Bosra Sham
Encyclopedia
Bosra Sham is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse, bred in the United States
and trained in the United Kingdom
who won several important
races between 1995 and 1997 and was one of the highest-rated fillies of modern times.
and long white socks on her hind legs. She was bred in Kentucky
by Gerald W Leigh. She was sired by the Mr. Prospector
stallion Woodman out of the Riverman
mare Korveya, making her a full sister to the European Champion Two-Year-Old Hector Protector
, and a half-sister to the Poule d'Essai des Poulains
winner Shanghai.
Her pedigree made her highly-sought after and, at the 1994 Tattersalls Houghton yearling auction, the Syrian businessman Wafic Said paid 530,000 guineas (the highest price in Europe that year) to secure her. The price was no guarantee of success: no top-priced yearling at the Houghton Sale had gone on to win a Classic since Sayajirao in 1947. Her name is derived from the ancient Syrian city of Bosra
or Busra ash-Sham. She was sent into training with Henry Cecil at Newmarket.
in August, she was moved straight up to Group One
class for the Fillies' Mile at Ascot. Despite her lack of experience, she was made odds-on favourite and won in "impressive" style, taking the lead a furlong
from the finish and pulling clear to win by three and a half lengths. Her performance led to her being immediately named 4-1 favourite for the following year's 1,000 Guineas, with the Cheveley Park Stakes
winner Blue Duster being seen as her only serious rival.
In the 1,000 Guineas she remained unbeaten, but was less impressive, having to be ridden hard to win by one and a half lengths. After the race she received a "sweeping reception" which left Henry Cecil, her trainer visibly moved. Cecil then revealed that the injury had left the Bosra Sham's feet bruised and sore and that she had endured a "horrible time" in preparation. Her rider Pat Eddery
explained that her injuries had hampered the filly's ability to gallop, saying that, "you haven't seen her at her best today".
The foot injury recurred soon afterwards and Bosra Sham was unable to race for almost five months. Returning in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
she was matched against the 2,000 Guineas winner Mark of Esteem
in a race which was expected to identify the best horse in Europe over one mile. Bosra Sham was sent into the lead in the straight, but was overtaken by Mark of Esteem and lost her unbeaten record by one and a quarter lengths. Mark of Esteem's defeat of Bosra Sham earned a Timeform
rating of 137, making it one of the best performances ever recorded over one mile, but the quality of the race was somewhat overshadowed as it formed part of Frankie Dettori
's achievement of winning all seven races on the day.
Bosra Sham's final race of the year was the Champion Stakes
at Newmarket
. A significant feature of the race was that her main rival was expected to be the five-year-old Halling
, who represented Godolphin Racing. Not only was Henry Cecil involved in a close race for the trainers' championship with Godolphin's Saeed Bin Suroor
, but he had also been involved in an "acrimonious" dispute with the organisation's owner Sheikh Mohammed
who had removed his horses, including Mark of Esteem
, from Cecil's stable. Halling started favourite and was sent into the lead three furlongs from the finish, but Bosra Sham "surged" past him a furlong out and pulled away to win by two and a half lengths. Her win was enthusiastically received by the crowd and Sue Montgomery, writing in the Independent
, was effusive, calling the performance "magnificent... poetry in motion".
were abandoned and Bosra Sham's 1997 debut came in Brigadier Gerard Stakes
. Starting at 5-1 ON, she won the race, but had to be ridden out to beat Predappio by half a length.
She was sent to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes
(then a Group Two race) in which she produced her best form, taking the lead two furlongs out and pulling away to win by eight lengths from Alhaarth
in "very impressive" style. The performance was described by the Independents Greg Wood as "breathtaking" and led Cecil to name her the best horse he had ever trained.
