Bireme (horse)

Bireme
Sire	Grundy
Grandsire	Great Nephew
Dam	Ripeck
Damsire	Ribot
Sex	Mare
Foaled	2 May 1977^[1]
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Dick Hollingsworth
Owner	Dick Hollingsworth
Trainer	Dick Hern
Record	4:3-0-1
Major wins
Musidora Stakes (1980) Oaks Stakes (1980)
Awards
Timeform rating 127

Bireme (2 May 1977 – 10 January 2002) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the classic Epsom Oaks in 1980. After winning one of her two starts in 1979, she won the Musidora Stakes on her three-year-old debut before winning the Oaks in record time. Later that summer she broke loose during a training session and sustained career-ending injuries. She was retired to stud with a record of three wins in four races and has had some influence as a broodmare.

Background

Bireme was a chestnut mare with a white blaze bred by her owner Richard Dunbavin "Dick" Hollingsworth at his Arches Hall Stud in Hertfordshire. She was one of the first crop of foals sired by Grundy, an outstanding racehorse who won the Epsom Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1975. Grundy went on to sire several other good winners, but his stock tended to be slow-maturing stayers and he was sold and exported to Japan in 1983.^[2]

Bireme's dam Ripeck was a highly successful broodmare whose other offspring included the Queen Alexandra Stakes winner Balinger and the Coronation Cup winner Buoy. Ripeck was a granddaughter of the Hollingsworth family's influential broodmare Felucca, whose other descendants included Cut Above (St Leger Stakes), Sharp Edge (Irish 2000 Guineas), Longboat (Ascot Gold Cup), Bolas (Irish Oaks), Dash for Cash (Australian Guineas) and Daffodil (AJC Oaks).^[3]

The filly was sent into training with Dick Hern at West Ilsley in Berkshire, and was ridden by the Scottish jockey Willie Carson.

Racing career

1979: two-year-old season

Bireme did run as a two-year-old, when she won a thirty-runner maiden race over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse in October. She was then matched against colts in the Houghton Stakes over the same course and distance later that month and finished third behind Night Alert and Posse.^[4] The first and second both developed into top class milers in 1980: Night Alert won the Prix Jean Prat while Posse won the St. James's Palace Stakes and the Sussex Stakes.

1980: three-year-old season

On her first appearance as a three-year-old, Bireme was moved up in class and distance for the Group Three Musidora Stakes over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse in May. Ridden by Carson, she started at odds of 4/1 and won from the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Gift Wrapped and the 1000 Guineas runner-up Our Home.^[5]

On 7 June, Bireme was again moved up in distance to contest the 202nd running of the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. She started at odds of 9/2 in a field of eleven fillies which included the 1000 Guineas winner Quick As Lightning who was made 3/1 favourite. Willie Carson had the choice of three Hern-trained runners and selected Bireme ahead of the partially sighted May Hill Stakes winner The Dancer and the Cheshire Oaks winner Shoot a Line.^[4] Carson settled Bireme in second place behind The Dancer, before moving into the lead two furlongs from the finish and winning by two lengths from Vielle, with The Dancer in third and Quick as Lightning fourth. The win gave Hern and Carson a classic double, having won the Derby with Henbit three days earlier. After the race Carson said: "She gave me a super ride. I was never in any doubt with her, she is a lovely filly with a long stride who just keeps finding it for me."^[6] Her winning time of 2:34.33 broke the race record which had stood since 1927.^[7]

Dick Hern intended to aim the filly at the St Leger Stakes in September, but her training was disrupted by tendon trouble. While still recuperating, and undergoing gentle exercise on the Berkshire Downs, she sustained a career-ending injury. Recalling the incident, Hern explained that after throwing her rider, Bireme "took off with her tail in the air and went for home as hard as she could leg it, right across the West Ilsley-East Ilsley road before she crashed in the lane. She cut and bruised herself so badly that she never ran again."^[8] Her stablemate Shoot a Line went on to be unbeaten after her Oaks defeat winning the Ribblesdale Stakes, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and Park Hill Stakes.

