Notnowcato

Notnowcato
Sire Inchinor
Grandsire Ahonoora
Dam Rambling Rose
Damsire Cadeaux Genereux
Sex Stallion
Foaled 25 March 2002
Country Great Britain
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Southcourt Stud
Owner Anthony and David de Rothschild
Trainer Michael Stoute
Record 20: 7-3-4
Earnings £971,688
Major wins
Earl of Sefton Stakes (2006)
Brigadier Gerard Stakes (2006)
International Stakes (2006)
Tattersalls Gold Cup (2007)
Eclipse Stakes (2007)
Last updated on October 12, 2006

Notnowcato is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire, bred and trained in the United Kingdom. He won several important races in a career which lasted from 2004 to 2007, but is best known for his victory in the 2007 Eclipse Stakes.

Background

The Byerly Turk: Notnowcato's ancestor

Notnowcato, a 16.1 hand[1] chestnut colt with a narrow white stripe, was bred by the Rothschild family at their own Southcourt Stud near Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England.

As a son of the Hungerford Stakes winner Inchinor,[2] he is a representative of the Byerley Turk sire line,[3] unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian.[4] Aside from Notnowcato, Inchinor, who died in 2003, sired over five hundred winners including the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Summoner, the Prix de Diane winner Latice and the sprinter Cape of Good Hope.[5]

Notnowcato is the first recorded foal of his dam, Rambling Rose, who won the Listed Galtres Stakes at York in 1998.[6]

His unusual name is a reference to the Pink Panther film series.[7]

He was sent into training with Sir Michael Stoute at Newmarket.

Racing career

2004-2005:early career

Notnowcato began his career as a two-year-old in 2004 with placed efforts at Warwick and Salisbury.[8] The following year he proved himself to be a useful and consistent performer, winning two handicaps at Newmarket[9][10] from six starts. He was obviously some way below top class (his official rating was 101),[11] but his steady improvement suggested that he could develop into a Group race performer.[12]

2006:four-year-old season

As a four-year-old, Notnowcato continued his "rapid progress", signalling his arrival at a higher level by winning the Earl of Sefton Stakes on his debut in impressive style.[13] A month later he followed up with a victory over a stronger field, including Group race winners Hattan (Chester Vase) and Bandari (Princess of Wales's Stakes), in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park.[14] He finished only fifth in a highly anticipated[15] renewal of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, but, in being beaten less than two lengths behind proven Group One winners Ouija Board, Electrocutionist, Manduro and David Junior he proved that he was a capable of competing at the highest level. This impression was re-inforced when Notnowcato finished second to David Junior in the Eclipse Stakes, with Ouija Board, who had trouble finding a clear run, back in fifth.[16]

At York for the International Stakes he was partnered for the first time by Ryan Moore and recorded his best win up to that point. Taking the lead two furlongs out he showed his ability to "dig deep"[17] by staying on strongly to claim a short-head win over Maraahel, with the odds-on favourite Dylan Thomas in fourth.[18]

Having had a hard race, Notnowcato was given a break to "freshen him up" for an autumn campaign.[19] These plans came to nothing however, as he ran an "uncharacteristically flat"[20] race when finishing last of eight behind Pride in the Champion Stakes [21] and did not return until 2007.

2007:five-year-old season

He began his five-year-old season, with a fourth place behind the Breeders' Cup Turf winner Red Rocks in the Gordon Richards Stakes, before traveling outside England for the first and only time to challenge for the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. Under a strong ride from Johnny Murtagh (who was warned by the stewards for excessive use of the whip) he took up the lead in the straight and stayed on under pressure to hold off Dylan Thomas by a head, with Youmzain four lengths back in third.[22] After the race, Dylan Thomas's trainer, Aidan O'Brien offered "no excuses".[23] At Royal Ascot he was part of a small, but exceptionally strong field for the Prince of Wales's Stakes. He finished third behind the 2007 World Champion Manduro and Dylan Thomas, with Red Rocks fourth and the 2006 Derby winner Sir Percy last of the six runners.[24]

The 2007 Eclipse Stakes was expected to be a contest between the 2007 Derby winner Authorized and the Ballydoyle-trained four-year-old George Washington, who had been rated the equal best horse in Europe in 2006. Ryan Moore, re-united for the race with Notnowcato, had noticed that the pace of the turf course was uneven, and decided to take advantage of this fact.[25] As the horses entered the straight, Moore moved Notnowcato sharply to the left to race on the stands side, completely isolated from the other seven runners. While Authorized held off the challenge of George Washington on the far side, Notnowcato kept on strongly along the stands rail to score an upset length and a half victory.[26] Moore was effusive in his praise for the colt, saying "he's got a lot of class and a great heart" and offering his opinion that "our lad proved he is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse in this country".[27] Others, however, considered him a lucky winner, with Chris McGrath in the Independent claiming that Authorized was a "victim of tactics"[28] who had been "mugged in a messy race".[29]

On his next start, Notnowcato finished third to Authorized and Dylan Thomas in his attempt to win a second International Stakes.[30] For the second year in a row his poorest performance came in his seasonal finale in the Champion Stakes, this time finishing a remote sixth to the French colt Literato.[31]

Earlier speculation concerning a challenge for the Breeders' Cup Classic[32] came to nothing, and he was retired to stud.

