(70K for large image but worth the wait)
(70K for large image but worth the wait)
Chatelaine's claim to fame is Arab racing. During 1992 - 1994 she was one of the few British bred, British owned and amateur trained horses to consistently give the Sheikhs "superstars" a run for their money.
For racing purposes she was "owned" by a Syndicate of Lesley Dunn, Jeanne Watts, Mary Stubbs, and Jane Morgan, who shared the expenses, thrills and prize-money of racing. This way we did not have to worry about the high costs of racing and had an enthusiastic support group at the meetings.
Chatelaine started racing in 1992, quickly
going through the 4 Grades to become Grade 1A. That year, she was
named leading Arab racehorse and Leading race mare. According to
the ECAHO yearbook on European Arab Horse racing for 1992,
Chatelaine was also the most successful Arab racehorse in Europe.
Altogether Chatelaine has run in 25 races, winning 8 times, with 6 seconds, 3 thirds , 5 fourths , 2 fifths and 1 sixth, on an uncharacteristic off day. The wins include the Long Distance Championship at Goodwood and the British bred mares Championship at Uttoxeter, and are over distances from 1 mile to 2 1/2 miles, but the longer the race the better as far as Chatelaine is concerned. (If only they still had a three miler..)
Professional photo © J. M. Ratcliff
In 1993 she was 4th in the Al Nahyan International race, said to be the richest prize in Arab racing world-wide at that time. She was only beaten by 3 French bred stallions when carrying 5lb overweight and on the wrong type of ground!. In 1994 she was also second in a very competitive race over 1 1/2 miles at Leicester on a Thoroughbred racecard.
She certainly ran her best races if there has been plenty of rain to give soft or good to soft ground, and has never seemed short of stamina. Chatelaine has won 6,260 pounds sterling in win and place prize money, and has retired to stud 100% sound. In 1996 she produced a super filly by the French bred Champion sprinter Pavot al Maurey (Manganate x Pella de la Coste).
Chatelaine's pedigree is cosmopolitan. Although bred in Britain at Mrs Ratcliff's Claverdon Stud, her breeder is named as a Mr Oppenheim from Texas. Chatelaine is by the Russian bred racing stallion Klarnet ( 3 times leading sire of racehorses in Britain). Klarnet is by Aswan out of Karta, so is of Egyptian/Polish bloodlines.
Chatelaine's dam Chazana is Dutch bred from Melissa Arabians. Chazana is by Dynamit ( of Egyptian/Marbach bloodlines) out of Judina ( of Spanish bloodlines). So Chatelaine is roughly 50% Egyptian, 25% Spanish, 25% Polish, with 3 crosses to Nazeer. We tend to say that she has "Performance" bloodlines.
Chatelaine was originally being prepared as an Endurance horse. In 1991, she took part in several pleasure rides and 10 Competitive Trail rides, gaining 9 grade 1's and 1 grade 2 award, from which she was named the Endurance Horse and Pony Society's Novice Champion and Champion 5 to 7 year old.
In the spring of 94 Chatelaine took part in 3, 40 mile rides, always finishing with a pulse rate of 40 or under, although her starting pulse was higher until we could convince her that she is not "going racing"!!
Chatelaine was purchased as a 2 year old from Mrs Ratcliff's stud. We hoped that she would make a safe hack, as she had a very laid-back attitude, and that we could have some fun taking her to long distance rides, and possibly racing. We also wanted a young mare with suitable breeding to put to our stallion Bonanza. Luckily Chatelaine was able to produced a colt for us, Chatanz, to replace his father.
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The beauty of Chatelaine is that she is far more than just a successful racehorse. She is the ideal riding club hack. 100 % in traffic, the ideal escort for a young horse, or for giving a confidence boost to a novice or nervous rider. She has also been placed in show-jumping , dressage, handy-horse , and ridden showing at a local level. She's one in a million!!
Last Revised October 28, 1999