Capricciosa (foaled 2 March 1988) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from June 1990 until April 1992 she won four of her seven races. She was one of the best juvenile fillies in Britain and Ireland in 1990 when she won four races including the Debutante Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes. She missed the whole of the next season and was then sent to race in the United States where she made no impact in two starts. She was retired from racing to become a broodmare in Japan and produced at least eleven winners.

Capricciosa
SireAlzao
GrandsireLyphard
DamClanjingle
DamsireTumble Wind
SexMare
Foaled2 March 1988[1]
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederM Maguire
OwnerRobert Sangster
TrainerVincent O'Brien
Record7: 4-0-0
Earnings£214,091
Major wins
Debutante Stakes (1990)
Moyglare Stud Stakes (1990)
Cheveley Park Stakes (1990)

Background edit

Capricciosa was a bay mare bred in Ireland by M Maguire. She was sired by Alzao, a son of Lyphard who never won above Group Three level, but became a successful breeding stallion,[2] his progeny including Alborada, Second Set and Shahtoush.[3] Capricciosa was the best racehorse produced her dam, the unraced Clanjingle who was descended from the influential broodmare Molly Desmond.[4]

The filly was acquired by the British businessman Robert Sangster and was sent into training with Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle. She was ridden in all of her European races by John Reid.

Racing career edit

1990: two-year-old season edit

On her racecourse debut, Capricciosa started 9/2 second favourite for a maiden race over five furlongs at the Curragh on 30 June 1990. She won by two and a half lengths from the Dermot Weld-trained favourite Inishdalla with four lengths back to the Jim Bolger-trained Noora Park in third.[5] The filly was moved up sharply in class for the Group One Heinz "57" Phoenix Stakes at Phoenix Park Racecourse on 12 August. She started the joint second favourite on 5/1 but finished tenth of the thirteen runners behind the British-trained colt Mac's Imp. Twelve days after her poor run at Phoenix Park, the filly recorded her first important success when she started 11/10 favourite for the Group Three Debutante Stakes over the same course and distance and won by two lengths from Inishdalla.[6]

On 9 September Capricciosa faced Inishdalla yet again in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes over six furlongs at the Curragh. The other fancied runners included the John Oxx-trained Isle of Glass, Capricciosa's stable companion African Dance and the British challengers Zigaura (placed in the Cherry Hinton Stakes and the Princess Margaret Stakes) and Jameelaty (runner-up in the Sweet Solera Stakes). Capricciosa won by three quarters of a length and half a length from Inishdalla and Zigaura.[7]

On her final appearance of the season, Capricciosa was sent to England for the Group One Cheveley Park over six furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 3 October. The French-trained Divine Danse (winner of the Prix d'Arenberg) started favourite ahead of Imperfect Circle (Firth of Clyde Stakes) with Capricciosa next in the betting on 7/1. The other eight runners included Zigaura and the Lowther Stakes winner Only Yours. Reid sent the Irish filly into the lead from the start before accelerating a furlong out. Capricciosa kept on well in the closing stages to hold off the challenge of Imperfect Circle and win by three quarters of a length with two and a half lengths back to Divine Danse in third.[8]

1992: four-year-old season edit

Capricciosa missed the whole of the 1991 season with training problems and injuries. In 1992 she was relocated to race in the United States where she was trained by Gary F. Jones. On her North American debut she finished fifth in an allowance race at Santa Anita Park in February. On her final appearance she contested the Grade III Las Cienegas Handicap over six and a half furlongs at the same track on 4 April and finished sixth behind Heart of Joy.[9]

Breeding record edit

Capricciosa was retired from racing to become a broodmare in Japan. She has produced seventeen foals and eleven winners between 1993 and 2011:

  • Saint Aria, a bay colt, foaled in 1993, sired by Woodman. Won one race.[10]
  • Brand Carey, bay filly, 1994, by Sakura Yutaka O. Won four races.[11]
  • Saint Heart, bay colt, 1995, by Nihon Pillow Winner. Unraced.
  • Nishino Erhab, bay filly, 1996, by Erhaab. Won three races.[12]
  • Nishino Perugia, bay filly, 1997, by Sakura Bakushin O. Second on her only start.
  • Nishino Romanesque, brown colt, 1998, by Paradise Creek. Unraced.
  • Nishino Al Capone, brown colt, 1999, by Sunday Silence. Won one race.[13]
  • Nishinoichibanbosi, bay colt, 2000, by Sakura Lurel. Won two races.[14]
  • Nishino Hokiboshi, bay colt, 2001, by Forty Niner. Won one race.[15]
  • Nishino Julietta, filly, 2003, by Mejiro McQueen. Failed to win in three races.
  • Nishino Blue Moon, bay filly, 2004, by Tanino Gimlet. Won six races including the Grade III Nakayama Himba Stakes.[16]
  • T M De Sky, colt, 2005, by Seiun Sky. Won one race.[17]
  • Speculator, bay colt (later gelded), 2006, by Forty Niner. Failed to win in nine races.
  • Meine Black Tea, brown filly, 2007, by Roses In May. Won twelve races.[18]
  • Meiner Liberte, colt, 2008, by Alkaased. Unplaced on only start.
  • Beyond the World, colt, 2009, by Brian's Time. Won four races.[19]
  • Nonno, bay filly, 2011, by Alkaased. Won four races.[20]

Pedigree edit

Pedigree of Capricciosa (IRE), bay mare, 1988[1]
Sire
Alzao (USA)
1980
Lyphard (USA)
1969 
Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Goofed Court Martial
Barra
Lady Rebecca (GB)
1971 
Sir Ivor Sir Gaylord
Attica
Pocahontas Roman
How
Dam
Clanjingle (GB)
1980
Tumble Wind (USA)
1964
Restless Wind Windy City
Lump Sugar
Easy Stages Endeavour
Saturday Off
Fille Sifflante (GB)
1965
Whistler Panorama
Farthing Damages
Polly Gilles Gilles de Retz
Miss Polly (Family: 14-c)[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Capricciosa pedigree". equineline.com.
  2. ^ "Irish Stallion Alzao Sires 100th Stakes Winner". The Blood-Horse. 3 May 2005. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Alzao Stud Record". Racing Post. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Pretty Polly - Family 14-c". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Jacks Army Maiden result". Racing Post. 30 June 1990.
  6. ^ "Debutante Stakes result". Racing Post. 24 August 1990.
  7. ^ "Moyglare Stud Stakes result". Racing Post. 9 September 1990.
  8. ^ "Cheveley Park Stakes result". Racing Post. 3 October 1990.
  9. ^ "Capricciosa - Statistics". Equibase.
  10. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Saint Aria".
  11. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Brand Carey".
  12. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Nishino Erhaab".
  13. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Nishino Al Capone".
  14. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Nishinoichibanbosi".
  15. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Nishino Hokiboshi".
  16. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Nishino Blue Moon".
  17. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "T M de Sky(JPN)".
  18. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Meine Black Tea".
  19. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Beyond the World".
  20. ^ Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. "Nonno".