Habitat-honouringalegendary racehorseandstallion

The Curragh and IEBF are delighted to honour Habitat with the naming of the 7th race this evening

Purchased at the sales for $105,000, the son of Sir Gaylord was ruled out as a Juvenile, due to a few niggling injuries he picked up. Some may have given up on a horse with such issues but Habitat quickly began to repay Charles Engelhard’s perseverance at the third time of asking when he was an eased down five-length winner at Haydock in a minor contest.

His was immediately stepped up in Grade and headed to Newbury for the Lockinge Stakes. The field was awash with talented animals, including the 2000 Guineasplaced Colts, Jimmy Reppin and Tower Walk. There was sustained market support and he halved in price, eventually going off 10-1. Habitat led inside the final furlong and eventually prevailed by half a length from Jimmy Reppin. The rest of the field was nowhere to be seen and you couldn’t help but be impressed by that effort.

It proved to be no flash in the pan and his ability was confirmed two weeks later when he was beaten just half a length by the dual English and Irish Guineas hero Right Track, in a gruelling St James’s Palace Stakes. He was receiving no weight allowance as he had in the Lockinge, so this effort could be marked up even further. He was given two months off the track to get some well-earned rest but returned in the Autumn to try his hand in France. He easily defeated his rivals on better ground in the Prix Quincey at Deauville and the following week the conqueror retuned to more familiar shores to attempt to win the Wills Mile at Goodwood. He faced old adversary Jimmy Reppin but again he dispatched him in even more emphatic style, also in behind him was the brilliant filly Lucyrowe. None of the three were ever beaten again on the racecourse.

Despite his win, Habitat looked to be unsettled by the quicker surface and didn’t go to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes due to the firmness of the ground. Instead, he returned to France for a final racecourse appearance in the Prix Du Moulin on ‘Arc day. He scored by a brilliant two-lengths to round off what had been a brilliant three-year-old career. He retired to stud at Grangewilliam Stud in Ireland, where he was an excellent stallion, his time at stud came to an end in 1986, rounding off what had been quite thquite the racing and breeder career.

Habitat was an immediate success as a stallion, siring 403 winners and 90 stakes winners from 725 named foals, most proving effective over a mile or shorter.

Notable progeny

Bassenthwaite (GB), Bitty Girl (GB), Brocade (GB), Distant Relative (IRE), Double Form (IRE), Flying Water (FR), Habat (IRE), Habibti (IRE), Habitony (IRE), Hittite Glory (GB), Hot Spark (IRE), Marling (IRE), Petipa (FR), Rose Bowl (USA), Sigy (FR), Steel Heart (IRE), Steinlen (GB)

Notable progeny of daughters

Arranvanna (GB), Barathea (IRE), Blue Duster (USA), Caerwent (IRE), Charming Duke (FR), Creator (GB), Dance Design (IRE), Gossamer (GB), Grand Lodge (USA), Grape Tree Road (GB), Grease (IRE), King of Kings (IRE), Kutub (IRE), Las Meninas (IRE), Marling (IRE), Never So Bold (IRE), One So Wonderful (GB), Pigeon Voyageur (IRE), Princesse Lida (USA), Reference Point (GB), Shaamit (IRE), Sil Sila (IRE), Silvestro (GB), Zieten (USA)