“Limato”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

Limato (foaled 8 February 2012) is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a sprinter who has produced his best performances over six and seven furlongs on good or firm ground. He was one of the best British juveniles of 2014 when he was undefeated in four races including the Rose Bowl Stakes and the Two-Year-Old Trophy, although, as a gelding he was ineligible to run in many of the most important races. In the following year he won the Pavilion Stakes and the Park Stakes as well as finishing second in the Commonwealth Cup and the Prix de la Foret. As a four-year-old he recorded his first Group One success in the July Cup before finishing second in the Nunthorpe Stakes and then winning the Prix de la Foret. At five Limato was placed twice in Group One races and returned to winning form when taking the Challenge Stakes in October. In 2018 he struggled for form early in the year but went on to win the Hopeful Stakes, Garrowby Stakes and a second Challenge Stakes.

Background

Limato is a bay gelding with a white blaze and white socks on his hind legs bred in Ireland by Seamus Phelan. His sire Tagula was a sprinter who whose wins included the July Stakes, Prix Morny in 1995 and the Supreme Stakes in 1996.^[2] As a breeding stallion he has produced several other major winners, most notably the leading miler Canford Cliffs.^[3] Limato's dam Come April recorded her only success in a ten-furlong maiden race on the Polytrack at Lingfield Park as a three-year-old in 2007.^[4] Her grand-dam Sumoto was a very successful broodmare who also produced Compton Admiral and Summoner.^[5]

As yearling colt in August 2013 Limato was put up for auction at Doncaster Premier Yearling sale and was bought for £41,000 by the bloodstock agents Peter & Ross Doyle.^[6] He entered the ownership of Paul G Jacobs and was initially sent into training with Richard Hannon, Sr..

Racing career

2014: two-year-old season

Before his racecourse debut Limato was gelded and transferred to the table of the veteran Henry Candy at Kingston Warren in Oxfordshire. Limato made his first appearance on 11 June on the synthetic track at Kempton Park Racecourse when he contested a six furlong maiden race and won "comfortably" by two and a half lengths from the Charlie Appleby-trained favourite Hawkesbury.^[7] Two weeks later the gelding started 4/6 favourite for a race over the same course and distance and won "easily" from five opponents after taking the lead a furlong out.^[8] On 18 July Limato was moved up in class and tried on turf for the first time when he ran in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes on good-to-firm ground at Newbury Racecourse. He was made the 11/8 second favourite behind Adaay, a colt who had won his first two races before running poorly when joint-favourite for the Coventry Stakes. Ridden by James Doyle he tracked the leader Cotai Glory before taking the lead inside the final furlong and winning "readily" by one and a quarter lengths.^[9] Candy commented "I thought James was enormously confident. He said he was so green going down, he'd only had two starts under the lights at Kempton and had a good look around... He's always been a horse I have thought a lot of but he needed the education today and that's what he got."^[10]

After a break of over two months Limato returned in the Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar Racecourse on 4 October and started the 6/5 favourite against twenty-two opponents. Ridden by Graham Lee he was among the leaders from the start, went to the front approaching the final furlong and won "smoothly" by one and a half lengths from Mattmu.^[11] Candy commented "You don't get them like that very often. It was a most amazing performance. I think Graham was absolutely blown away by it. He didn't know what to say when he came back. It was wonderful... I'd say this horse was as good as any I've trained".^[12]

2015: three-year-old season

Limato began his second season in the Group Three Pavilion Stakes on good-to-firm ground at Ascot Racecourse on 29 April and started the 6/4 favourite. Hawkesbury and Adaay were again in opposition whilst the best-fancied of the other nine runners was the John Gosden-trained filly Tendu. Racing down the centre of the track, he took the lead a furlong out and won by one and a half lengths from Tendu, with Adaay another length and a half back in third.^[13] After the race Candy said "He was very rusty and he’s had a real good blow after that. I’ve not been able to get him fit at home as he’s not been doing much. James was quite forceful early on and the penny then seemed to drop".^[14] A month later he was moved up to Group Two class for the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park and started favourite but sustained his first defeat as he was beaten a length into second place by Adaay. At Royal Ascot in June he started the 9/2 second favourite for the inaugural running of the Group One Commonwealth Cup. After being restrained by Doyle towards the rear of the eighteen-runner field in the early stages he made steady progress in the last quarter mile to finish second to Muhaarar.

After a break of almost three months Limato returned to the track in the Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse in September. Ridden by Andrea Atzeni he started 9/2 favourite in a fifteen-runner field, with the best-fancied of his opponents being Home of the Brave (European Free Handicap), Lightning Moon (Bengough Stakes), Safety Check (Zabeel Mile) and Ivawood (Richmond Stakes). After starting slowly and overcoming some trouble in running he took the lead entering the final furlong before drawing away to win "readily" by three and three quarter lengths from Markaz.^[15] Atzeni said "It's amazing, amazing, like driving a Ferrari." whilst Candy commented "That was very exciting... He just goes to sleep in the stalls. Today he stayed asleep and got into every bit of trouble going, but as soon as he sees daylight he's a help to any jockey. I was desperate to run him today because he's just been going up the gallops for four months. Any horse is going to get pretty bored with that".^[16]

Limato ended his second season with a trip to France and a move up in distance when he contested the Prix de la Foret over 1400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 4 October. Ridden by Ryan Moore he came from the rear of the field to make a strong challenge in the last 200 metres but was beaten into second place by Make Believe.

