Top Ville

Top Ville (5 April 1976 – November 13, 1998) was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In the autumn of 1978, the colt established himself as one of the leading two-year-old colts in France with wins in the Prix Saint-Roman, Prix de Condé. In the following year, he took his winning run to six with victories in the Prix de Guiche, Prix Lupin and Prix du Jockey Club, beating top-class opponents including Irish River and Le Marmot. He was beaten in his two remaining races and was retired to stud, where he became a successful and influential breeding stallion. Background Top Ville was a dark-coated bay horse with a white star and a white sock on his left hind leg bred in Ireland by his owner Aga Khan IV. He was sired by High Top, who won the 2000 Guineas in 1972 and later became a successful breeding stallion. High Top's other progeny included the Oaks Stakes winner Circus Plume and the St Leger winner Cut Above. Top Ville's dam, Sega Ville who was bred and owned by the widow of François Dupré, was a successful racehorse who won the Prix de Flore in 1971, and a daughter of the outstanding racemare La Sega, who won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane in 1962. Top Ville was her second foal. Top Ville was trained by the veteran François Mathet at Chantilly. Mathet had trained many of the best French racehorses of the 20th century including Tantieme, Relko, and Reliance. Racing career 1978: two-year-old season In his first two races, Top Ville finished third in the Prix de Grisy over 1200 metres and second in the Prix de Saint-Maximin over 1400m. The colt was then moved up in distance and recorded his first success in a maiden race over 1600m at Chantilly Racecourse in September. Later in the month, he was moved up in class and distance for the Group Three Prix Saint-Roman over 1800m at Longchamp Racecourse. Ridden by Henri Samani, the colt raced in second place before taking the lead in the straight and winning by two lengths from the odds-on favourite Polynikis. On 22 October, Top Ville started the 2/5 favourite for the Group Three Prix de Condé over 2000m at Longchamp. He took the lead in the straight and drew clear of the field to win by four lengths from Look Fast and Dear Henry.