Grandera

Grandera, described by the New Zealand Herald as "a stunning individual",{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/racing/news/article.cfm?c_id=53&objectid=3000702 |title=Mind games for great Grandera |work=The New Zealand Herald |date= 2002-10-24|accessdate=2011-09-03}} is a bright chestnut horse with a white blaze and white socks on his three of his feet.

He was bred in County Kildare, Ireland by Stan Cosgrove, the manager of the Moyglare Stud.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-racehorse.com/breeding/pedigree_spotlight/pedigree_spotlight_9_may_george_washington |title=Pedigree spotlight on George Washington |publisher=the-racehorse.com |date= |accessdate=2011-09-03}} Grandera was sired by Grand Lodge and was the second foal of the Alysheba mare Bordighera, making him a half-brother to George Washington.{{cite web|url=http://www.timeform.com/godolphin/gd_horse.asp?code=00133008&source=03 |title=Horse – Godolphin |publisher=Timeform|date= |accessdate=2011-09-03}} Grand Lodge, a winner of the Dewhurst Stakes and St James's Palace Stakes, sired the winners of almost seven hundred races before his death in 2003, including the Derby and Arc winner Sinndar.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/87296/grand-lodge |title=Grand Lodge Stud record |publisher=Racing Post |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}}

Sold as a yearling to Roger Shelton for Ir£30,000, Grandera was sent into training with James Fanshawe, but transferred to Saeed bin Suroor at the end of his three-year-old season, having been purchased by Godolphin.

Apart from his racing ability, Grandera was known for his difficult temperament, being described by Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford as "a thoroughly unpleasant beast" and "a bit nasty",{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/racing-grumpy-grandera-replies-for-godolphin-645870.html |title=Grumpy Grandera replies for Godolphin|work=The Independent |date=2002-06-20 |accessdate=2011-08-28 |location=London}} whilst Frankie Dettori is reported to have referred to him as "a lunatic"{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/22/1034561497097.html |title=Dettori rates plate 'lunatic' his No 1 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=2002-10-23 |accessdate=2011-09-03}} and "a nightmare".

Grandera began his career with a fifth place in a maiden race at Doncaster in July 2000, before claiming his first win in a similar event at Warwick. He was then moved up to Group company, finishing second in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes, with future Group One winners Imperial Dancer and Storming Home amongst the beaten horses.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/38/newmarket/2000-09-29/286607 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Somerville Tattersall Stakes |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}} On his final start of the year he finished seventh behind Dilshaan in the Group One Racing Post Trophy.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/15/doncaster/2000-10-21/283928 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Racing Post Trophy |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}}

Commenting on the colt's first season, James Fanshawe later said, "He was rather weak as a two-year-old and anything he did then... was going to be a bonus".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/fanshawe-has-second-bite-with-grandera-676646.html |title=Fanshawe has second bite with Grandera |work=The Independent |date=2001-07-05 |accessdate=2011-09-03 |location=London}}

Grandera proved himself to be a colt of the highest class in 2001 with a series of placed efforts. He began with a second place in the Dee Stakes at Chester, before running third, beaten less than a length, in the Prix du Jockey-Club. In the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown he took the lead in the closing stages but was caught four strides from the line and beaten half a length by Medicean.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/medicean-showcases-fallons-art-677043.html |title=Medicean showcases Fallon's art |work=The Independent |date=2001-07-08 |accessdate=2011-09-11 |location=London}} Grandera reversed the form with Medicean in the International Stakes but had no chance against the seven-length winner Sakhee.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/107/york/2001-08-21/302674 |publisher=Racing Post |title=International Stakes |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}}

