It is rare that a horse can retire to stud as an undisputed champion, but it is fair to say that few people would argue with Raven's Pass’ status as a champion on both sides of the Atlantic as he now heads off to begin his second career at Kildangan Stud.
As a racehorse, Raven’s Pass made an immediate impact. One of three unraced two-year-olds saddled by John Gosden in the EBF Tote Placepot Maiden Stakes at Yarmouth last July – the trio also including subsequent dual Group winner Centennial – he won with such authority that he was dispatched to Ascot for a Listed race on his second start. This, too, he won, by a comfortable five lengths, a margin he exceded when taking his record to three from three in the G3 Solario Stakes at Sandown, annihilating the opposition and setting a new juvenile track record in the process when storming home seven lengths clear of City Leader, who franked the form on his next start by winning the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot. He then ended his campaign by contesting one of the hottest Dewhursts in history, finishing an excellent third to subsequent Derby winner New Approach, with previous Group One winners Rio De La Plata and Dark Angel behind him.
As a three-year-old, Raven’s Pass proved himself a horse of magnificent toughness and resolution as well as one of the highest class. For the first half of his campaign he was the subject of what at times seemed exaggerated waiting tactics – most obviously when coming from an impossible position to run a fast-finishing fourth of 15 in the 2,000 Guineas - and, although his form displayed an admirable degree of progressiveness, he had to be content with minor placings. Working his way ever closer to G1 glory, he ran consecutive second places in the St. James’s Palace Stakes, Prix Jean Prat and Sussex Stakes, in the last of which he failed by only a head to overhaul dual Guineas winner Henrythenavigator. Thereafter his connections decided on a change of riding policy, and Raven’s Pass was never beaten again.
The new way of riding Raven’s Pass was unveiled at Goodwood at the end of August when he was lowered to G2 company for the Celebration Mile. The extent to which he stood out ahead of his rivals on form was shown by his 1/2 SP, and he dominated the race as completely as he had dominated the betting market: making all the running, he never came off a tight rein, cruising home by a length from Bankable, with the remainder of the field nine or more lengths farther in arrears. It was back to G1 company next time in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, in which he re-opposed old rivals Henrythenavigator and Tamayuz. Settled just behind the leaders instead out at the back of the field, he produced an explosive turn of foot when given the office at the top of the straight, passing the post a length ahead of Henrythenavigator, with course specialist Sabana Perdida four-and-a-half lengths back in third, and Tamayuz failing in his bid to land a third consecutive Group One by passing the post a further three lengths back in fourth.
There was now no doubt which of the three-year-olds deserved to be hailed as Europe’s best colt at a mile, but a bold assault on the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita would surely pose a very different test: could Raven’s Pass show similar dominance over ten furlongs on the Pro-ride, against a world-class field that included reigning US Horse Of The Year Curlin, as well as Europe’s proven ten-furlong specialist Duke Of Marmalade? Well, as we now know, Raven’s Pass disposed of these rivals as easily as he had put his QEII opponents to the sword, landing an emphatic win in what most consider to be America’s biggest race and running the world-class time of 1:59.27. It was a stunning victory, and ensured that he has ended the year rightfully regarded as a true champion on both sides of the Atlantic, on turf and an artificial surface, and over both a mile and ten furlongs. What better credentials could a stallion take to stud with him than those held by this most powerful of chestnut colts?
Happily, it is as easy to approve of Raven’s Pass’ pedigree as it is to applaud his form. A son of the world-class Gone West stallion Elusive Quality, Raven’s Pass is the second US Graded winner – following Miami Mile Breeders’ Cup Handicap winner Gigawatt – bred by his dam, the Lord At War mare Ascutney, herself a winner of the G3 Miesque Stakes. To further emphasise the merit of the family, Ascutney’s full-sister Words Of War has proved herself an outstanding matron, producing the Dwyer Stakes and Suburban Handicap winner E Dubai as well as No Matter What, dam of Europe’s outstanding two-year-old filly of 2008, the unbeaten G1 winner Rainbow View. This is truly a pedigree designed to do exactly what it has done – produce a top-class horse blessed with versatility and toughness in equal measures – and it is very, very easy to envisage the magnificent Raven’s Pass passing all these qualities on to his offspring.