In her final two races she was beaten as odds-on favourite. In the Eclipse Stakes
at Sandown in July she finished third, beaten just over a length, behind the Breeders' Cup Turf
winner Pilsudski
and the Derby
winner Benny the Dip
. Her rider Kieren Fallon
was criticised after the filly was boxed-in and unable to find a clear run in the closing stages, and he was replaced by Pat Eddery
for her next race on the instructions of her owner. Fallon himself referred to the race as the "Bosra Shambles".
Bosra Sham's last race came a month later when she finished last of the four runners behind Singspiel
in the International Stakes
at York after reportedly losing a shoe
during the race.
Bosra Sham's feet were continuing to cause serious difficulties, and her retirement was announced in September. Henry Cecil's comments on the occasion emphasised the filly's ability and attitude, as well as the frustration which arose from her chronic problems.
at three and was the highest rated horse in Europe and North America over a mile and a quarter in the 1996 International Classification. She was the top-rated older filly or mare in Europe at four, when she was given a peak rating of 133 in June 1997.
She was rated at 132 by Timeform
.
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Bosra Sham the tenth best filly trained in the British Isles in the 20th Century and the best British filly of the 1990s.
The Listed
EBF Bosra Sham Fillies Stakes has been run at Newmarket in her honour since 2003.
Henry Cecil described her as "The best I've ever trained... and that includes the colts"
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse, bred in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and trained in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
who won several important
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
races between 1995 and 1997 and was one of the highest-rated fillies of modern times.
Background
Bosra Sham is a chestnut mare with a prominent white blazeHorse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
and long white socks on her hind legs. She was bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by Gerald W Leigh. She was sired by the Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
stallion Woodman out of the Riverman
Riverman
This article is about the racehorse. For the song by Nick Drake, see Five Leaves Left.Riverman was a French Thoroughbred racehorse. Foaled in Kentucky, he was bred by Harry F. Guggenheim of the prominent American Guggenheim family...
mare Korveya, making her a full sister to the European Champion Two-Year-Old Hector Protector
Hector Protector
Hector Protector is an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed primarily in France. Owned and bred by Stavros Niarchos, he was conditioned for racing by Francois Boutin....
, and a half-sister to the Poule d'Essai des Poulains
Poule d'Essai des Poulains
The Poule d'Essai des Poulains, sometimes referred to as the French 2,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts...
winner Shanghai.
Her pedigree made her highly-sought after and, at the 1994 Tattersalls Houghton yearling auction, the Syrian businessman Wafic Said paid 530,000 guineas (the highest price in Europe that year) to secure her. The price was no guarantee of success: no top-priced yearling at the Houghton Sale had gone on to win a Classic since Sayajirao in 1947. Her name is derived from the ancient Syrian city of Bosra
Bosra
Bosra , also known as Bostra, Busrana, Bozrah, Bozra, Busra Eski Şam, Busra ash-Sham, and Nova Trajana Bostra, is an ancient city administratively belonging to the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria...
or Busra ash-Sham. She was sent into training with Henry Cecil at Newmarket.
1995: two-year-old season
Bosra Sham won both of her races as a two-year-old in 1995. After "comfortably" winning a maiden race at NewburyNewbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
in August, she was moved straight up to Group One
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
class for the Fillies' Mile at Ascot. Despite her lack of experience, she was made odds-on favourite and won in "impressive" style, taking the lead a furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
from the finish and pulling clear to win by three and a half lengths. Her performance led to her being immediately named 4-1 favourite for the following year's 1,000 Guineas, with the Cheveley Park Stakes
Cheveley Park Stakes
The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was...
winner Blue Duster being seen as her only serious rival.
