Ramruma
Encyclopedia
Ramruma is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse who was bred in the United States
, but trained in the United Kingdom
during a racing career which lasted from September 1998 until September 2000. In 1999, Ramruma won five of her six races including three Group One
races: the Epsom Oaks
and the Irish Oaks
against other three-year-old fillies and the Yorkshire Oaks
in which she also defeated older fillies and mares. Her performances led to Ramruma being named European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly at the Cartier Racing Awards. She was retired after failing to win in three starts as a four-year-old in 2000.
, was bred at the Kentucky
branch of her owner, Fahd Salman’s
Newgate Stud, sired by Diesis
out of the mare Princess of Man. Diesis won the rare double of the Middle Park Stakes
and the Dewhurst Stakes
in 1982, before becoming an “excellent” sire, producing the winners of at least 25 Group One races including Halling
, Diminuendo and Elmaamul. Princess of Man was a successful racemare winning the Musidora Stakes
in 1978. In addition to Ramruma she was the dam of the Lingfield Oaks Trial
winner Ausherra.
The filly was sent into training with Henry Cecil
at the Warren Place stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
"Ramruma" was the pet name of Fahd Salman's youngest daughter Reema.
Three weeks later Ramruma was made 11/8 favourite for a similar event at Nottingham
. She disappointed her backers, however, appearing to lack pace at a crucial stage and never getting on terms with the outsider Magda, who led from the start and won by three lengths.
. Ramruma showed the first signs of her true ability, taking the lead two furlongs out and pulling well clear to win by three and a half lengths from the future Singapore Derby
winner All The Way, despite being eased down in the closing stages. In May she was moved up to Listed
class for the Lingfield Oaks Trial
for which she was made odds-on favourite. Kieran Fallon sent the filly into the lead three furlongs out, and she ran on strongly to go clear in the final furlong and win by one and a half lengths. The Racing Post
called the performance "unspectacular"
but the bookmakers responded by cutting her odds for the Oaks to 3/1.
for the Oaks
, in which she started the 3/1 second favourite behind the Godolphin filly Zahrat Dubai, winner of the Musidora Stakes
. Fallon settled the filly just behind the leaders before moving her up to take the lead two furlongs out. Ramruma accelerated clear of her the field and was never in danger of defeat, staying on strongly to win by three lengths from the outsider Noushkey, with Zahrat Dubai a further five lengths back in third.
The ground for the Irish Oaks at The Curragh
a month later was significantly firmer, but the opposition was not particularly strong and Ramruma was made 4/9 favourite. Fallon sent Ramruma into the lead entering the straight and she soon went well clear of the field. She was eased down towards the finish but still crossed the line seven lengths in front. Fallon described her as being "stronger and better" than before while Cecil described her as "a very good filly" who was "improving all the time". Both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
and the St Leger were suggested as possible targets, with the bookmakers offering her at 4/1 and 16/1 for the races respectively.
After Fallon was sacked from his job as Cecil's stable jockey, the veteran Pat Eddery
took over the ride on Ramruma for the Yorkshire Oaks
at York in August. The early pace was slow and Eddery sent Ramruma to the front after three furlongs. She led the field into the straight where was strongly challenged but ran on "very gamely" to win by one and a quarter lengths from the Lancashire Oaks
winner Ela Athena with the Princess Royal Stakes
winner Silver Rhapsody in third.
over a mile and three-quarters at Doncaster
in September. The male opposition did not appear to be particularly strong, and Ramruma was made odds-on favourite ahead of the King Edward VII Stakes
winner Mutafaweq
. Ramruma raced prominently and took the lead three furlongs out to the delight of the crowd but she was soon challenged and headed by Mutafaweq. The filly rallied "valiantly" on the run to the line but was unable to get back on terms with the colt and finished second, beaten two lengths.
at Newmarket in May. After racing prominently she weakened badly in the closing stages and finished lame. She returned from the race with a muscle injury which kept her off the racecourse for more than three months.
In August Ramruma returned to attempt a second win in the Yorkshire Oaks. She was opposed by her stable companion, the 2000 Oaks winner Love Divine as well as the Irish Oaks winner Petrushka
.The meeting of the three outstanding fillies was highly anticipated as one of the "races of the season". Ramruma attempted to lead all the way but was overtaken by the two three-year-olds in the straight and finished third, beaten three and a quarter lengths. Cecil was satisfied with her performance and Fahd Salman's racing manager, Anthony Penfold suggested the Breeders' Cup
as an end of season target.
On her final start, Ramruma was dropped down to Listed class for the Harvest Stakes at Ascot in September. She was made odds-on favourite, but failed to recapture her old form, finishing four and a half lengths third behind Riyafa. Her retirement was announced later that month. Fahd Salman said of Ramruma, "She's done me very proud and will always be my favourite filly."
