| Kazzia | |
|---|---|
 Racing colours of Godolphin | |
| Sire | Zinaad |
| Grandsire | Shirley Heights |
| Dam | Khoruna |
| Damsire | Lagunas |
| Sex | Mare |
| Foaled | 12 April 1999 |
| Died | March 2013 |
| Country | Germany |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Roswitha Grunewald |
| Owner | Rennstal Wöhler Godolphin |
| Trainer | Andreas Wöhler Saeed Bin Suroor |
| Record | 7:5-0-0 |
| Earnings | £899,597 |
| Major wins | |
| Premio Dormello (2001) 1000 Guineas (2002) Oaks Stakes (2002) Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (2002) | |
| Awards | |
| European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (2002) Timeform rating 121 | |
Kazzia was a German-bredThoroughbred racehorse, who was trained in Germany, theUnited Arab Emirates and theUnited Kingdom. In a racing career which lasted from September 2001 until October 2002 she ran seven times and won five races in four different countries. She is best known for successfully completing theClassic double of the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks. She was the first German-bred horse to win aBritish Classic.[1] After her retirement from racing she became a successfulbroodmare. Kazzia died in March 2013 from post-foaling complications.
Kazzia, described byTimeform as an "angular filly"[2] was bred in Germany by Roswitha Grunewald. She was sired by the British-bred stallionZinaad, winner of theJockey Club Stakes,[3] out of the German mare Khoruna, making her a half-sister to theSchwarzgold-Rennen winner Kimbajar.[4] She was originally sent into training at theBremen stable of Andreas Wöhler.
Kazzia began her career in September 2001 by winning a minor race atHoppegarten.[5] She was then immediately stepped up toGroup race company, traveling toMilan'sSan Siro Racecourse for the Premio Dormello. She proved herself to be a useful staying filly, catching the English-trained Kootenay afurlong from home and pulling away to win by two and a halflengths.[6]
Her performance attracted the attention of the Godolphin team who were in Milan to watch Kutub run in theGran Premio del Jockey Club. According to Simon Crisford, "Sheikh Mohammed was very impressed with the filly and liked her a lot so he made an offer to the owners."[7] Kazzia was sent to join Saeed bin Suroor at the Godolphin winter base in Dubai.
Whilst still in Dubai, Kazzia reportedly showed promise when finishing a close second in a private trial race to theCherry Hinton Stakes winner Silent Honor.[8] She was primarily regarded as a staying prospect and attracted attention as a possible Oaks winner,[9] butSheikh Mohammed insisted on sending her straight for the 1,000 Guineas, taking on specialist milers on fast ground. Sent off a14/1 outsider in "dismal" conditions, Kazzia raced prominently, took the lead afurlong out, and stayed on strongly to beat Snowfire by a neck.[10] Her rider,Frankie Dettori felt that the filly had done very well, particularly as she was essentially a stayer- "She really wants more than a mile."[7]
The Oaks, a month later, was run on unusually soft ground, and promised to be a test of stamina. Kazzia was made favourite at 100–30, although there was strong support for theMusidora Stakes winner,Islington.[11] Adapting well to the conditions, Kazzia went off in front and by the two-furlong pole all her opponents were struggling except for the Irish-trainedQuarter Moon. Both fillies stayed on strongly, but Kazzia prevailed by half a length, with the rest of the field, including the disappointing Islington, beaten by at least fourteen lengths. The conditions were so testing that the winning time of 2:44.52 was the slowest since 1964.[12] After the race Goldolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford spoke confidently of the filly's future: "TheTriple Crown dream is alive... there's no reason why the St Leger isn't a possibility."[13]
Kazzia had a twelve-week break before theYorkshire Oaks which was run on much firmer ground. Her unbeaten run came to an end as she proved no match for Islington and faded into fourth place. Kazzia's connections felt that she may have been under-prepared for the race. Crisford expressed the view that they had "been a little bit too easy with her", while Richard Edmondson, writing in theIndependent described her as looking "soft as putty".[14]