Assessment

Notnowcato received a peak Timeform rating of 131+,[33] although his official end of year Timeform rating in 2007 was 128.[34]

In the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings he was rated at 121 in 2006, making him the twentieth best racehorse in the world, and in 2007 he was rated at 123, placing him thirteenth.[35] In the latter year he was rated six pounds below Authorized and Dylan Thomas, despite having beaten both.

Stud career

Notnowcato retired to stand as a stallion at the Stanley House Stud at Newmarket, with an initial stud fee of £8,000.[36] His first crop of foals reached the racecourse in 2011.[33] In June 2012, Notnowcato's son, Fast Or Free, won the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. The most successful of his offspring have included Custom Cut (winner of six Group races including the Sandown Mile) and Long Dog (Royal Bond Novice Hurdle).[37]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Notnowcato (GB), chestnut stallion, 2002
Sire
Inchinor (GB)
1990		 Ahonoora
1975		 Lorenzaccio Klairon
Phoenissa
Helen Nichols Martial
Quaker Girl
Inchmurrin
1985　		 Lomond Northern Dancer
My Charmer
On Show Welsh Pageant
African Dancer
Dam
Rambling Rose (GB)
1995		 Cadeaux Genereux
1985　		 Young Generation Balidar
Brig O'Doon
Smarten Up Sharpen Up
Languissola
Blush Rambler
1988		 Blushing Groom Red God
Runaway Bride
Nikitina Nijinsky
Vela (Family: 2)

References

  1. ↑ "Stallion :: Notnowcato". Lts-uk.com. 2010-07-15. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  2. ↑ "Notnowcato pedigree". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  3. ↑ "Byerley Turk Line". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  4. ↑ "95% of thoroughbreds linked to one superstud". New Scientist. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  5. ↑ "Inchinor | Stud Record | Bloodstock Stallion Book | Racing Post". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  6. ↑ "Rambling Rose race record". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  7. ↑ "The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)". IMDb.
  8. ↑ "Portway Novices Stakes". Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  9. ↑ "Curragh Handicap". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  10. ↑ "William Brindle Handicap". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  11. ↑ "Notnowcato race record". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  12. ↑ "Value lies with Asset to collect Guineas". The Independent. 2006-04-14. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  13. ↑ "Spectre of Stoute overshadows Bond ambition". The Independent. 2006-04-20. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  14. ↑ "Brigadier Gerard Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  15. ↑ "Magnificent seven set for Royal showdown". Rte.ie. 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  16. ↑ "Eclipse Stakes (2006)". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  17. ↑ Schweitzer, Mary. "Notnowcato Surprises Foes in Juddmonte International". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  18. ↑ "Moore grabs first Group One". Daily Telegraph. 2006-08-23. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  19. ↑ "Moore joins élite with Notnowcato". The Independent. 2006-08-23. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  20. ↑ Chris McGrath (2007-10-20). "New Approach's ruthless streak". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  21. ↑ "Champion Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  22. ↑ "Tattersalls Gold Cup". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  23. ↑ "Notnowcato holds off Dylan Thomas in Tattersalls Gold Cup". Thoroughbred Times. 2007-05-27. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  24. ↑ "Prince of Wales's Stakes (2007)". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  25. ↑ "Notnowcato's Eclipse as Moore plan pays off". The Guardian. 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  26. ↑ "Eclipse Stakes (2007)". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  27. ↑ Deane, Thomas. "Moore hails Eclipse hero Notnowcato". Sport.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  28. ↑ "Moore's vigilance leaves Authorized a victim to tactics". The Independent. 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  29. ↑ Chris McGrath (2009-07-04). "Chris McGrath: Winkle value to eclipse The Stars". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  30. ↑ "International Stakes (2007)". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  31. ↑ "Champion Stakes (2007)". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  32. ↑ Haskin, Steve. "Steve Haskin's BC Countdown: Law of the Land". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  33. 1 2 "Stanley House Stud Homepage". Stanley House Stud. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  34. ↑ Armytage, Marcus (2011-07-01). "Coral-Eclipse: The Top 10 winners of the past 40 years". Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  35. ↑ "The 2007 World Thouroughbred Racehorse Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  36. ↑ "Dylan Thomas tops the price list for sires off to stud". The Independent. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  37. ↑ "Notnowcato - Stud Record". Racing Post.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/27/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.