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30 Nov 2016

British Champions Series stars to stud: The Gurkha

Gurkha

The Gurkha had a short but successful career that included victory in the Sussex Stakes. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Career details
Unraced at two, The Gurkha’s career spanned a total of just 112 days as a three-year-old before he required surgery for a displaced colon that led to him being retired. He crammed plenty in before suffering his unfortunate setback – finishing 1221 in four Group One races and accumulating almost £1 million in prize money. Such heights were not immediately obvious when the Galileo colt could finish only third on his debut in a mile maiden in the mud at Leopardstown on April 6. However, just 11 days later he showed the benefit of that experience when winning a similar contest by nine lengths at Navan and the following month he was fast-tracked to the Poule D’Essai Des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at Deauville, for which he started 4-1. It was not the strongest renewal but The Gurkha trounced his 13 rivals by five lengths and upwards to announce himself as one of the leading colts of his generation. Afterwards there was debate about whether his next assignment would be the Investec Derby over an extra half mile at Epsom, or stick to a mile in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He ran in the latter race and started 4-5 favourite but, having been held up off the pace, could not get to grips with the enterprisingly ridden Galileo Gold, who had won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Many observers felt that The Gurkha had been an unlucky loser and a consequence he started 4-6 favourite for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown 18 days later. However, he was outstayed by Hawkbill on the softish surface and went down by half a length. Unperturbed, punters sent him off the 11-8 favourite for the Qatar Sussex Stakes, back over a mile at Goodwood later in the month, and he made amends – overhauling old rival Galileo Gold late on and repelling the late challenge of Ribchester in one of the most exciting races of the season. Little more than a fortnight later, The Gurkha suffered the setback that would lead to the premature end of his career. His retirement was announced in late September.

Career highlight
His French 2000 Guineas win was spectacular but his highlight had to be that thrilling neck defeat of Galileo Gold in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, with Ribchester another short head away in third. Ryan Moore kept Galileo Gold firmly in his sights and The Gurkha pounced on him deep inside the final furlong. They say revenge is a dish best served cold but only 43 days had slipped by since The Gurkha had suffered his length and a quarter defeat at the hands of Galileo Gold in the St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot.

 

What they said about him
David O’Loughlin, of Coolmore Stud, on his stallion potential: “He’s a very good-looking and good-moving horse, bred on a similar cross to Frankel, out of a Group-winning two-year-old from the family of an excellent sire in Green Dancer and he’s Europe’s Champion three-year-old miler elect. What more could you want?”
Aidan O’Brien said after his Sussex Stakes win: “We always thought he was a very fast horse, he has an awful lot of speed. He was always a fast Galileo. But we took a chance at Sandown over a stiff mile and a quarter in soft ground and we were just worried that it took a lot out of him but from day one he has always been very quick. He is a good traveller who handles fast ground very well and quickens very well. His ideal trip is a mile on fast ground. He is a very low fast-moving horse. I was worried about him as he has had such a big career crammed into a very short time. He has danced every dance all the way along.”

Where he will stand
At Coolmore Stud in Fethard, County Tipperary in Ireland. This is the headquarters of the world’s largest and most successful breeding operation, run by the Magnier family – who have been producing champions of the turf since the 1850s. The Gurkha will rub shoulders with Galileo, the leading sire in the world, not to mention three other Derby winners in Australia, Camelot and Ruler Of The World, plus a string of other star names. His stallion fee for 2017 is €25,000.

What should we expect from his offspring?
The Gurkha looked more about speed than stamina during his short career, but it would be wrong to draw firm conclusions. After all, he was beaten only half a length in a soft-ground running of the Coral-Eclipse just 18 days after a tough battle on tacky going at Royal Ascot. He also had a relaxed style of racing and if he can pass that on to his progeny, there is no reason to think he will not help produce good middle-distance performers granted the right unions. He might be the type to get good winners over a range of distances. He coped with soft ground but remember that O’Brien was adamant that fast going was what he wanted.