1996: three-year-old season
In the winter and the early spring of 1996 Bosra Sham's form in training was the subject of encouraging reports and she attracted more support for the Guineas. She began her 1996 campaign with a six length win in the Fred Darling Stakes The performance resulted in her being made odds-on favourite for the Guineas, and being blamed for the lack of potential runners as trainers sought alternative races for their fillies. Shortly before the race she suffered a bruised foot which caused her odds to drift from 2-5 to 10-11 in the betting as she missed a planned training gallop. Bosra Sham in fact had very shallow, fragile feet which caused her problems throughout her career.In the 1,000 Guineas she remained unbeaten, but was less impressive, having to be ridden hard to win by one and a half lengths. After the race she received a "sweeping reception" which left Henry Cecil, her trainer visibly moved. Cecil then revealed that the injury had left the Bosra Sham's feet bruised and sore and that she had endured a "horrible time" in preparation. Her rider Pat Eddery
Pat Eddery
Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...
explained that her injuries had hampered the filly's ability to gallop, saying that, "you haven't seen her at her best today".
The foot injury recurred soon afterwards and Bosra Sham was unable to race for almost five months. Returning in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is now scheduled to take place each year in October. As of 2011, it is run on Champions Day as the final race...
she was matched against the 2,000 Guineas winner Mark of Esteem
Mark of Esteem
Mark of Esteem is a retired Irish bred thoroughbred racehorse. In his two years racing he achieved 4 wins and 1 placed finish from 7 Runs amassing total Prize Money of £365,139.00.-1995: Two-Year-Old Season:...
in a race which was expected to identify the best horse in Europe over one mile. Bosra Sham was sent into the lead in the straight, but was overtaken by Mark of Esteem and lost her unbeaten record by one and a quarter lengths. Mark of Esteem's defeat of Bosra Sham earned a Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
rating of 137, making it one of the best performances ever recorded over one mile, but the quality of the race was somewhat overshadowed as it formed part of Frankie Dettori
Frankie Dettori
Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing...
's achievement of winning all seven races on the day.
Bosra Sham's final race of the year was the Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
at Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
. A significant feature of the race was that her main rival was expected to be the five-year-old Halling
Halling (horse)
Halling , is a retired thoroughbred racehorse and acive sire. He is notable for completing the double of the Eclipse Stakes and the International Stakes in both 1995 and 1996.-Background:...
, who represented Godolphin Racing. Not only was Henry Cecil involved in a close race for the trainers' championship with Godolphin's Saeed Bin Suroor
Saeed bin Suroor
Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation....
, but he had also been involved in an "acrimonious" dispute with the organisation's owner Sheikh Mohammed
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
who had removed his horses, including Mark of Esteem
Mark of Esteem
Mark of Esteem is a retired Irish bred thoroughbred racehorse. In his two years racing he achieved 4 wins and 1 placed finish from 7 Runs amassing total Prize Money of £365,139.00.-1995: Two-Year-Old Season:...
, from Cecil's stable. Halling started favourite and was sent into the lead three furlongs from the finish, but Bosra Sham "surged" past him a furlong out and pulled away to win by two and a half lengths. Her win was enthusiastically received by the crowd and Sue Montgomery, writing in the Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, was effusive, calling the performance "magnificent... poetry in motion".
1997: four-year-old season
Early plans to run her in the Dubai World CupDubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
were abandoned and Bosra Sham's 1997 debut came in Brigadier Gerard Stakes
Brigadier Gerard Stakes
The Brigadier Gerard Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May or early June.The event was established in...
. Starting at 5-1 ON, she won the race, but had to be ridden out to beat Predappio by half a length.
She was sent to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes
Prince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
(then a Group Two race) in which she produced her best form, taking the lead two furlongs out and pulling away to win by eight lengths from Alhaarth
Alhaarth
Alhharth is a retired champion Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire, bred in Ireland, but trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai during a racing career that lasted from 1995 to 1997. He was named European Champion Two-Year-Old at the 1995 Cartier Racing Awards. In his championship season he won...
in "very impressive" style. The performance was described by the Independents Greg Wood as "breathtaking" and led Cecil to name her the best horse he had ever trained.
