Swain (horse)

Swain
Sire Nashwan
Grandsire Blushing Groom
Dam Love Smitten
Damsire Key To The Mint
Sex Stallion
Foaled 12 Feb 1992[1]
Country Ireland
Colour Bay
Breeder Sheikh Mohammed
Owner Sheikh Mohammed
Godolphin Stables (1997-)
Trainer André Fabre
Saeed bin Suroor (1997-)
Record 22: 10-4-6
Earnings $3,797,566
Major wins
Prix du Lys (1995)
Prix de Reux (1995)
Grand Prix de Deauville (1995)
Coronation Cup (1996)
Prix Foy (1996)
K. George VI & Q. Elizabeth Stakes (1997, 1998)
Irish Champion Stakes (1998)
Awards
European Top Older Horse (1998)
Last updated on May 9, 2012

Swain (foaled February 12, 1992) is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He is one of only two horses to win two editions of Britain's premier weight-for-age race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Background

Swain was a bay horse with a white star and snip and white socks on his hind legs bred in Ireland by his owner Sheikh Mohammed. He was one of the best horses sired by Nashwan, the 1989 Epsom Derby winner.[2] Swain's dam, Love Smitten was a successful Canadian-bred racemare whose wins included the Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap. The colt was originally sent into training in France with André Fabre.

Racing career

Swain began his racing career in France in 1995 when he won his first five races including the Group Three Prix du Lys, the Listed Prix Reux and the Grand Prix de Deauville. On his final race of the season he started 11/5 second favourite as part of Sheikh Mohammed's entry for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He finished third of the sixteen runners, beaten three-quarters of a length and two lengths behind Lammtarra and Freedom Cry.

At four, he was finished third in the Prix Ganay before being sent to England where he recorded his first success at Group One level when beating Singspiel by a neck in the Coronation Cup. He then finished second to Helissio in the 1996 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and defeated Pentire in the Prix Foy. He finished fourth in his second attempt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before being shipped to North America for the 1996 Breeders' Cup Turf at Woodbine Racetrack: Swain finished third behind Pilsudski and Singspiel. At the end of the 1996 season, Swain was transferred to his owners Godolphin organisation and entered the stable of Saeed Bin Suroor.

At age five in 1997, Swain defeated both Pilsudski and Helissio to win the 1997 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He returned in 1998 to repeat as the winner, making him (at age six) the oldest horse to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the first back-to-back winner since Dahlia in 1973–74. He also won the 1998 Irish Champion Stakes, but finished second in that year's Coronation Cup and second to Silver Charm in the Dubai World Cup. Sent to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky for the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic, Swain wound up his racing career with a third-place finish to Awesome Again and Silver Charm.

After earning $3,797,566 in racing, Swain was retired to stud duty.

Progeny

Swain retired to stand stud at Shadwell's Kentucky farm in 1999 before being relocated to Ascot Stud, Ontario in 2013. Swain was not a success as a stallion: during his time at stud in the United States his stud fee fell from $35,000 to $4,000. He sired 13 stakes winners including:

Swain was pensioned from stud duty in October 2011 and was returned to Shadwell in Kentucky to live out the rest of his life.[3] Swain's last standing fee was CA$3,500.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Swain (IRE), dark bay stallion, 1992[1]
Sire
Nashwan (USA)
1986
Blushing Groom (FR)
1974
Red God Nasrullah
Spring Run
Runaway Bride Wild Risk
Aimée
Height of Fashion (GB)
1979
Bustino Busted
Ship Yard
Highclere Queen's Hussar
Highlight
Dam
Love Smitten (CAN)
1981
Key to the Mint (USA)
1969
Graustark Ribot
Flower Bowl
Key Bridge Princequillo
Blue Banner
Square Angel (CAN)
1970
Quadrangle Cohoes
Tap Day
Nangela Nearctic
Angela's Niece

References

  1. 1 2 "Swain pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  2. "Nashwan Stud Record". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  3. Swain Pensioned Retrieved 2012-09-05
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