.
sales as part of the final dispersal of her late owner's horses. Where she was bought for 2,100,000, a European record for a broodmare, by John Magnier
for the Coolmore Stud
.
Ramruma was bred to leading stallions including Rainbow Quest
and Machiavellian. Her best foal has been Flying Cross (by Sadler's Wells
), who won two races and finished third in the Irish St Leger
.
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 who was bred in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but 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...
during a racing career which lasted from September 1998 until September 2000. In 1999, Ramruma won five of her six races including three 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...
races: the Epsom Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
and the Irish Oaks
Irish Oaks
The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
against other three-year-old fillies and the Yorkshire Oaks
Yorkshire Oaks
The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
in which she also defeated older fillies and mares. Her performances led to Ramruma being named European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly at the Cartier Racing Awards. She was retired after failing to win in three starts as a four-year-old in 2000.
Background
Ramruma, a small, lightly-built chestnut filly with a white starHorse 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...
, was bred at the 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...
branch of her owner, Fahd Salman’s
Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prince Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz was a member of the Saudi Arabia royal family, the son of the Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz....
Newgate Stud, sired by Diesis
Diesis (horse)
Diesis was a racehorse and stallion, foaled in 1980, died in 2006. By the sire Sharpen Up, he was owned throughout his racing career by 9th Baron Howard de Walden and trained by Henry Cecil....
out of the mare Princess of Man. Diesis won the rare double of the Middle Park Stakes
Middle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. 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 established...
and the Dewhurst Stakes
Dewhurst Stakes
The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was established in 1875, and it...
in 1982, before becoming an “excellent” sire, producing the winners of at least 25 Group One races including Halling
Halling
Halling may refer to:*Halling , a mainly Norwegian dance; also a name used for a person from Hallingdal, Norway* Halling , Thoroughbred racehorsePlaces:*Halling, Kent, a village in England*Halling, Moselle, a village in France...
, Diminuendo and Elmaamul. Princess of Man was a successful racemare winning the Musidora Stakes
Musidora Stakes
The Musidora Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. 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 May....
in 1978. In addition to Ramruma she was the dam of the Lingfield Oaks Trial
Lingfield Oaks Trial
The Lingfield Oaks Trial is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
winner Ausherra.
The filly was sent into training with 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....
at the Warren Place stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
"Ramruma" was the pet name of Fahd Salman's youngest daughter Reema.
1998: two-year-old season
Ramruma's career began with two runs in one mile maiden races in the autumn of 1998. At Sandown in September, she ran third to the odds-on Social Scene, staying on steadily in the last two furlongs and looking as though she would be "better for the race".Three weeks later Ramruma was made 11/8 favourite for a similar event at Nottingham
Nottingham Racecourse
Nottingham Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. It is situated at Colwick Park, close to the River Trent and about 3 km east of the city centre....
. She disappointed her backers, however, appearing to lack pace at a crucial stage and never getting on terms with the outsider Magda, who led from the start and won by three lengths.
Spring
On her three-year-old debut, Ramruma was matched against colts in a one and a half mile maiden race at the Craven meeting 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...
. Ramruma showed the first signs of her true ability, taking the lead two furlongs out and pulling well clear to win by three and a half lengths from the future Singapore Derby
Singapore Derby
The Singapore Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid July at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore. Contested on turf over a left-handed course, the domestic Group One race is run over a distance 2000 meters and is open to four-year-old horses only.Inaugurated in 1880 at the Serangoon...
winner All The Way, despite being eased down in the closing stages. In May she was moved up to 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...
class for the Lingfield Oaks Trial
Lingfield Oaks Trial
The Lingfield Oaks Trial is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
for which she was made odds-on favourite. Kieran Fallon sent the filly into the lead three furlongs out, and she ran on strongly to go clear in the final furlong and win by one and a half lengths. The Racing Post
Racing Post
The Racing Post is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting newspaper, appearing in print form and online.From 30 May 2011 - 3 July 2011 it had a circulation of 56,507.-History:...
called the performance "unspectacular"
but the bookmakers responded by cutting her odds for the Oaks to 3/1.
Summer
Following her trial win, Ramruma was sent to EpsomEpsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
for the Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
, in which she started the 3/1 second favourite behind the Godolphin filly Zahrat Dubai, winner of the Musidora Stakes
Musidora Stakes
The Musidora Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. 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 May....
. Fallon settled the filly just behind the leaders before moving her up to take the lead two furlongs out. Ramruma accelerated clear of her the field and was never in danger of defeat, staying on strongly to win by three lengths from the outsider Noushkey, with Zahrat Dubai a further five lengths back in third.
