Marvellous (horse)

Marvellous
Marvellous at Leopardstown on 30 March 2014
Sire	Galileo
Grandsire	Sadler's Wells
Dam	You'resothrilling
Damsire	Storm Cat
Sex	Filly
Foaled	9 January 2011
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	You'resothrilling Syndicate
Owner	Derrick Smith Susan Magnier Michael Tabor
Trainer	Aidan O'Brien
Jockey	Joseph O'Brien Seamie Heffernan Ryan Moore
Record	4: 2–0–0
Earnings	£160,222
Major wins
Irish 1,000 Guineas (2014)

Marvellous (foaled 9 January 2011) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh by three lengths. She is trained by Aidan O'Brien and owned by Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor.

Background

Marvellous is a bay filly bred by the You'resothrilling Syndicate and foaled on 9 January 2011.^[1] She was sired by Galileo, who won the Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001. Galileo is now one of the world's leading stallions and has been champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland five times. His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle and Ruler of the World.^[2] Marvellous's dam is You'resothrilling, a daughter of Storm Cat was a sister of the leading racehorse and stallion Giant's Causeway.^[3] You'resothrilling was trained by Aidan O'Brien and won the Cherry Hinton Stakes in 2007.^[4] Marvellous, who is You'resothrilling's first foal, is owned by Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor, and is trained by Aidan O'Brien.^[5]

Racing career

2013: Two-year-old season

Marvellous made her racecourse debut on 9 October 2013, when she was one of fifteen runners in a one-mile maiden race for fillies at Navan. Jockey Joseph O'Brien held her up near the rear of the field in the early stages of the race. When the field had two furlongs left to run she had moved through the field to sixth place, before challenging the leaders in the final furlong. Marvellous took the lead near the finish and won by half a length from the Dermot Weld trained filly I'm Yours.^[6]

2014: Three-year-old season

Marvellous returned to the racetrack as a three-year-old for the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, where she finished in sixth place, about four lengths behind stablemate Bracelet, who won the race.^[7] Marvellous then faced ten opponents in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh, where she started at the price of 10/1 and was ridden by Ryan Moore. She was in the rear of the field for most of the race and was in last place at the halfway point. However, she closed the gap to the leaders to challenge for the lead inside the final furlong, before pulling clear to win by three lengths from pre-race favourite Lightning Thunder. Vote Often finished over four lengths behind the runner-up in third place.^[8] Marvellous's next race was the Oaks at Epsom Downs, where she was ridden by Joseph O'Brien and started as the 4/1 favourite. She raced near the middle of the 17-runner field in the early stages of the race. Marvellous made some progress, but could never get to the leaders and finished in sixth place, over eight lengths behind winner Taghrooda.^[9]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Marvellous, bay filly, 2011^[1]

Sire Galileo (IRE) b. 1998	Sadler's Wells (USA) b. 1981	Northern Dancer* b. 1961	Nearctic
			Natalma
		Fairy Bridge b. 1975	Bold Reason
			Special
	Urban Sea (USA) ch. 1989	Miswaki ch. 1978	Mr. Prospector
			Hopespringseternal
		Allegretta ch. 1978	Lombard
			Anatevka
Dam You'resothrilling (USA) b. 2001	Storm Cat (USA) b. 1983	Storm Bird b. 1978	Northern Dancer*
			South Ocean
		Terlingua ch. 1976	Secretariat
			Crimson Saint
	Mariah's Storm (USA) b. 1991	Rahy ch. 1985	Blushing Groom
			Glorious Song
		Immense b. 1979	Roberto
			Imsodear (Family 11)[3]

Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut

* Marvellous is inbred 3 x 4 to the stallion Northern Dancer, meaning that Northern Dancer appears once in the third generation and once in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References

1. "Marvellous Pedigree". equineline.com. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
2. "Galileo". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
3. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Sedbury Royal Mare - Family 11". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
4. "You´resothrilling". Racing Post. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
5. "Marvellous". Racing Post. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
6. "Results From The 3.35 Race At Navan". Racing Post. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
7. "Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes result". Racing Post. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
8. "Irish 1,000 Guineas result". Racing Post. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
9. "Oaks result". Racing Post. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-09.