Crow (horse)

Crow (23 February 1973–10 February 1989)[2] was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was one of the best three-year-olds in Europe in 1976 when he won the classic St Leger Stakes and finished second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He went on to win the Coronation Cup as a five-year-old in 1978. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in the United States and Australia with limited success.

Crow
Sire	Exbury
Grandsire	Le Haar
Dam	Carmosina
Damsire	Right of Way
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1973
Country	France
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Daniel Wildenstein
Owner	Daniel Wildenstein
Trainer	Angel Penna Peter Walwyn
Record	17: 5-4-1
Major wins
Prix Eugene Adam (1976) St Leger Stakes (1976) Ormonde Stakes (1978) Coronation Cup (1978)
Awards
Timeform rating 134[1]

Background

Crow was a chestnut horse with a white blaze standing 16 hands[3] high bred by his owner Daniel Wildenstein. He was the best horse sired by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Exbury, to whom he bore a close physical resemblance. His dam, Carmosina was an Argentinian mare bought by Wildenstein for $10,000. The colt was sent into training in France with Angel Penna. Crow usually raced in a sheepskin noseband.

Racing career

1976: three-year-old season

Crow did not race as a two-year-old but began his racing career in the spring of 1976. He won the Prix Northeast, finished second to Hunza Dancer in the Grand Prix de Compiegne and then won the Prix Eugene Adam over 2000 metres at Saint-Cloud Racecourse.

In August, Crow was sent to England, where he finished second to Wollow in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup.[4] In September he returned to Britain for the 200th running of the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. Ridden by Yves Saint-Martin he started the 6/1 co-favourite alongside Oats and General Ironside. Crow took the lead early in the straight and won the classic by two lengths from Secret Man and Scallywag. In October, Crow was one of twenty horses to contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2,400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse. Crow took a clear lead in the straight but was overtaken 100 metres from the finish and finished second to Ivanjica. The beaten horses included Pawneese, Bruni and Youth. On his final appearance of the season he failed to reproduce his best form as he finished unplaced behind Vitiges in the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse.

1977–1978: later career

Crow did not record any major successes in 1977. He did, however, finish a close fifth behind Alleged in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and ran third to Johnny D. in the Turf Classic. At five Crow was trained in England by Peter Walwyn. He finished second to Rex Magna in the Prix d'Hédouville and won the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. In June he appeared at Epsom Downs Racecourse for the Coronation Cup. He started at odds of 9/4[5] and won from the New Zealand-bred champion Balmerino.

Assessment

Crow was awarded a rating of 134 by Timeform in 1976, making him the second best three-year-old colt in Europe, one pound behind Youth.[1] A rating of 130 is considered the mark of an above average Group One winner. In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Crow an "average" St Leger winner.[6]

Stud career

Crow was retired to stud in 1979. He stood as a breeding stallion in Kentucky before being exported to Australia in 1986.[3] He sired many winners, but few were of any consequence. Crow died in Australia on 10 February 1989.[2]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Crow (FR), chestnut horse, 1973[7]

Sire Exbury (FR) 1959	Le Haar 1954	Vieux Manoir	Brantome
			Vieille Maison
		Mince Pie	Tleferique
			Cannelle
	Greensward 1953	Mossborough	Nearco
			All Moonshine
		Stargrass	Noble Star
			Grass Widow
Dam Carmosina (ARG) 1963	Right of Way 1957	Honeyway	Fairway
			Honey Buzzard
		Magnificent	Migoli
			Isle of Capri
	Sixtina 1956	Aristophanes	Hyperion
			Commotion
		La Dogana	Advocate
			Veneta (Family 3-b)[8]

References

1. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
2. Staff. "Crow (FR)". Australian Stud book. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
3. Bill Whittaker (30 December 1986). "Crow to boost our staying powers". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
4. "Crow can swoop in". Evening Times. 10 September 1976. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
5. Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
6. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
7. "Crow pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
8. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Cypher - Family 3-b". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-05-19.