MERCHANT OF MEDICI 01 March 2007 Medicean-Regal Rose Owner-JFW Properties Ltd.
I have written recently about some of the tough horses that go beyond the call of duty, and enrich the sport of horse racing.I can't imagine anybody complaining when I suggest Merchant Of Medici be added to that list. He raced in a total of 82 races, all on the flat, 67 on turf, and 15 on the All Weather.He raced out of two yards, in his seven season career, 28 times from the Lambourn yard of William Muir, between 2007-2011, and a further 54 times for Micky, from 2012-2017.
Merchant Of Mecici was out of the Group 1 Cheveley Park winning filly of the year 2000, Regal Rose, who only ever ran twice, retiring unbeaten. He is one of the mares four offspring who recorded a Racing Post Rating rating in excess of 90.
Merchant Of Medici ran six times as a two year old, running his best races when racing on the All Weather at Wolverhampton over the extended mile, and finishing his juvenile season with a mark of 74.He returned as a three year old in 2010, getting off the mark at the third time of asking when dropped in to a seller at Leicester, with Kieren Fallon in the saddle, he only had to be pushed out to win, and was bought in for 8,000gns. That proved a shrewd move, as he won twice more that season, at Lingfield in July, and Kempton in October.That win at Kempton, and a further win at the track the following May were probably his career best performances, taking his official mark to a new high of 82.
Merchant Of Medici was purchased at the Newmarket horses in training sales in the Autumn of 2011, to continue his career racing from Oakwood Stables.He raced eight times in 2012, and although he didn't get his head in front, he raced consistently from marks in the mid 70's.On his return for the 2013-2014 season, he finished second at Ripon, and then third at York, but in a further four runs that season his form began to falter. When he returned again in April 2014, his mark had dropped to 61, but over the extended 12 furlongs at Musselburgh in May he very nearly took advantage, going down by just half a length.He continued to run well throughout the season, placing on six of his next eight starts. Merchant Of Medici enjoyed his golden period with us, on his return for 2015-2016 season, when achieving the rare fete of a Haydock hat-trick in just 22 days.Starting on May 22nd from a career low mark of 56, under Paul Hannigan, and following up under Becky Smith, six days later, then completing the three timer with Jack Garritty in the saddle, on June 11th.In his next race at Ripon, a week later he was runner up, taking his official mark back up to 69.
As a nine year old in 2016, he raced on 11 occasions, placing five times,but not possessing the pace of his youth to win again.He raced twice more,both in June 2017, on his final start he ran a cracker in the Ladies Derby at Ripon, staying on in his customary fashion to finish fifth, only beaten by a length and a half.
Unfortunately he never raced again, after joint injury got the better of him, and he had to be put to sleep. Mercant Of Medici had earned his place as one of the stables legends.