He recorded his first win in over a year in September, beating Mubtaker in the Arc Trial, despite failing to run straight in the closing stages and carrying his head awkwardly. After the race Fanshawe announced that the Grandera would be aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/continent-bestrides-realms-of-gold-670415.html |title=Continent bestrides realms of gold |work=The Independent |date=2001-09-23 |accessdate=2011-09-11 |location=London |first=Sue |last=Montgomery}} but the colt was bought shortly afterwards by Godolphin and did not run again that year.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/godolphin-sets-sakhee-up-for-tiznow-rematch-633222.html |title=Godolphin sets Sakhee up for Tiznow rematch |work=The Independent |date=2001-10-31 |accessdate=2011-09-11 |location=London}}

Grandera sent to winter in Dubai, before embarking on a four-year-old campaign which took him to six different countries. He began with a second place in the Dubai City of Gold at Nad Al Sheba, before moving to Hong Kong where he finished fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse behind Eishin Preston.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/416/sha-tin/2002-04-21/315846 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Queen Elizabeth II Cup |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}} His next appearance was at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore, where he scored a decisive victory in the Singapore Airlines International Cup, taking the lead inside the final furlong and pulling away to beat the German colt Paolini by two lengths with the Hong Kong champion Indigenous in third.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/racing-bandari-adds-to-trainers-dilemma-650869.html |title=Bandari adds to trainer's dilemma |work=The Independent |date=2002-05-12 |accessdate=2011-09-03 |location=London}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/794/kranji/2002-05-11/317132 |title=Singapore Airlines International Cup |date= |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2011-09-03}}

On returning to the British Isles, Grandera produced what was arguably his finest performance in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Despite behaving aggressively towards the other horses in the parade ring and racing with his head at a high, odd angle ("as if consulting an airport timetable"), he produced a strong run in the straight to pull five lengths clear of a field which included Banks Hill and Nayef.

As a result of this win, he was sent off 13-8 favourite for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes a month later, but could finish only fifth behind Golan. He came back to his best in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, producing a strong finishing burst to catch the future World Champion Hawk Wing in the last strides and take a short-head victory. His rider, Frankie Dettori called Grandera "a very peculiar character but... enormously talented" after the race.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/11351/grandera-upsets-hawk-wing-in-irish-champion-stakes |title=Grandera upsets Hawk Wing in Irish Champion Stakes |work=BloodHorse |date=2002-09-07 |accessdate=2011-08-28}}

Seven weeks later, Grandera arrived to contest the Cox Plate at Melbourne's Moonee Valley Racecourse, where special arrangements, including a double-sized stall, were made to accommodate his difficult temperament.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/26/1035504923491.html |title=Godolphin's champion grand in defeat |work=The Age |date=2002-10-27 |accessdate=2011-09-03 |location=Melbourne}} Five lengths behind at the start of the short straight, Grandera finished strongly to finish third behind Northerly, ahead of Sunline, Fields of Omagh and Lonhro.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/299/moonee-valley/2002-10-26/324425 |title=Cox Plate |date= |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2011-09-03}}

On his final start of the year he finished seventh as odds-on favourite for the Hong Kong Cup,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/416/sha-tin/2002-12-15/326244 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Hong Kong Cup |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}} but his performances had been enough to win the World Series Racing Championship.

Grandera stayed in training as a five-year-old, but was less successful. After winning a prep race at Nad Al Sheba,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/483/nad-al-sheba/2003-03-08/329579 |title=Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum Challenge Stakes (Round III) |date= |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2011-09-11}} he was fancied for the Dubai World Cup,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/racing-draw-gives-nayef-chance-to-plunder-dubai-riches-592468.html |title=Draw gives Nayef chance to plunder Dubai riches |work=The Independent |date=2003-03-27 |accessdate=2011-09-11 |location=London}} but was rejected by Frankie Dettori in favour of Sulamani. Familiar doubts about Grandera's temperament resurfaced- one correspondent referred to him as being "nutty as a fruitcake"-{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/racing-nayefs-class-can-keep-dubai-prize-in-the-family-592678.html |title=Nayef's class can keep Dubai prize in the family |work=The Independent |date=2003-03-29 |accessdate=2011-09-11 |location=London}} as he finished a well-beaten fourth to Moon Ballad.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/483/nad-al-sheba/2003-03-29/330295 |title=Dubai World Cup|date= |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2011-09-11}}