Assessment and honours

In 1980, Bireme was given a rating of 127 by the independent Timeform organisation,^[9] four pounds below the top-rated three-year-old filly Detroit, the winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.^[10] In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Bireme an "average" winner of the Oaks.^[11]

Dick Hern called her "a very, very good filly who never reached her potential because of injury ... nobody knows quite how good she could have been."^[8]

Stud record

Bireme was retired from racing to become a broodmare at her owners stud. She produced at least six winners, the best of whom was the filly Yawl, who won at Listed and Group Three level. Yawl's daughter Prowess produced the 2013 Oaks winner Talent.

Bireme's winning progeny included:

Trireme (chestnut colt foaled in 1987, sired by Rainbow Quest), won two races^[12]
Quadrireme (bay colt 1989, sired by Rousillon), won four races^[13]
Yawl (brown filly 1990, sired by Rainbow Quest), won Oh So Sharp Stakes and Rockfel Stakes^[14]
Admiral Rous (bay colt 1991, sired by Rousillon), won one race^[15]
Yacht (chestnut colt 1990, sired by Warning), won two races^[16]
Flagship (GB) : chesnut filly, foaled 18 February 1994, by Rainbow Quest (USA), won one race^[17] and placed once from 5 starts in England 1996-97

Bireme was euthanised at Arches Hall on 10 January 2002 because of "the infirmities of old age".^[7] She was twenty-five years old.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Bireme (GB), chestnut mare, 1977^[1]
Sire Grundy (GB) 1972	Great Nephew (GB) 1963	Honeyway	Fairway
		Honeyway	Honey Buzzard
		Sybil's Niece	Admiral's Walk
		Sybil's Niece	Sybil's Sister
	Word from Lundy (GB) 1952	Worden	Wild Risk
		Worden	Sans Tares
		Lundy Princess	Princely Gift
		Lundy Princess	Lundy Parrot
Dam Ripeck (GB) 1959	Ribot (GB) 1953	Tenerani	Bellini
		Tenerani	Tofanella
		Romanella	El Greco
		Romanella	Barbara Burrini
	Kyak (GB) 1962	Big Game	Bahram
		Big Game	Myrobella
		Felucca	Nearco
		Felucca	Felsetta (Family: 11-d)^[3]

References

1 2 "Bireme pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
↑ Timeform (1984). Racehorses of 1983. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-40-5.
1 2 "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Flight - Family 11-d". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
1 2 "Martin Gale" (7 June 1980). "Lightning poised to strike twice". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
↑ Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
↑ "Willie Carson's doubt". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 June 1980. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
1 2 "English Classic Winner Bireme Dead". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
1 2 Graham Green (18 January 2002). "Oaks heroine Bireme is put down aged 25". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
↑ Timeform (1986). Racehorses of 1985. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-42-1.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press,. ISBN 978-1-901570-15-1.
↑ "Trireme race record". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
↑ "Quadrireme race record". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
↑ "Yawl race record". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
↑ "Admiral Rous race record". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
↑ "Yacht race record". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
↑ "Flagship race record". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2013-06-27.

