Moon Madness

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For the film known as Moon Madness in the US, see The Secret of the Selenites.
Moon Madness
SireVitiges
GrandsirePhaeton
DamCastle Moon
DamsireKalamoun
SexStallion
Foaled1983
CountryUnited Kingdom
ColourBay
BreederLavina, Duchess of Norfolk
OwnerLavina, Duchess of Norfolk
TrainerJohn L. Dunlop
Record24:10-1-5
Major wins
King George V Stakes (1986)
Scottish Derby (1986)
St. Leger Stakes (1986)
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1987)
Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1987)
Cumberland Lodge Stakes (1987)
Yorkshire Cup (1988)

Moon Madness (foaled 1983), was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from September 1985 until November 1988, he ran twenty-four times and won ten races. He recorded his most important success when winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes as a three-year-old in 1986, the same year in which he also won the King George V Stakes, and the Scottish Derby. He continued to race for the next two seasons in major middle-distance and staying races, with his victories including the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the Geoffrey Freer Stakes the Cumberland Lodge Stakes and the Yorkshire Cup. He later stood as a stallion in Europe and Japan.

Background[]

Moon Madness was a very dark bay[1] horse bred by his owner Lavina, Duchess of Norfolk.[2] He was the most successful runner sired by Vitiges, who was one of the best European colts of his generation, winning the Prix Morny and the Champion Stakes. Moon Madness's dam, Castle Moon, produced seven other winners including the Coronation Cup winner Sheriff's Star.[3] The Duchess sent her colt into training with John Dunlop at Arundel in Sussex. Moon Madness was ridden in most of his races by the veteran Irish jockey Pat Eddery.

Racing career[]

1985: two-year-old season[]

Moon Madness made his only appearance as a two-year-old in a maiden race at Goodwood Racecourse in which he finished fourth, beaten four and half lengths by Faraway Dancer, a colt who went on to finish fourth in the following year's Epsom Derby. Timeform described him as colt who was "likely to improve".[4]

1986: three-year-old season[]

Moon Madness began his three-year-old season by winning minor handicap races including victories at Newmarket and Haydock.[5] He recorded his first important success when winning the King George V Stakes, a handicap race for three-year-olds at Royal Ascot in "impressive" style.[6] He was then moved up to Listed class and won the Scottish Derby at Ayr. In August he was sent to York to contest the Great Voltigeur Stakes, an important trial race for the St Leger in which he finished third behind Nisnas and Mashkour. It was his first defeat after five successive wins.

In the St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse, Moon Madness started 9/2 third favourite in a field of eight runners with the filly Untold, winner of the Yorkshire Oaks being made favourite. Ridden by Pat Eddery, Moon Madness drew away from his opponents in the straight to win "comfortably" by four lengths from Celestial Storm and Untold.[7] Later that autumn he finished third to Allez Milord and Baby Turk in the Preis von Europa.

1987: four-year-old season[]

As a four-year-old, Moon Madness began by finishing fourth to Mtoto in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes[5] and then finished third in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Orban. He recorded his most important victory of the season in France, winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud[8] from the future Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Tony Bin. He returned to England to contest the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but finished unplaced behind Reference Point.[9] In August, Moon Madness won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes, beating a field which included Legal Bid and Ibn Bey (runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Classic).

In Autumn, Moon Madness was sent to Germany where he finished second to Acatenango in the Grosser Preis von Baden. At Ascot he won his third major prize of the season when he won the Cumberland Lodge Stakes from Knockando and Mashkour, being given "perfect handling" by Eddery to win from the front.[10] On his final appearance of the year he led the field for much of the way in the Japan Cup before being overtaken in the straight and finishing fifth.

1988: five-year-old season[]

On his 1988 debut, Moon Madness started the 6/5 favourite for the Yorkshire Cup and won "smoothly" by one and a half lengths from Lake Erie[11]

In June, Moon Madness finished third behind Triptych in the Coronation Cup at Epsom and third again behind Almaarad in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. He finished last of the ten runners behind Mtoto in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and was sixth behind Top Class in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

In his last race, Moon Madness ran for the second time in the Japan Cup, finishing sixth behind .

Stud career[]

Moon Madness stood as a stallion in Europe and Japan, but had very little success as a sire of winners in either location. He was exported from Japan to France on 8 December 1994.[12]

Pedigree[]

Pedigree of Moon Madness (GB), bay stallion, 1983[13]
Sire
Vitiges (FR)
1973 		Phaeton (IRE)
1964 		Sicambre
Sif
Pasquinade Vandale
Mlle Paganini
Vale (FR)
1959 		Verrieres Palestine
Serre Chaude
Calliopsis
Calluna
Dam
Castle Moon (GB)
1975 		Kalamoun (GB)
1970 		Grey Sovereign
Vareta
Kharunissa Prince Bio
Palariva
Fotheringay (FR)
1964 		Right Royal Owen Tudor
Bastia
La Fresnes Court Martial
Pin Stripe (Family:8-c)[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Hugh McMahon. "Moon Madness picture". Sporthorse-data.com. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  2. ^ Richard Griffiths (1995-12-12). "OBITUARY: Lavinia Norfolk". The Independent. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  3. ^ "Stanley House Stud". Knowsley.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  4. ^ Timeform (1986). Racehorses of 1985. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-42-1.
  5. ^ a b "Moon is all set to shine". Evening Times. June 18, 1987. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  6. ^ "Sonic Lady to Jet In". Evening Times. July 8, 1986. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  7. ^ "Moon Madness Lands Final Classic". New Straits Times. 14 September 1986. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  8. ^ "Tinkler on the Tartan Track". Evening Times. September 25, 1987. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  9. ^ "Reference Point in Ascot". Manila Standard. 27 July 1987. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  10. ^ "Cauthen vows rough ride for champ". New Straits Times. 15 October 1987. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  11. ^ "Yorkshire Cup 1988". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  12. ^ Staff. "Moon Madness (GB)". Japan Race Horse Registry. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Moon Madness". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  14. ^ "Woodbine - Family 8-c". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
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