A return to Europe brought no improvement as he finished down the field in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Eclipse Stakes. In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, his starting price of 33-1 and the fact that Dettori again chose to ride Sulamani both reflected his decline. He was fitted with cheek-pieces,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/racing-older-generation-will-be-hard-to-beat-in-king-george-says-eddery-587878.html |title=Older generation will be hard to beat in King George |work=The Independent |date=2003-07-25 |accessdate=2011-09-11 |location=London}} which are normally used to improve a horse's concentration, but seemed "reluctant" to race and finished eleventh of the twelve runners.

{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/2/ascot/2003-07-26/334059 |publisher=Racing Post |title=King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes|date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}}

He was then retired to stud.

Grandera was named as the Champion Older Horse in the 2002 Cartier Racing Awards.

In the 2001 International Classification he was rated 119 making him the thirteenth-best three-year-old colt in Europe, ten pounds below the champion Galileo.{{cite web|url=http://www.tjcis.com/pdf/icsc02/EndMaterial2002.pdf |title=EndMaterial2002.PDF |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}}

In the 2002 International Classification he was rated as 126, placing him third behind Rock of Gibraltar and Marienbard. These ratings covered horses raced in Europe, North America and Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.horse-races.net/library/article-011503.shtml |title=2002 International Classification |publisher=Horse-races.net |date= |accessdate=2011-08-28}}

Grandera was rated 129 by Timeform.

Grandera was sent to stud at the Yushun Stallion Station in Hokkaido, Japan in 2003,{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/18560/moon-ballad-grandera-retired-go-to-japan |title=Moon Ballad, Grandera Retired; Go to Japan |work=BloodHorse |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}} and was also "shuttled" to stand at the Hunter Valley Stud for Darley Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.racingandsports.com.au/breeding/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=36680 |title=Grandera Added To Darley Roster |publisher=Racingandsports.com.au |date= |accessdate=2011-09-11}} In 2010, he was returned to Ireland to stand at the Woodlands Stud, County Galway.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/522794/grandera |title=Grandera stud record|publisher=Racing Post |date= |accessdate=2011-08-28}}

{{Pedigree

|name = Grandera (IRE), chestnut stallion, 1998{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=4539988®istry=T&horse_name==Grandera%20(IRE)&dam_name=Bordighera&foaling_year=1998&nicking_stats_indicator=Y |title=Grandera pedigree |website=Equineline|date=2012-05-08 |accessdate=2012-07-03}}

|inf =

|f = Grand Lodge (USA)
1991

|m = Bordighera (USA)
1992

|ff = Chief's Crown
1982

|fm = La Papagena
1983　

|mf = Alysheba
1984　

|mm = Blue Tip
1982

|fff = Danzig

|ffm = Six Crowns

|fmf = Habitat

|fmm = Magic Flute

|mff = Alydar

|mfm = Bel Sheba

|mmf = Tip Moss

|mmm = As Blue

|ffff = Northern Dancer

|fffm = Pas de Nom

|ffmf = Secretariat

|ffmm = Chris Evert

|fmff = Sir Gaylord

|fmfm = Little Hut

|fmmf = Tudor Melody

|fmmm = Filigrana

|mfff = Raise a Native

|mffm = Sweet Tooth

|mfmf = Lt. Stevens

|mfmm = Belthazar

|mmff = Luthier

|mmfm = Top Twig

|mmmf = Blue Tom

|mmmm = As Well (Family: 5-g)}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Cartier Champion Older Horse}}

Category:1998 racehorse births

Category:Cartier Award winners

Category:Thoroughbred family 5-g

Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom

Category:Racehorses bred in Ireland