It was still intended that Kazzia should run in theSt Leger, where her stamina would have been a major strength, but a foot abscess forced her late withdrawal,[15] and she was re-routed to the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes atBelmont Park. Carrying 118 lbs on soft ground, Kazzia'a stamina once again came to the fore, as she led from the start and held off the strong late run of the French-trained Turtle Bow by a neck, with the leading American maresStarine and England's Legend well beaten.[16] Godolphin's American assistant trainer called Kazzia "a very game and honest filly" and a decision was made to pay a $90,000 supplementary charge to run her in the Breeders' Cup atArlington Park.[17]
On her final racecourse appearance, Kazzia showed uncharacteristic signs of temperament, when reluctant to enter the stalls for theBreeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She led the field into the straight but faded to finish sixth, beaten just under three lengths, behind Starine.[18]
Her retirement was announced in November, shortly after the Cartier Racing Awards ceremony.[19]
| Date | Race | Dist (f) | Course | Class | Prize (£K) | Odds | Runners | Placing | Margin | Time | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2001 | Rennen de Howoge | 7 | Berlin-Hoppegarten | M | 1 | 31/10 | 7 | 1 | 1.25 | 1:26.50 | Eduardo Pedroza | Andreas Wöhler |
| 14 October 2001 | Premio Dormello | 8 | San Siro Racecourse | 3 | 53 | 11 | 1 | 2.25 | 1:41.62 | Fernando Jovine | Andreas Wöhler | |
| 5 May 2002 | 1,000 Guineas | 8 | Newmarket-Rowley | 1 | 174 | 14/1 | 17 | 1 | Neck | 1:37.85 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 7 June 2002 | Oaks | 12 | Epsom | 1 | 203 | 100/30 | 14 | 1 | .5 | 2:44.52 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 21 August 2002 | Yorkshire Oaks | 12 | York | 1 | 145 | 7/4 | 11 | 4 | 5.5 | 2:26.74 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 28 September 2002 | Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap | 9 | Belmont Park | 1 | 308 | 3.05/1 | 9 | 1 | Neck | 2:05.22 | Jorge F. Chavez | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 26 October 2002 | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | 10 | Arlington Park | 1 | 480 | 10.2/1 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 2:03.57 | Jorge F. Chavez | Saeed Bin Suroor |
Kazzia was named European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at theCartier Racing Awards, although in the 2002 International Classification her rating of 119 placed her one-pound behind Islington and thePrix de Diane winner Bright Sky[20]
She was assessed at 121 byTimeform.[21]
Kazzia was retired to her owner'sDarley Stud. She made an immediate impact as a broodmare, her first foal being theDubai Sheema Classic winner Eastern Anthem, bySingspiel.[22] On 11 March 2013 it was announced that Kazzia had died after giving birth to a filly foal byDubawi (which survived) at theDalham Hall Stud. The stud's director Liam O'Rourke called Kazzia "a wonderful racehorse, and an excellent mother, with a delightful temperament."[23]
2004 Eastern Anthem (IRE) : Bay colt, foaled 27 February, by Singspiel (IRE) - won G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, Nad Al Sheba; 2nd G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, Baden-Baden; 2nd G1 Preis von Europa, Cologne; 3rd G1 Rheinland Pokal, Cologne
2005 - 2006 Barren
2007 Zeitoper (GB) : Brown colt (gelded), foaled 14 February, by Singspiel (IRE) - won G3 Prix de Conde, Longchamp in France 2009
2008 Moonsail (GB) : Bay filly, foaled 30 March, by Monsun (GER) - placed second twice from 4 races in England 2010/11
2009 Kailani (GB) : Bay filly, foaled 13 April, by Monsun (GER) - won 2 races in England 2011/12 including LR Pretty Polly Stakes, Newmarket
2010 Barren
2011 King's Land (GB) : Bay colt (gelded), foaled 23 January, by New Approach (IRE) - placed third from one race in England 2013
2012 Kazziana (GB) : Bay filly, foaled 10 February, by Shamardal (USA) - won 1 race and placed third only 2 starts to date in England 2015
2013 Bay filly (GB), foaled 11 March, by Dubawi (IRE)
| Sire Zinaad (GB) 1989 | Shirley Heights 1975 | Mill Reef | Never Bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan Mill | |||
| Hardiemma | Hardicanute | ||
| Grand Cross | |||
| Time Charter 1979 | Saritamer | Dancer's Image | |
| Irish Chorus | |||
| Centrocon | High Line | ||
| Centro | |||
| Dam Khoruna (GER) 1991 | Lagunas 1981 | Ile de Bourbon | Nijinsky |
| Roseliere | |||
| Liranga | Literat | ||
| Love In | |||
| Khora 1984 | Corvaro | Vaguely Noble | |
| Delmora | |||
| Kandia | Luciano | ||
| Kronungsgabe (Family: 5-h) |