Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs (21 January 1995 – after 2004) was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was sent to race in Europe and was one of the best two-year-olds of his generation in 1997 when he won four of his seven races including the Acomb Stakes, the Beresford Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. In the following year he won the Dante Stakes but was beaten when favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club and ran unplaced in The Derby and the Irish Derby. He later raced in the United Arab Emirates and the United States but never won again. He later stood as a breeding stallion in Ireland and Australia with little success. Background Saratoga Springs was a chestnut horse with a narrow white blaze bred in Ontario by Huntington Stud Farm. He was from the tenth crop of foals sired by El Gran Senor, an outstanding performer in Europe where his wins included the Dewhurst Stakes, 2000 Guineas and Irish Derby. El Gran Senor was not a prolific stallion but sired several other major winners including Rodrigo de Triano, Al Hareb, Belmez and Lit de Justice. Saratoga Springs' dam Population was an unraced, British-bred daughter of General Assembly and Prudent Girl who was a half-sister to Hethersett. In July 1996, the yearling colt was offered for sale at Keeneland and was bought for $825,000 by the bloodstock agent Dermot "Demi" O'Byrne acting on behalf of John Magnier's Coolmore Stud organisation. Saratoga Springs was sent to Europe and entered training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Like many Coolmore horses, the details of the colt's ownership changed from race to race. He was usually described as being owned by Michael Tabor whilst on other occasions he ran for the partnership of Tabor and Susan Magnier. Racing career