Epsom Oaks winners

1779 Bridget 1780 Tetotum 1781 Faith 1782 Ceres 1783 Maid of the Oaks 1784 Stella 1785 Trifle 1786 Yellow Filly 1787 Annette 1788 Nightshade 1789 Tag 1790 Hippolyta 1791 Portia 1792 Volante 1793 Caelia 1794 Hermione 1795 Platina 1796 Parisot 1797 Nike 1798 Bellissima 1799 Bellina 1800 Ephemera 1801 Eleanor † 1802 Scotia 1803 Theophania 1804 Pelisse 1805 Meteora 1806 Bronze 1807 Briseis 1808 Morel 1809 Maid of Orleans 1810 Oriana 1811 Sorcery 1812 Manuella 1813 Music 1814 Medora 1815 Minuet 1816 Landscape 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Shoveler 1820 Caroline 1821 Augusta 1822 Pastille ‡ 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Wings 1826 Lilias 1827 Gulnare 1828 Turquoise 1829 Green Mantle 1830 Variation 1831 Oxygen 1832 Galata 1833 Vespa 1834 Pussy 1835 Queen of Trumps 1836 Cyprian 1837 Miss Letty 1838 Industry 1839 Deception 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Ghuznee 1842 Our Nell 1843 Poison 1844 The Princess 1845 Refraction 1846 Mendicant 1847 Miami 1848 Cymba 1849 Lady Evelyn 1850 Rhedycina 1851 Iris 1852 Songstress 1853 Catherine Hayes 1854 Mincemeat 1855 Marchioness 1856 Mincepie 1857 Blink Bonny † 1858 Governess 1859 Summerside 1860 Butterfly 1861 Brown Duchess 1862 Feu de Joie 1863 Queen Bertha 1864 Fille de l'Air 1865 Regalia 1866 Tormentor 1867 Hippia 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Brigantine 1870 Gamos 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Marie Stuart 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia (dh) 1876 Enguerrande (dh) 1877 Placida 1878 Jannette 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Jenny Howlet 1881 Thebais 1882 Geheimniss 1883 Bonny Jean 1884 Busybody 1885 Lonely 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Seabreeze 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre 1890 Memoir 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Mrs Butterwick 1894 Amiable 1895 La Sagesse 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim 1897 Limasol 1898 Airs and Graces 1899 Musa 1900 La Roche 1901 Cap and Bells II 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Our Lassie 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Keystone II 1907 Glass Doll 1908 Signorinetta † 1909 Perola 1910 Rosedrop 1911 Cherimoya 1912 Mirska 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Snow Marten 1916 Fifinella † 1917 Sunny Jane 1918 My Dear 1919 Bayunda 1920 Charlebelle 1921 Love in Idleness 1922 Pogrom 1923 Brownhylda 1924 Straitlace 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Short Story 1927 Beam 1928 Toboggan 1929 Pennycomequick 1930 Rose of England 1931 Brulette 1932 Udaipur 1933 Chatelaine 1934 Light Brocade 1935 Quashed 1936 Lovely Rosa 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Commotion 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Why Hurry 1944 Hycilla 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Steady Aim 1947 Imprudence 1948 Masaka 1949 Musidora 1950 Asmena 1951 Neasham Belle 1952 Frieze 1953 Ambiguity 1954 Sun Cap 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Sicarelle 1957 Carrozza 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Monade 1963 Noblesse 1964 Homeward Bound 1965 Long Look 1966 Valoris 1967 Pia 1968 La Lagune 1969 Sleeping Partner 1970 Lupe 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Ginevra 1973 Mysterious 1974 Polygamy 1975 Juliette Marny 1976 Pawneese 1977 Dunfermline 1978 Fair Salinia 1979 Scintillate 1980 Bireme 1981 Blue Wind 1982 Time Charter 1983 Sun Princess 1984 Circus Plume 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Unite 1988 Diminuendo 1989 Snow Bride 1990 Salsabil 1991 Jet Ski Lady 1992 User Friendly 1993 Intrepidity 1994 Balanchine 1995 Moonshell 1996 Lady Carla 1997 Reams of Verse 1998 Shahtoush 1999 Ramruma 2000 Love Divine 2001 Imagine 2002 Kazzia 2003 Casual Look 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Eswarah 2006 Alexandrova 2007 Light Shift 2008 Look Here 2009 Sariska 2010 Snow Fairy 2011 Dancing Rain 2012 Was 2013 Talent 2014 Taghrooda 2015 Qualify 2016 Minding

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners

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