Valoris

Valoris (1963 – after 1982) was a French-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After showing promising form without winning a race as a juvenile in 1965 she developed into a top-class performer the following spring when she recorded emphatic victories in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks. She was well beaten in two subsequent starts and was retired from racing at the end of the year. She later had considerable success as a broodmare.

Valoris
Racing silks of Sir Charles Clore
SireTiziano
GrandsireSicambre
DamVali
DamsireSunny Boy
SexMare
Foaled1963[1]
CountryFrance
ColourBay or brown
BreederRobert Forget
OwnerCharles Clore
TrainerVincent O'Brien
Record6: 3-0-1
Major wins
Irish 1000 Guineas (1966)
Epsom Oaks (1966)
Awards
Timeform rating 120 (1966)

Background

Valoris was a "tall, dark, leggy"[2] brown mare, with no white markings[3] bred in France by Robert Forget. As a yearling she was bought by the British businessman Charles Clore and was sent into training with Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle in Ireland.[4] O'Brien regarded the filly highly although he believed that she had a problem with her eyesight, noting her tendency to "duck away" from objects - even familiar ones - on the training gallops.[5]

Her sire, Tiziano, was bred in Britain but raced in Italy where he won the St Leger Italiano in 1960. Her dam Vali won one race as a three-year-old in 1957 before becoming a very successful broodmare who produced several other winners including the Prix du Jockey Club winner Val de Loir and was the female-line ancestor of Petoski. She was a granddaughter of the influential Irish broodmare Carpet Slipper (foaled 1930), whose other descendants have included Big Brown, Godiva, Golan, North Light and St Jovite.[6]

Racing career

1965: two-year-old season

Valoris ran twice as a two-year-old in Ireland and showed considerable promise although she failed to win on either occasion.[4]

1966: three-year-old season

Valoris began her second season in the Irish 1000 Guineas over one mile at the Curragh in May and went off at odds of 9/1, with her stablemate Glad Rags starting favourite. Ridden by J Power, she won easily from Loyalty (Athasi Stakes) and Lady Clodagh, with Glad Rags unplaced.[4]

Lester Piggott took the ride when Valoris started 11/10 favourite against twelve opponents for the 188th running of the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Racecourse. The booking of Piggott was controversial as he had been the stable jockey for the Newmarket trainer Noel Murless and had been expected to ride the stable's contender Varinia.Piggott had not been retained in 1966 but had continued to ride for Murless whilst expressing the desire to go freelance. Before the race O'Brien told the jockey "When you do hit the front, just be sure that you catch a good hold of her because with the crowds and the cheering she might easily start to duck around".[5] When Valoris became agitated in the before the race Piggott dismounted and led the filly the last quarter mile to the start. Having tracked the leaders in the early stages Valoris took the lead three furlongs out and won very comfortably by two and a half lengths from the 1000 Guineas runner-up Berkeley Springs with Varinia three lengths back in third.[2]

The filly was expected to follow up in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh in July but failed to reproduce her best form on the prevailing firm ground and finished unplaced behind Merry Mate. In September she was sent to France for the Prix Vermeille over 2400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse but ran unplaced in a race won by Haltilala.[4]

Breeding record

At the end of her racing career, Valoris was retired to become a broodmare for her owner's stud. After Charles Clore's death in 1979, she was auctioned at Keeneland and was bought for $200,000 by Laszlo Urban.[1] She produced at least nine foals and four winners between 1968 and 1982:

Assessment and honours

The independent Timeform organisation awarded Valoris a rating of 120 in 1966.[8] In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Valoris an "inferior" winner of the Oaks.[11]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Valoris (FR), bay or brown mare, 1963[1]
Sire
Tiziano (FR)
1959		 Sicambre (FR)
1948		 Prince Bio Prince Rose
Biologie
Sif Rialto
Suavita
Trevisana (ITY)
1945		 Niccolo dell'Arca Coronach
Nogara
Tofanella Apelle
Try Try Again
Dam
Vali (FR)
1954		 Sunny Boy (FR)
1944		 Jock Asterus
Naic
Fille de Soleil Solario
Fille de Salut
Her Slipper (GB)
1936		 Tetratema The Tetrarch
Scotch Gift
Carpet Slipper Phalaris
Simons Shoes (Family 5-h)[6]
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References
  1. "Valoris pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Harkaway" (28 May 1966). "Valoris triumphs in the Oaks". news.google.com. The Glasgow Herald.
  3. "Irish horse Valoris wins the richest -ever oaks - worth £35,711 - at Epson today". Alamy.
  4. Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
  5. O'Brien, Jacqueline; Herbert, Ivor (2006). "Vincent O'Brien: The Official Biography". Transworld Publishers Limited – via Google Books.
  6. "Ann of the Forest - Family 5-h". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  7. Timeform staff (1976). Racehorses of 1975. Timeform.
  8. Timeform staff (1978). Racehorses of 1977. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-25-1.
  9. "Stallion Reports - Raise Your Spirits". www.jbis.jp. Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
  10. "Savannah Dancer - results". Equibase.
  11. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
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