In her final two races she was beaten as odds-on favourite. In the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
at Sandown in July she finished third, beaten just over a length, behind the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
winner Pilsudski
Pilsudski (horse)
Pilsudski is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland, but trained in the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from 1994 to 1997. In a four season career he progressed from winning modest handicap races to become regarded as one of the best racehorses...
and the Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner Benny the Dip
Benny the Dip
Benny the Dip was an American-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 1997 by a short head from the future St Leger winner Silver Patriarch....
. Her rider Kieren Fallon
Kieren Fallon
Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....
was criticised after the filly was boxed-in and unable to find a clear run in the closing stages, and he was replaced by Pat Eddery
Pat Eddery
Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...
for her next race on the instructions of her owner. Fallon himself referred to the race as the "Bosra Shambles".
Bosra Sham's last race came a month later when she finished last of the four runners behind Singspiel
Singspiel (horse)
Singspiel was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. The Bay horse was out of the Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare, Glorious Song...
in the International Stakes
International Stakes
The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at York after reportedly losing a shoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
during the race.
Bosra Sham's feet were continuing to cause serious difficulties, and her retirement was announced in September. Henry Cecil's comments on the occasion emphasised the filly's ability and attitude, as well as the frustration which arose from her chronic problems.
Race record
| Date | Race | Dist (f) | Course | Class | Prize (£K) | Odds | Runners | Placing | Margin | Time | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparsholt Maiden Fillies' Stakes | 6 | Newbury Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps... |
M | 4 | 4/5 | 22 | 1 | 3.5 | 1:13.87 | Michael Kinane Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009.... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| Fillies' Mile Fillies' Mile The Fillies' Mile is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September.... |
8 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
1 | 90 | 10/11 | 6 | 1 | 3.5 | 1:43.13 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| Fred Darling Stakes Fred Darling Stakes The Fred Darling Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.... |
7 | Newbury Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps... |
3 | 20 | 2/9 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 1:33.46 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| 1,000 Guineas | 8 | Newmarket Rowley Newmarket Racecourse The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping... |
1 | 100 | 10/11 | 13 | 1 | 1.5 | 1:37.75 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Queen Elizabeth II Stakes The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is now scheduled to take place each year in October. As of 2011, it is run on Champions Day as the final race... |
8 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
1 | 199 | 100/30 | 7 | 2 | 1.25 | 1:40.95 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| Champion Stakes Champion Stakes The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October... |
10 | Newmarket Rowley Newmarket Racecourse The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping... |
1 | 174 | 9/4 | 6 | 1 | 2.5 | 2:03.71 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| Brigadier Gerard Stakes Brigadier Gerard Stakes The Brigadier Gerard Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May or early June.The event was established in... |
10 | Sndown Park | 3 | 18 | 1/5 | 6 | 1 | 0.5 | 2:07.37 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| Prince of Wales's Stakes Prince of Wales's Stakes The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... |
10 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
2 | 67 | 4/11 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 2:04.16 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| Eclipse Stakes Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a... |
10 | Sandown Park | 1 | 145 | 4/7 | 5 | 3 | 1.25 | 2:12.51 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
| International Stakes International Stakes The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.... |
10.5 | York York Racecourse York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August... |
1 | 202 | 4/5 | 4 | 4 | 4.25 | 2:12.10 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
Assessment
At two, Bosra Sham was rated the third best filly in Europe, with a rating of 114 on the International Classification. Bosra Sham was named the best filly of her generationCartier Racing Award
The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier jewelers. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph newspapers.Eight...
at three and was the highest rated horse in Europe and North America over a mile and a quarter in the 1996 International Classification. She was the top-rated older filly or mare in Europe at four, when she was given a peak rating of 133 in June 1997.
She was rated at 132 by Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
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In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Bosra Sham the tenth best filly trained in the British Isles in the 20th Century and the best British filly of the 1990s.
The Listed
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
EBF Bosra Sham Fillies Stakes has been run at Newmarket in her honour since 2003.
Henry Cecil described her as "The best I've ever trained... and that includes the colts"