2016: four-year-old season

Despite Candy's predictions Limato was dropped to five furlongs for the first time in his racing career when he started 15/8 fvourite for the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse in August. He finished strongly but was unable to peg back the five-year-old mare Mecca's Angel and was beaten two lengths into second place. On 2 October the gelding made his second attempt to win the Prix de La Foret (run at Chantilly Racecourse) and was made the odds-on favourite. His ten opponents included Jimmy Two Times (Prix de la Porte Maillot), Suedois, Attendu (Prix du Palais-Royal), Trixia (Prix de Lieurey) and Birchwood (Superlative Stakes). After tracking the leaders Limato took the lead 350 metres from the finish and drew away to win "comfortably" by three lengths from the 40/1 outsider Karar.^[19] After the race Candy said "He was cantering and then quickened up in proper Limato style. He looked like he was starting to go a bit rusty in his coat today, but if he's absolutely bouncing we would have to discuss going to the Breeders' Cup."^[20]

On 5 November Limato was sent to the United States to contest the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park and started the 3.4/1 favourite ahead of the 2015 winner Tepin. He finished sixth of the fourteen runners, three and a half lengths behind the winner Tourist. Candy commented "there are no excuses. I just think it's late enough in the year for him... Not many of my horses function in November."^[21]

2017: five-year-old season

In the early spring of 2017 Limato was set to race in Dubai and he meade his seasonal debut in the Al Quoz Sprint over 1200 metres at Meydan Racecourse on 25 March. Ridden by Bentley he started second favourite behind the locally trained Ertiaal but was never in contention and came home tenth of the twelve runners. Despite his poor effort in Dubai, Limato was made the 2/1 favourite in a nineteen-runner field for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on 24 June. Racing on his favoured firm ground, the gelding came from off the pace to deliver a strong late challenge but was hampered in the closing stages and finished third behind The Tin Man and Tasleet.^[22] In the following month Limato attempted to repeat his 2016 success in the July Cup and produced a very good effort in defeat as he finished second to the three-year-old Harry Angel with Caravaggio, The Tin Man and Tasleet unplaced. The ground was softer at Goodwood on 1 August when the gelding started favourite for the Lennox Stakes. He took the lead a furlong out but was overtaken in the closing stages and finished fourth in a "blanket finish" behind Breton Rock, Home of the Brave and Suedois.

After a lengthy break Limato returned for the Group 2 Challenge Stakes over the straight seven furlongs at Newmarket on 13 October and started 6/4 favourite in an eleven-runner field. The best-fancied of his opponents were Massaat (Hungerford Stakes), Dabyah (Fred Darling Stakes), Dutch Connection (2016 Lennox Stakes) and Gifted Master (Pavilion Stakes). Limato raced up the stands-side (the left-hand side from the jockey's viewpoint) as Gifted Master set the pace in the centre of the wide Newmarket straight. Bentley moved the favourite forward to take the lead approaching the final furlong and Limato drew right away in the closing stages to win by three and a half lengths from Massaat, with the veteran Gordon Lord Byron taking third place.^[23]

2018: six-year-old season

Limato struggled for form in the first half of 2017 finishing towards the rear of the field in the Lockinge Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes and the July Cup. On 25 August he was dropped in class for the Listed Hopeful Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket in which he was ridden by Martin Harley. Starting at odds of 4/1 in a seven-runner field he went to the front a furlong out and won "comfortably" by a length from Top Score.^[24] Harry Bentley resumed his partnership with the gelding when Limato started 4/9 favourite for the Listed Garrowby Stakes at York Racecourse in September. After tracking the leaders he took the lead well inside the final furlong and drew away in the closing strides to win by two lengths.^[25]

On 12 October Limato attempted to repeat his 2017 success in the Challenge Stakes and started the 7/4 favourite against seven opponents including D'bai (John of Gaunt Stakes), Mankib (Dubai Duty Free Cup), Dancing Star (Sceptre Stakes), Zonderland (Sovereign Stakes) and Gordon Lord Byron. He raced in mid-division before making a forward move in the last quarter mile. He took the lead a furlong out and won by one and a quarter lengths from Zonderland with D'bai a length away in third place.^[26] In the British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on 20 October Limato was in touch with the leaders for most of the way but faded in the final furlong to come home ninth of the fourteen runners.

