View source for Valixir

{{Short description|Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Valixir
| image_name =
| caption =
| sire = [[Trempolino]]
| grandsire = [[Sharpen Up]]
| dam = Vadlamixa
| damsire = [[Linamix]]
| sex = [[Stallion]]
| foaled = 31 March 2001<ref name="pedigree">{{cite web|url=https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm/Valixir%20(IRE)?page_state=DISPLAY_REPORT&reference_number=6302188&registry=T&horse_name=Valixir%20(IRE)&dam_name==Vadlamixa%20(FR)&foaling_year=2001&include_sire_line=N|title=Valixir pedigree |publisher=Equineline |date=2012-05-08 |access-date=2013-05-05}}</ref>
| country = Ireland
| colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]]
| breeder = [[Jean-Luc Lagardère|S N C Lagardere Elevage]]
| owner = Lagardere Family<br />[[Aga Khan IV]]<br />[[Godolphin Racing|Godolphin]]
| trainer = [[André Fabre]]<br />[[Saeed bin Suroor]]
| record = 19: 8-1-4
| earnings = £570,654
| race = [[Prix Matchem]] (2004)<br />[[Prix Eugène Adam]] (2004)<br />[[Prix Niel]] (2004)<br />[[Prix d'Ispahan]] (2005)<br />[[Queen Anne Stakes]] (2005)<br />[[Prix Messidor]] (2005)
|awards=
|honours =
|updated=
}}
'''Valixir''' (foaled 30 March 2001) is an Irish-bred [[Thoroughbred]] racehorse and [[sire (horse)|sire]]. He was trained for most of his career in France where he won two minor races and finished second in the [[Prix des Chênes]] as a juvenile in 2003. When campaigned over middle distances in 2004 he won the [[Prix Matchem]], [[Prix Eugène Adam]] and [[Prix Niel]] as well as being placed in both the [[Prix du Jockey Club]] and the [[Prix Lupin]]. He was even better when brought back to shorter distances in the following year and recorded [[Group races|Group One]] victories in the [[Prix d'Ispahan]] and the [[Queen Anne Stakes]]. He transferred to the [[Godolphin Racing|Godolphin]] stable in 2006 but showed no worthwhile form in three starts. Valixir was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion in Australia.
==Background==
Valixir is a bay horse with a white [[blaze (horse marking)|blaze]] and three white [[sock (horse marking)|socks]] bred in Ireland by Lagardere Elevage the breeding operation of his owner [[Jean-Luc Lagardère]]. After Lagardere's death in March 2003 the ownership of the colt passed to the Lagardere Family. He was sent into training with [[André Fabre]].
Valixir was sired by [[Trempolino]] who won the [[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]] and finished second in the [[Breeders' Cup Turf]] as a three-year-old in 1987. As a breeding stallion, his other offspring included [[Dernier Empereur]], Arkadian Hero ([[Mill Reef Stakes]]) and Germany ([[Grosser Preis von Baden]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/304240/trempolino|publisher=Racing Post|title=Trempolino – Stud Record}}</ref> Valixir's dam Vadlamixa showed ability as a racehorse, winning the Listed Prix de Lieurey as a three-year-old in 1995,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/101568/vadlamixa|publisher=Racing Post|title=Vadlamixa – Record By Race Type}}</ref> and was a half-sister to [[Val Royal]].<ref name="tbl">{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family20d.htm|title=Jennie Winkle – Family 20-d|work=Thoroughbred Bloodlines}}</ref>
==Racing career==
===2003: two-year-old season===
In 2003 Valixir was ridden in all of his three races by [[Christophe Soumillon]]. He made his racecourse debut in the Prix Hunyade over 1200 metres at [[Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse]] on 15 July and won by three [[Horse length|lengths]] from nine opponents. He followed up at [[Deauville Racecourse]] in August when he won the Prix Irish River over the same distance. On 20 September the colt was moved up in class and distance for the [[Group races|Group Three]] [[Prix des Chênes]] over 1600 metres at [[Longchamp Racecourse]] and was made the [[Fractional odds|1.7/1]] favourite in a seven-runner field. After racing in fourth place he took the lead 200 metres from the finish but was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten into second place by [[Bago (horse)|Bago]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/211/longchamp/2003-09-20/339517|title=Prix des Chênes result |publisher=Racing Post|date=20 September 2003}}</ref>
===2004: three-year-old season===
The American jockey [[Gary Stevens (jockey)|Gary Stevens]] took over from Soumillon when Valixir made his first appearance of 2004 in the Listed Prix Matchem over 1800 metres at Maisons-Laffitte on 20 April. Starting the odds-on favourite, Valixir took the lead 300 metres from the finish and accelerated clear of his rivals to win "easily" by four lengths from Red Tune.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/213/maisons-laffitte/2004-04-20/350960|title=Peix Matchem result |publisher=Racing Post|date=20 April 2004}}</ref> He was then stepped up to Group One class for the final running of the [[Prix Lupin]] over 2100 metres at Longchamp on 18 May and finished third behind Voix du Nord and Millemix after briefly leading in the straight.