The ground for the Irish Oaks at The Curragh
Curragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
a month later was significantly firmer, but the opposition was not particularly strong and Ramruma was made 4/9 favourite. Fallon sent Ramruma into the lead entering the straight and she soon went well clear of the field. She was eased down towards the finish but still crossed the line seven lengths in front. Fallon described her as being "stronger and better" than before while Cecil described her as "a very good filly" who was "improving all the time". Both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
and the St Leger were suggested as possible targets, with the bookmakers offering her at 4/1 and 16/1 for the races respectively.
After Fallon was sacked from his job as Cecil's stable jockey, the veteran 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:...
took over the ride on Ramruma for the Yorkshire Oaks
Yorkshire Oaks
The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at York in August. The early pace was slow and Eddery sent Ramruma to the front after three furlongs. She led the field into the straight where was strongly challenged but ran on "very gamely" to win by one and a quarter lengths from the Lancashire Oaks
Lancashire Oaks
The Lancashire Oaks is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 200 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event was...
winner Ela Athena with the Princess Royal Stakes
Princess Royal Stakes
The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs...
winner Silver Rhapsody in third.
Autumn
Ramruma's stamina was an obvious strength, with all her wins coming over one and a half miles, and it was decided to test her against the colts in the St LegerSt. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
over a mile and three-quarters at Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
in September. The male opposition did not appear to be particularly strong, and Ramruma was made odds-on favourite ahead of the King Edward VII Stakes
King Edward VII Stakes
The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
winner Mutafaweq
Mutafaweq
Mutafaweq is a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in England, Germany, and Canada.Raced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin Racing, Mutafaweq was a winner of four Group One races in three different countries before being retired from racing at the end of his 2001 campaign...
. Ramruma raced prominently and took the lead three furlongs out to the delight of the crowd but she was soon challenged and headed by Mutafaweq. The filly rallied "valiantly" on the run to the line but was unable to get back on terms with the colt and finished second, beaten two lengths.
2000: four-year-old season
Ramruma was made favourite for her four-year-old debut in the Jockey Club StakesJockey Club Stakes
The Jockey Club Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs at Newmarket, and the final part of the race is on the Rowley Mile...
at Newmarket in May. After racing prominently she weakened badly in the closing stages and finished lame. She returned from the race with a muscle injury which kept her off the racecourse for more than three months.
In August Ramruma returned to attempt a second win in the Yorkshire Oaks. She was opposed by her stable companion, the 2000 Oaks winner Love Divine as well as the Irish Oaks winner Petrushka
Petrushka (horse)
Petrushka is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in Ireland and trained in the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from October 1999 to June 2001. She was named European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at the 2000 Cartier Racing Awards. In her championship season she won...
.The meeting of the three outstanding fillies was highly anticipated as one of the "races of the season". Ramruma attempted to lead all the way but was overtaken by the two three-year-olds in the straight and finished third, beaten three and a quarter lengths. Cecil was satisfied with her performance and Fahd Salman's racing manager, Anthony Penfold suggested the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
as an end of season target.
On her final start, Ramruma was dropped down to Listed class for the Harvest Stakes at Ascot in September. She was made odds-on favourite, but failed to recapture her old form, finishing four and a half lengths third behind Riyafa. Her retirement was announced later that month. Fahd Salman said of Ramruma, "She's done me very proud and will always be my favourite filly."
Assessment
At the 1999 Cartier Racing Awards Ramruma was named European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. In the International Classification for 1999 she was given a rating of 119, five pounds below the American filly SilverbulletdaySilverbulletday
Silverbulletday is an American Thoroughbred Champion Filly racehorse. Bred in Kentucky, she was sired by Silver Deputy and out of the GII winning mare Rokeby Rose. Her damsire was Tom Rolfe, the 1965 Preakness Stakes winner and that year's U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt...
.
Stud career
Fahd Salman died in July 2001, and in December 2003 Ramruma was sent to the December TattersallsTattersalls
Tattersalls is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall , who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. The first premises occupied were near Hyde Park Corner, in what was then the outskirts of London...
sales as part of the final dispersal of her late owner's horses. Where she was bought for 2,100,000, a European record for a broodmare, by John Magnier
John Magnier
John Magnier is Ireland's leading thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside of the horse breeding industry....
for the Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
.
Ramruma was bred to leading stallions including Rainbow Quest
Rainbow Quest (horse)
Rainbow Quest was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion broodmare sire. Bred in Kentucky by British businessman, Alan Clore, he was a descendant of the great Nearco through both his dam, I Will Follow, and his Champion sire, Blushing Groom....
and Machiavellian. Her best foal has been Flying Cross (by Sadler's Wells
Sadler's Wells (horse)
Sadler's Wells was a Thoroughbred racehorse that was later a leading sire in France, Great Britain & Ireland and North America during the 1990s. He was foaled in 1981 in the United States, but achieved most of his racing and breeding fame in Europe....
), who won two races and finished third in the Irish St Leger
Irish St Leger
The Irish St. Leger is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
.