Nureyev (horse)

Nureyev was a small bay horse with a white blaze and white sock on his right hind leg bred in Kentucky by the Claiborne Farm. He was sired by Northern Dancer out of the mare Special, making him a half-brother to several winners including Fairy Bridge, the dam of Sadler's Wells. He was bought in 1978 at the Keeneland yearling sale by Stavros Niarchos for US$1.3 million (${{Inflation|US|1.3|1978|r=1}} million inflation adjusted),{{cite news |title=High horses |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago|date=July 23, 1980 |page=53 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17984605/high_horses/ |via=Newspapers.com }} at the time the second-highest paid price ever paid for a yearling—behind only Canadian Bound.{{Cite web|url=http://www.paulickreport.com/news/people/keeneland-sales-legends-stavros-niarchos/|title = Keeneland Sales Legends: Stavros Niarchos|date = 14 September 2013}} Niarchos named the colt in honor of the famous ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev. Niarchos sent the colt to race in Europe where he was trained by François Boutin.

In November 1979, Nureyev made his two-year-old racing debut in France. He easily outdistanced the field in the Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, winning by six lengths.

The following spring of 1980, he won the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse in his three-year-old debut. He was then sent to Newmarket Racecourse for the British Classic 2000 Guineas. His rider, Philippe Paquet, restrained Nureyev in the early stages before moving through the field to make his challenge in the final quarter mile. He got the better of a brief struggle with Known Fact to win by a neck. Posse, whom Nureyev had interfered with 2.5 furlongs from the winning post, finishing strongly to take third less than a length behind. After an inquiry lasting almost an hour, the stewards disqualified Nureyev, relegated him to last place and awarded the race to Known Fact. Paquet was disqualified from riding for seven days.Brough Scott, [https://broughscott.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/May-4th-1980-Nureyev-wins-the-2000-Guineas.pdf 'Nureyev cops a Paquet']. The Sunday Times, 4 May 1980. Retrieved 12 March 2025 It was the first time that a winner of the 2,000 Guineas had been disqualified. Nureyev was scheduled to compete in June's Epsom Derby but came down with a virus and never raced again.{{Cite web |last=Schmitz |first=David |date=29 October 2001 |title=From The Blood-Horse Magazine: Remembering Nureyev |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/190851/from-the-blood-horse-magazine-remembering-nureyev |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}

Nureyev was sent to stand at stud at his owner's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard in Neuvy-au-Houlme in Lower Normandy. Renowned French horseman Alec Head recommended Nureyev to Lexington, Kentucky breeder John T. L. Jones Jr. and in mid-1981 put together a syndicate that purchased Nureyev for US$14 million. Nureyev was brought to Jones' Walmac-Warnerton Farm partnership near Lexington and then under Jones' wholly owned Walmac International.

On May 5, 1987, Nureyev suffered a life-threatening fracture to his right hind leg in a paddock accident during breeding season, but veterinary surgeons were able to save his life.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Kimberly S. |date=23 May 2006 |title=A Look Back: Saving Nureyev |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/6788/a-look-back-saving-nureyev?id=6788 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}

During his breeding career, Nureyev sired 135 stakes winners and more than twenty champions, despite fertility problems.[http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/6825/an-inspiration?id=6825 Frances J. Karon, "An Inspiration". Bloodhorse.com, November 13, 2001.] Retrieved 2011-05-30. In 1998, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum set a European sales record when he paid three million guineas (about $5.4 million) for yearling colt Abshurr by Nureyev at the Newmarket sales.

Nureyev died at the age of 24 on October 29, 2001. He is buried at Walmac International in Lexington, Kentucky.

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Nureyev is also the damsire of several top international horses, including:

• Peteski – the 1993 Canadian Triple Crown champion
• Bago – the 2004 European Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt
• Spinning Queen – sold in November 2006 for three million guineas, becoming the most expensive filly ever sold at public auction in Europe [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153650/http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article2021291.ece John Cobb, "Racing: Spinning Queen breaks sales record"] The Independent, 28 November 2006. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
• Desert King – winner of the 1996 National Stakes, the 1997 Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby Stakes
• Zabeel – won 1989 MRVC Stakes (1989), the 1990 Australian Guineas and Craiglee Stakes. Twice Champion Australian sire and four-time Champion New Zealand sire
• Big Brown – 2008 Kentucky Derby winner and the 2008 Preakness Stakes winner
• Manistique – California millionaire mare who won three Grade 1 races.

{{Pedigree

|name = Nureyev (USA), bay stallion, 1977{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=703955®istry=T&horse_name=Nureyev&dam_name=Special&foaling_year=1977&nicking_stats_indicator=Y## |title=Nureyev pedigree |publisher=equineline.com |date=2012-05-08 |access-date=2013-06-09}}

|f = Northern Dancer (CAN)
1961

|m = Special (USA)
1969

|ff = Nearctic (CAN)
1954

|fm = Natalma (USA)
1957

|mf = Forli (ARG)
1963

|mm = Thong (USA)
1964

|fff = Nearco

|ffm = Lady Angela

|fmf = Native Dancer

|fmm = Almahmoud

|mff = Aristophanes

|mfm = Trevisa

|mmf = Nantallah

|mmm = Rough Shod

|ffff = Pharos

|fffm = Nogara

|ffmf = Hyperion

|ffmm = Sister Sarah

|fmff = Polynesian

|fmfm = Geisha

|fmmf = Mahmoud

|fmmm = Arbitrator

|mfff = Hyperion

|mffm = Commotion

|mfmf = Advocate

|mfmm = Veneta

|mmff = Nasrullah

|mmfm = Shimmer

|mmmf = Gold Bridge

|mmmm = Dalmary (Family 5-h){{cite web|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family5h.htm |title=Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Ann of the Forest – Family 5-h |publisher=Bloodlines.net |access-date=2013-06-09}}

|}}

{{Reflist}}

Category:1977 racehorse births

Category:2001 racehorse deaths

Category:Racehorses bred in Kentucky

Category:Racehorses trained in France

Category:Thoroughbred family 5-h

Category:Champion Thoroughbred Sires of France

Category:British Champion Thoroughbred broodmare sires

Category:Chefs-de-Race