Torgau (horse)

Torgau began her career at Catterick in a maiden race in June 1999. She started a 14/1 outsider in a six-horse field, but after being behind in the early stages, she was brought through to take the lead by Kevin Darley and won by two lengths from the favourite Littlefeather.[6] Giles Bravery said after the race that Torgau was his best two-year-old and would be sent to Royal Ascot.[7]

At the Royal meeting two weeks later, Torgau was sent off at odds of 25/1 for the Group Three Queen Mary Stakes. She finished sixth, after starting slowly, but finished less than two and a half lengths behind the winner, Shining Hour.[8] Despite her defeat, she was stepped up in class again for her next start in the Cherry Hinton Stakes at the July Meeting at Newmarket in which she was ridden by Gary Stevens. New tactics were employed, with Torgau sent into the lead from the start. She was never headed, and ran on strongly to win by one and a quarter lengths from the favourite, Hoh Dear.[9] After the race Bravery spoke at length about the problems of smaller trainers, explaining that he had thirty-one empty boxes at his forty box stable, and saying that, from a financial point of view, training racehorses was "unbelievably idiotic."[10] Stevens was pleased with the filly, commenting that Torgau was "just enjoying herself out there."

Torgau was then moved up to the highest level when she was sent to Ireland for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh. Her rivals included Littlefeather, who had won all three of her starts since the Catterick race, the unbeaten Preseli and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Amethyst. Torgau disputed the lead in the early stages and went into a clear lead a furlong from the finish but was caught close home and beaten three quarters of a length by Preseli.[11] Torgau's final start of the season came in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, one of the two Group One races for two-year-old fillies in England. Once again, Torgau was sent into the lead from the start by her jockey Michael Hills. In the final furlong she was overtaken by the Mick Channon-trained Seazun, and although she ran on under pressure, she was beaten by a head.[12]

Before her run at Newmarket, Torgau had been sold to American interests, with the intention of racing her in the United States, but in fact she stayed at Newmarket to be prepared for the following year's 1000 Guineas.[13]

On her three-year-old debut, Torgau was sent straight for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Bravery did not run her in a trial as she "took a long time to get rid of her winter coat."[14] Despite her status as champion two-year-old, she was a 25/1 outsider, probably because both her breeding and racing style suggested that the one mile distance was likely to be too far- Bravery had said that "six furlongs is definitely her best trip".[13] She tracked the leaders, but could make no impression in the closing stages and finished seventh of the eighteen runners behind Lahan.[15]

Torgau was then sent to the United States and joined the stable of Jenine Sahadi. On her first American start she finished last in the Grade II Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park.[16]

She was retired soon afterwards and sent to Keeneland where she was sold for a reported $900,000.[17]