Assessment

In the 2016 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings Limato was given a rating of 122, making him the 18th best racehorse in the world and the second-best horse trained in Britain. He was rated equal with the Australian gelding Chautauqua as the world's best sprinter.^[27]

Pedigree

References

1. ^¹{{cite web|url=https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm/=Limato%20(IRE)?page_state=DISPLAY_REPORT&reference_number=9397704®istry=T&horse_name==Limato%20(IRE)&dam_name==Come%20April%20(GB)&foaling_year=2012&include_sire_line=N|title=Limato pedigree |publisher=Equineline |date=2012-05-08 |accessdate=2013-05-05}}
2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home.sd?horse_id=103932#topHorseTabs=horse_race_record&bottomHorseTabs=horse_form|title=Tagula - Record By Race Type|publisher=Racing Post}}
3. ^{{cite web|url=http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/stallionbook/stallion.sd?horse_id=103932&popup=1&tab=stud|title=Tagula - Stud Record|publisher=Racing Post}}
4. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home.sd?horse_id=682448#topHorseTabs=horse_race_record&bottomHorseTabs=horse_form|title=Come April - Record By Race Type|publisher=Racing Post}}
5. ^¹{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family7a.htm|title=Vicissitude - Family 7-a|publisher=Thoroughbred Bloodlines}}
6. ^{{cite web|url=http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/sales/results/individual_home.sd?tab=&st=8&l=&i=1&ob=ln&od=ASC&page=1&fv=131072&df=2013-08-27&dt=2013-08-28&venue_id=44&hn=&s=&a=&sin=&dn=Come%20April&sdn=&vn=&b=&mip=&map=&lm=#individualResultsTabs=catalogue_44|title=Doncaster Premier Yearlings 2013|publisher=Racing Post}}
7. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/kempton-park/2014-06-11/0620/27/2|title=BetBright Mobile Maiden Stakes result|last=|first=|date=11 June 2014|website=|publisher=Timeform|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
8. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/kempton-park/2014-06-25/0750/27/5|title=Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes result|last=|first=|date=25 June 2014|website=|publisher=Timeform|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
9. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/newbury/2014-07-18/0340/34/4|title=Rose Bowl Stakes result|last=|first=|date=18 July 2014|website=|publisher=Timeform|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
10. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/report/629521/limato-wins-newbury-rose-bowl|title=Rose Bowl Stakes report|date=18 July 2014|publisher=Sporting Life}}
11. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/redcar/2014-10-04/0305/42/3|title=totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy result|last=|first=|date=4 October 2014|website=|publisher=Timeform|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
12. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/9503347/candy-hails-brilliant-limato|title=Candy hails brilliant Limato|date=4 October 2014|publisher=Sky Sports}}
13. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/ascot/2015-04-29/0405/1/4|title=Pavilion Stakes result|last=|first=|date=29 April 2015|website=|publisher=Timeform|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
14. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/merriebelle-stable-pavilion-stakes-limato-tastes-sweet-for-henry-candy-after-coming-good-to-extend-10213760.html|title=Limato tastes sweet for Henry|date=29 April 2015|author=Graham Clark|publisher=The Independent}}
15. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/doncaster/2015-09-12/0310/14/3|title=Park Stakes result|last=|first=|date=12 September 2015|website=|publisher=Timeform|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
16. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/report/692903/walk-in-the-park-stakes-for-limato|title=Walk in the Park Stakes for Limato |date=12 September 2015|publisher=Sporting Life}}
17. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/newmarket/2016-07-09/0435/60/5|title=July Cup result|last=|first=|date=9 July 2016|website=|publisher=Timeform|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
18. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/09/limato-henry-candy-july-cup-newmarket-harry-bentley-glorious-goodwood-horse-racing|title=Limato lifts Henry Candy by crushing rivals in Newmarket’s July Cup|author=Chris Cook|date=9 July 2016|publisher=The Guardian}}
19. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/chantilly/2016-10-02/0515/66/6|title=Prix de la Foret result|last=|first=|date=2 October 2016|website=|publisher=Timeform|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
20. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/chantilly-brilliant-limato-smashes-foret-field/2166989/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews|title=Chantilly Brilliant Limato smashes Foret field|author=Stuart Riley|date=2 October 2016|publisher=Racing Post}}
21. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/breeders-cup-tourist-has-perfect-trip-this-time-in-mile/2188460/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews|title=Breeders' Cup Tourist has perfect trip this time in Mile|date=5 November 2016|author=David Carr|publisher=Racing Post}}
22. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/2/ascot/2017-06-24/672882|title=Diamond Jubilee Stakes result|date=24 June 2017|website=Racing Post}}
23. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/38/newmarket/2017-10-13/683301|title=Challenge Stakes result |date=13 October 2017|website=Racing Post}}
24. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/174/newmarket-july/2018-08-25/708171|title=Hopeful Stakes result|date=25 August 2018|website=Racing Post}}
25. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/107/york/2018-09-09/709262|title=Garrowby Stakes result |date=9 September 2018|website=Racing Post}}
26. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/38/newmarket/2018-10-12/710283|title=Challenge Stakes result |date=12 October 2018|website=Racing Post}}
27. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/WTRRankings/2016_LWBRR_xZy.asp |title=The 2016 World Thoroughbred Rankings |publisher=Horseracingintfed.com |date= |accessdate=2016-01-19}}