Soviet Song

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Soviet Song


caption = Soviet Song in 2004
sire = Marju
grandsire = Last Tycoon
dam = Kalinka
damsire = Soviet Star
sex = Mare
foaled = 2000
country = Ireland flagicon|Ireland
colour = Bay
breeder = Elite Racing Club
owner = Elite Racing Club
trainer = James Fanshawe
record = 24:9-6-2
earnings = £1,168,370
race = Fillies' Mile (2002)
Ridgewood Pearl Stakes (2004)
Falmouth Stakes (2004)
Sussex Stakes (2004)
Matron Stakes (2004)
Falmouth Stakes (2005)
Windsor Forest Stakes (2006)
awards=Racehorse Owners Association/Racing Post Award for Outstanding Older Horse (2004)
BHB Champion Older Female Flat Horse (2004)
Cartier Award for Top Older Horse (2004)
BHB Champion Older Female Flat Horse (2005)
honours = Highest rated older filly in the World (2004)
Joint highest rated older filly in the World (2005)
updated= March 12, 2007

Soviet Song (IRE) is a racehorse bred and owned by Elite Racing Club. She was foaled on February 18, 2000, sired by Marju (IRE) out of Kalinka (IRE) (Soviet Star). She raced in England, Ireland and France during her career and she was the highest rated older filly in the World in 2004 [http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/2004Rankings/2004_Rankings_All.asp The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings 2004] ] and 2005. [http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/2005Rankings/2005_WTRR_PressRelease.asp The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings 2005] ]

Racing career

Soviet Song was trained at Newmarket by James Fanshawe during her 24 race career and she was ridden by only three jockeys, Oscar Urbina, Johnny Murtagh and Jamie Spencer.

Out of her 24 races on the flat over five years, she won 9 races with win prize money of £789,630, also finishing second 6 times and third 2 times, her total prize money during her racing career was £1,168,370.Elite Racing Club Newsletter 42 pp.12-13 - 2006] During her career she often had problems with her feet which resulted in her wearing stick-on horse shoes for some races. She won five Group One races altogether and never once finished out of the prize money.

Her stable name is Sovie and she is a half-sister to Penzance, who won the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2005.

Two Year Old Season

She was ridden by Oscar Urbina for her two year old career in 2002 when she was unbeaten. Her first race as a two year old was on July 17, 2002 at Kempton Park Racecourse in the 6 furlong EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes on good to firm ground. With a poor low draw and after missing the start she was slowly away, she dwelt in the rear but made good progress over 3f out. She led the race over 1f out, pressed inside the final furlong by the favourite Airwave (a future Group One winning horse), she ran on well to win by half a length at 6/1.

She stepped up in class for her next outing, the Listed Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. On August 10, 2002 she won the 7 furlong race by an impressive three lengths on very soft ground. Sent off at 4/1 second favourite, the race was run in a downpour and she was held up in the rear of the field, making headway over 1f out, she pulled right away inside the final furlong and quickened clear of the rest of the horses which included Summitville who would go on to be third in the Epsom Oaks the following season.

She ended the season by winning her first Group One race in the Fillies' Mile at Ascot. The race took place on September 28, 2002 on good to firm ground, and sent off the 11/10 favourite she was held up in touch, switching left and then making steady headway 2 furlongs out. She led inside the final furlong and won the one mile race comfortably, beating the next season's Epsom Oaks winner Casual Look into second place by one and a half lengths. After winning this race Soviet Song was installed as favourite for the 2003 1,000 Guineas classic race by bookmakers.

Three Year Old Season

She did not win as a three year old but ran some excellent races in defeat. On May 4, 2003 she ran - despite an interrupted preparation - in the first fillies-only Classic race of the season, the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Ridden again by Oscar Urbina on good to firm ground, she travelled strongly in the race, being held up, she came through 2 furlongs out before her effort flattened out up the hill and she could not find any extra inside the final furlong. She was beaten into fourth place by the eventual winner Russian Rhythm, with the future Breeders' Cup Mile winner Six Perfections in second place together with the future Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Intercontinental back in third place.

Four Year Old Season

2004 was her best season with four wins, three in Group One races including the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood against the colts. She also won the Falmouth Stakes at the Newmarket July meeting showing a brilliant turn of foot, with 2004's hitherto-unbeaten One Thousand Guineas winner Attraction in second place.

Five Year Old Season

Illness cut short her five year old season but she still won her second Group One Falmouth Stakes.

ix Year Old Season

Her last racing season during 2006 produced a win in the Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes at Ascot.

Awards & Honours

*Racehorse Owners Association/Racing Post Award for Outstanding Older Horse (2004)
*BHB Champion Older Female Flat Horse (2004) [http://www.britishhorseracing.com/inside_horseracing/about/press/view.asp?item=003106 BHB Press Release 17 January 2006] ]
*Cartier Award for Top Older Horse (2004)
*Highest rated older filly in the World (2004)
*BHB Champion Older Female Flat Horse (2005)
*Joint highest rated older filly in the World (2005) along with Alexander Goldrun and Pride.

Retirement

It was announced on October 9, 2006 that Soviet Song had run her last race and she was being retired to Kirtlington Stud in Oxfordshire to spearhead Elite Racing Club's highly successful breeding programme. Although she failed to get in foal in 2007 despite being covered by two different stallions, in 2008 she was scanned in foal to promising young stallion Oasis Dream. Her first foal is expected in 2009.

Race Record

Pedigree

Pedigree
name = Soviet Song
f = Marju　
m = Kalinka
ff = Last Tycoon
fm = Flame of Tara
mf = Soviet Star
mm = Tralthee
fff = Try My Best
ffm = Mill Princess
fmf = Artaius
fmm = Welsh Flame
mff = Nureyev　
mfm = Veruschka
mmf = Tromos
mmm = Swalthee
ffff = Northern Dancer
fffm = Sex Appeal
ffmf = Mill Reef
ffmm = Irish Lass II
fmff = Round Table
fmfm = Stylish Pattern
fmmf = Welsh Pageant
fmmm = Electric Flash
mfff = Northern Dancer
mffm = Special
mfmf = Venture
mfmm = Marie D'Anjou
mmff = Busted
mmfm = Stilvi
mmmf = Sword Dancer
mmmm = Amalthee

Links

* [http://www.eliteracingclub.co.uk Elite Racing Club]
* [http://www.kirtlingtonstud.com/index2.html Kirtlington Stud]

Notes

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/soviet+song Soviet Song's pedigree]
* [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/racing_horse_form.sd?horse_id=566194 Soviet Song's form on Racing Post]