Series stars to stud: Telescope

Telescope romps his way to success at Royal Ascot in 2014. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

A horse that promised so much, but could only deliver in parts.

Dubbed by some at the end of his career as ‘overrated’, we take a look back at the career of Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope, profiling his racing credentials and look forward to what beckons in the future.

From an early age, the son of supersire Galileo promised to be a serious Classic contender for connections.

Owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing – including one sporting legend of a part-owner in Sir Alex Ferguson – hopes were high that their star could be the latest Stoute-trained Derby champion, following in the hoofprints of the likes of Shergar, Shahrastani and Workforce.

Sadly, injury was to put to bed to any chance of him entering Epsom’s record books.

After finishing second on his racecourse debut in September 2012 at Ascot, Richard Hughes rode the colt to a cosy victory at Newmarket to record his first victory.

Although unflashy, his juvenile campaign gave him the education to eventually become a QIPCO British Champions Series star.

In pre-season of 2013, niggling injuries prevented Telescope from ever getting the chance to demonstrate his potential ahead of the Classics. It also ruled him out of the Investec Derby for which he had been a one-time antepost favourite for.

It was not until mid-July that we saw him on a racetrack in his Classic campaign.

Appearing at Leicester, under jockey Ryan Moore for the first time, the three-year-old romped his way to triumph by a 24-length margin.

A spirited effort in Group company for the first time saw him finish a narrow runner-up in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park, but we were to really see glimmers of his potential at York in the Great Voltigeur Stakes.

In the Group 2 contest, Telescope produced an encouraging effort on the Knavesmire to defeat Aidan O’Brien’s Foundry by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Although not a British Classic, a promising end to his three-year-old season set him up to redeem his woes of 2013 in 2014.

The New Year started off slowly.

Although fit and healthy, Telescope bumped into the eventual QIPCO Champion Stakes hero Noble Mission.

Second to the Lady Cecil-trained champion in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown Park and the Huxley Stakes at Chester, the star was about to have his very own crowning moment.

At Royal Ascot, the grandest stage of all – in front of Her Majesty The Queen – Telescope produced a stunning performance to cruise to Hardwicke Stakes triumph. Always in control, he defeated stable mate Hillstar by seven lengths to record, what would turn out to be, his greatest victory.

A swift return to Ascot a month later saw only an incredible performance by Taghrooda enough to defeat him in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

This effort was followed by a third-place finish in a strong renewal of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, with two fellow Series heroes in Australia and The Grey Gatsby proving too strong for him in the Group 1 contest.

His four-year-old campaign ended with a fourth-placed effort in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

A final roll of the dice to win a Group 1 contest would come in 2015. But it was in vain.

A seasonal reappearance defeat by Second Step in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket was followed by a last success of his career at Newbury in the Listed Aston Stakes on Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes day.

The six-length triumph encouraged connections that he was back to his very best ahead of bidding to retain his Hardwicke Stakes title, but an injury mid-race would, subsequently, end his racing career.

Sadly, as injury had prevented him running for British Classic stardom, it would also prematurely finish the hopes of Telescope’s connections of registering a Group 1 win.

He now retires to become a stallion at Shade Oak Stud. Will he be a stallion to watch?