Mark of Esteem
Encyclopedia
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.
by three lengths.
with no preparation run but proved a colt of the highest class, coming out best by a short head in a photo finish from Even Top and Bijou d'Inde.
His next start in the St. James's Palace Stakes
was disappointing when he was well beaten by his former Guineas victim Bijou d'Inde. He'd missed his engagement in the Derby
because he'd been running a high temperature, and the way he went here suggests he wasn't right, either, though it's worth bearing in mind he did have a very hard race for one so inexperienced in the Guineas, and this all out effort could well have left a long-term mark. Forced wide to start his challenge once in line for home, he never looking like quickening up sufficiently well to mount a challenge and weakened over a furlong out.
Mark Of Esteem progressed physically through the summer, winning the Group Two Celebration Mile
at Goodwood by three and a half lengths, and crowning his campaign in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
at Ascot. He used impressive acceleration to crush a high-class field there, scoring by over a length from Classic-winning Henry Cecil
filly Bosra Sham
. He was always travelling strongly but had to wait briefly for a gap over 1½f out before a fantastic high kicking burst settled the ace in a matter of strides. He went on in the final ½f to win impressively going away. This was the third win of the day for jockey Frankie Dettori
at a major meeting when he famously went on to win all seven races. Official handicappers hailed it as the best performance of his generation over a mile for a decade. Mark of Esteem's final start was in America but he failed to show the same acceleration from mid-division in the Breeders' Cup Mile
at Woodbine.
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. 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
As a juvenile he finished second on his first start before winning his maiden at GoodwoodGoodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
by three lengths.
1996: Three-Year-Old Season
His first three year old start came in the first Classic of the 1996 season. Mark Of Esteem faced a tough task in the 2,000 Guineas at NewmarketNewmarket 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...
with no preparation run but proved a colt of the highest class, coming out best by a short head in a photo finish from Even Top and Bijou d'Inde.
His next start in the St. James's Palace Stakes
St. James's Palace Stakes
The St. James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
was disappointing when he was well beaten by his former Guineas victim Bijou d'Inde. He'd missed his engagement in 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...
because he'd been running a high temperature, and the way he went here suggests he wasn't right, either, though it's worth bearing in mind he did have a very hard race for one so inexperienced in the Guineas, and this all out effort could well have left a long-term mark. Forced wide to start his challenge once in line for home, he never looking like quickening up sufficiently well to mount a challenge and weakened over a furlong out.
Mark Of Esteem progressed physically through the summer, winning the Group Two Celebration Mile
Celebration Mile
The Celebration Mile is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August....
at Goodwood by three and a half lengths, and crowning his campaign in the Group One 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...
at Ascot. He used impressive acceleration to crush a high-class field there, scoring by over a length from Classic-winning 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....
filly Bosra Sham
Bosra Sham
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.-Background:...
. He was always travelling strongly but had to wait briefly for a gap over 1½f out before a fantastic high kicking burst settled the ace in a matter of strides. He went on in the final ½f to win impressively going away. This was the third win of the day for jockey 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...
at a major meeting when he famously went on to win all seven races. Official handicappers hailed it as the best performance of his generation over a mile for a decade. Mark of Esteem's final start was in America but he failed to show the same acceleration from mid-division in the Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
at Woodbine.