Refuse To Bend is a retired Thoroughbred

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

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

. He was owned by Swiss

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 businessman Walter Haefner

Walter Haefner

Walter Haefner is a businessman and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder in Ireland. He was born in Switzerland.As a young man, Walter Haefner went to work in the auto industry as an employee of the Swiss division of General Motors Corporation...

 and was bred at his Moyglare Stud Farm near the town of Maynooth

Maynooth

Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...

, County Kildare

County Kildare

County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...

, in Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

. By the Champion Sire

Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland

The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...

 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....

, and out of the mare Market Slide, Refuse To Bend's grandsire was the great Northern Dancer

Northern Dancer

Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....

 and his damsire was Gulch

Gulch (horse)

Gulch was an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. Owned and bred by Peter M. Brant, he was sired by the outstanding North American stud and graded stakes race winner Mr...

, the 1988 U.S. Champion Sprint Horse

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Sprint Horse

The American Champion Sprint Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1947, in 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to the top horse in sprint races usually run at a distance of under one mile)....

.

A half-brother to Melbourne Cup

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...

 winner, Media Puzzle

Media Puzzle

Media Puzzle , foaled in the United States was an Irish horse bred by Walter Haefner's Moyglare Stud Farm and owned by Dr. M. W. Smurfit. He was sired by Theatrical, the 1987 U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse, and out of the mare Market Slide by Gulch, the 1988 U.S. Champion Sprint Horse...

, Refuse To Bend made his debut in August 2002 in Gowran, Ireland

Gowran

Gowran is a village and former town in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Gowran Park race course is located nearby. Gowran is located on the N9 national primary road where it is crossed by the R702 regional road.-History:...

 at Gowran Park

Gowran Park

Gowran Park is a horse race course in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the Annerly Estate near the village of Gowran.The first meeting was held in 1914...

, winning a Maiden race by four lengths. He then moved up to compete against top-level colts in the National Stakes

National Stakes

The National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....

 at the Curragh Racecourse

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 win in that race and another in the following spring's 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown Racecourse

Leopardstown Racecourse

Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...

 made him a legitimate contender for the 2003 British Classic Races.

Ridden by regular jockey

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

 Pat Smullen

Pat Smullen

Patrick J. Smullen is a jockey and considered one of the top riders in Ireland. He has had many successes through his position as stable jockey to Dermot Weld.-Major wins: Ireland...

, Refuse To Bend won the first Classic of the 2003 season, the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse

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...

. Still undefeated, he went into the Epsom 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...

 as the betting

Gambling

Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...

 favourite but finished a shocking thirteenth behind winner Kris Kin

Kris Kin

Kris Kin is a retired Thoroughbred race horse, and active sire. He was bred in the United States but was trained in England during his racing career. In a career that lasted just over a year, from October 2002 to October 2003, he ran seven times and won three races, most notably the Epsom Derby in...

. Refuse To Bend went on to win the Group III Desmond Stakes

Desmond Stakes

The Desmond Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....

 but was unplaced in two other races. Sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum

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:...

, the colt finished the 2003 racing season with three wins in six starts.

At age four, under trainer 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....

 and 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...

, Refuse To Bend came back to earn impressive wins against strong fields in two Group I races. He defeated the redoubtable Warrsan

Warrsan

Warrsan was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Ireland who competed in Europe and Asia. Owned and bred by Saeed Manana of the United Arab Emirates, he was sired by Caerleon, a son of the great Nijinsky, and out of the mare, Lucayan Princess.Conditioned by veteran trainer Clive Brittain, throughout...

 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 Park and in the Queen Anne Stakes

Queen Anne Stakes

The Queen Anne 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 it is scheduled to take place each year in June....

 he beat both the top mare Soviet Song

Soviet Song

Soviet Song is a racehorse bred and owned by Elite Racing Club. She was foaled on February 18, 2000, sired by Marju out of Kalinka...

 and the 2003 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...

 champion, Six Perfections

Six Perfections (horse)

Six Perfections is a champion Thoroughbred race horse, bred by the Niarchos family. She is best known for her 2003 win in the Breeders' Cup Mile....

Refuse to Bend was retired at the end of the 2004 racing season. He stands at Darley's

Darley Stud

Darley Stud is a Thoroughbred breeding operation owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. Darley breeds horses in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Dubai, Japan and Australia....

 Kildangan Stud, in Kildangan

Kildangan

Kildangan is a village in County Kildare in Ireland. Cill Daingin translates as "the church of the fort" in Irish. During the Anglo-Norman settlement of Ireland, Maurice Fitzgerald of Allen, built a castle as part of a defensive line, stretching along the River Barrow from Carlow to Lea Castle...

, County Kildare, Ireland. His first crop of foals were born in 2006.