmarket/1993-04-14/113386 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Earl of Sefton Stakes |date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}} He was then sent to Ireland, where he was made favourite for the Tattersalls Gold Cup (then a Group 2 Race), but after taking the lead a furlong from the finish, he was caught in the last strides and beaten a short head by George Augustus.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/178/curragh/1993-05-15/113919 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Tattersalls Gold Cup |date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}} He was made favourite again in his next race, and again he disappointed his supporters, finishing unplaced in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

In the International Stakes, he was ignored by the betting public and started the race as a 28-1 outsider whilst the inexperienced three-year-old Sabrehill was made favourite. He produced an upset, however, making a strong run in the straight he "swept past"{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-cecils-hot-shots-lose-their-flair-a-trainer-with-fashion-sense-has-a-day-to-forget-richard-edmondson-reports-from-york-1461890.html |title=Cecil's hot shots lose their flair |work=The Independent |date=1993-08-18 |accessdate=2011-09-07}} Sabrehill inside the last furlong to win the Group 1 prize by one and a half lengths. After the race his trainer, Michael Stoute, explained his view that the horse had been misunderstood: "People think these horses with high head carriages are absolute crabs but that's not always the case. He's more lazy than anything else and he's answered the questions today".

Ezzoud's unpredictable form continued into the autumn. He made no impression in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but then proved the best of the British horses in the Champion Stakes. He challenged for the lead a furlong from the finish, before finishing a good second to the French-trained filly Hatoof. As the first two were both owned by Maktoum al Maktoum, whose family sponsored the race, the prize money was donated to charity.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-head-girl-in-champion-class-charities-will-benefit-as-maktoum-al-maktoum-wins-the-race-he-sponsors-with-hatoof-1511208.html |title=Charities will benefit as Maktoum Al Maktoum wins the race he sponsors |work=The Independent |date=1993-10-17 |accessdate=2011-09-07}} Ezzoud ended the season by running unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Classic, behind the 133-1 winner Arcangues.

=1994: five-year-old season=

At five, he began slowly, but improved throughout the first half of the season. He was unlucky in the Prix Ganay, finishing sixth after being bumped by one of his opponents in the Longchamp straight. He then finished third in his second attempt at the Tattersalls Gold Cup before a narrow defeat to Muhtarram in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/2/ascot/1994-06-14/119757 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Prince of Wales's Stakes |date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}}

Ezzoud's appearance was not impressive before the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown as he sweated profusely in the paddock,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-commentary-derby-form-suffers-a-total-eclipse-with-erhaabs-blue-riband-in-tatters-the-classic-colts-face-a-daunting-king-george-challenge-1411574.html |title=Derby form suffers a total Eclipse|work=The Independent |date=1994-07-04 |accessdate=2011-09-07}} but he went on to record his second Group I victory. He raced in the middle of the field before making his challenge and defeated the St Leger winner Bob's Return by a length and a half, despite hanging right in the closing stages, with the Derby winner Erhaab in third. Michael Stoute praised his colt, whilst acknowledging his "cranky" nature: "he is sometimes a bit of a lad at home. But you can't fault him on the racecourse".{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-erhaab-is-eclipsed-1417905.html |title= Erhaab is eclipsed|work=The Independent |date=1994-07-03 |accessdate=2011-09-07}}

Ezzoud played a significant, but unexpected role in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three weeks later. He swerved leaving the starting-stalls, unseating his jockey Walter Swinburn, and then galloped alongside the leaders for the rest of the race, causing interference to several of his rivals, the effect being compared to "a bowling ball scattering tenpins".{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-theatres-dramatic-effect-kinane-rules-the-king-george-after-ezzoud-unseats-swinburn-to-create-havoc-in-ascots-big-race-1415827.html |title=Theatre's dramatic effect: Kinane rules the King George after Ezzoud unseats Swinburn|work=The Independent |date=1994-07-24 |accessdate=2011-09-07}}

He returned to his best, however, for his second attempt at the International Stakes. In this race, Ezzoud disproved those who had labelled him ungenuine, getting the better of Muhtarram by a neck, with the rest of a top quality field including King's Theatre and Grand Lodge finishing well-beaten. His rider, Walter Swinburn, celebrated with uncharacteristic emotion by throwing his whip into the crowd. In his second attempt at the Arc he produced his best performance over the mile-and-a-half distance, challenging strongly in the straight and taking fourth place in a driving finish, less than a length behind the winner Carnegie.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/211/longchamp/1994-10-02/122426 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe|date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}} After a final unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic he was retired to stud.

Assessment

Timeform rated Ezzoud at 87p as a two-year-old, 120 as a three-year-old and 123 as a four-year-old, before awarding him a peak rating of 126 as a five-year-old in 1994.

Stud career

Ezzoud stood as a stallion at the Royal Studs at Sandringham.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/barathea-joins-generation-game-racing-mating-season-increases-anxiety-for-studs-hoping-new-stallions-will-not-stall-sue-montgomery-reports-1566812.html |title=Barathea joins generation game |work=The Independent |date=1995-01-06 |accessdate=2011-09-07}} He died after only four seasons, having suffered a series of complications following an operation for laminitis.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dual+Juddmonte+hero+Ezzoud+is+dead.-a061441623 |title=Dual Juddmonte hero Ezzoud is dead |via=The Free Library |date= |accessdate=2011-08-28}} His best offspring was the Lancashire Oaks winner, Ela Athena.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/69582/ezzoud |title=Ezzoud stud record|publisher=Racing Post |date= |accessdate=2011-09-07}} His daughter Miracle produced the Champion Hurdle winner Katchit.