On 6 June, [[Éric Legrix]] took over from Stevens when Valixir started at odds of 7.5/1 for the 167th running of the Prix du Jockey Club over 2400 metres at [[Chantilly Racecourse]]. After racing in mid-division he stayed on strongly in the straight to finish third, beaten a head and half a length by [[Blue Canari]] and Prospect Park. Legrix was again in the saddle when Valixir started 3/5 favourite for the Group Two Prix Eugène Adam over 2000 metres at Maisons-Laffitte on 14 July. He led from the start, went clear of his rivals in the last 300 metres and won "easily" by three lengths from the [[Prix La Force]] winner Delfos with the British challengers Hazyview ([[Newmarket Stakes]]) and African Dream ([[Dee Stakes]]) in third and fourth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/213/maisons-laffitte/2004-07-14/356139|title=Prix Eugène Adam result|publisher=Racing Post|date=14 July 2004}}</ref>
After a late summer break Valixir returned on 12 September for the Group Two Prix Niel (a trial race for the [[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]]) over 2400 metres at Longchamp and started the 11/2 fourth choice in the betting behind Bago, Prospect Park and Blue Canari. After racing in fourth place he moved up to second in the straight and caught Prospect Park in the final strides to win by a nose with Bago a length away in third.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/211/longchamp/2004-09-12/358649|title=Prix Niel result|publisher=Racing Post|date=12 September 2004}}</ref> After the race Legrix said "There is still a lot to come from this horse and he must have a good chance in the Arc. He has a bit of temperament, but was relaxed today. When I asked him to go 250 meters out, he passed his rivals really well. He lost concentration when he got to the front, but came back again".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/174088/valixir-policy-maker-win-arc-preps-in-france|title=Valixir, Policy Maker Win Arc Preps in France|date=12 September 2004|author=Blood-Horse staff|work=[[The Blood-Horse]]}}</ref> In the [[2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]] at Longchamp on 2 October Valixir started the 9/1 fourth favourite in a nineteen-runner field but never looked likely to win and finished tenth behind Bago.
At the end of the year Valixir was bought privately by the [[Aga Khan IV|Aga Khan]], but remained in Fabre's stable for the 2005 season.
===2005: four-year-old season===
Valixir began his third season with a trip to England for the [[Earl of Sefton Stakes]] over nine [[furlongs]] at [[Newmarket Racecourse]] on 13 April and finished third of the ten runners behind [[Norse Dancer]]. After this race Soumillon resumed his partnership with Valixir and rode him in all of his subsequent races that year. On 22 May the colt contested the Group One Prix d'Ispahan over 1800 metres at Longchamp and started 2.5/1 joint favourite alongside his stablemate [[Cacique (horse)|Cacique]]. The other six runners included the Australian champion [[Elvstroem]], Touch of Land ([[Prix Dollar]]), Fort Dignity ([[Royal Windsor Stakes]]) and Tolpuddle ([[Amethyst Stakes]]). After tracking the leaders, Valixir made progress in the straight, overtook Elvstroem just inside the last 200 metres and won by two lengths with Cacique taking third ahead of Touch of Land.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/211/longchamp/2005-05-22/386351|title=Prix d'Ispahan result |publisher=Racing Post|date=22 May 2005}}</ref> After the race the Aga Khan's representative said "Valixir won very nicely and to reduce him in distance was a good idea" whilst Soumillon commented "He had a lovely run but he is a strange horse to ride, Halfway up the straight there wasn't enough room on the rail but then the Australian horse left us a gap and we went. Valixir is a horse who doesn't like contact with others".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/170341/fabre-soumillon-team-for-french-group-i-wins|title=Fabre, Soumillon Team for French Group I Wins|date=22 May 2005|author=Blood-Horse staff|work=[[The Blood-Horse]]}}</ref>
In June Valixir was sent back to England for the Group One Queen Anne Stakes over one mile and started the 4/1 second choice in the betting behind the odds-on favourite [[Rakti]]. The other eight runners included [[Starcraft (horse)|Starcraft]], [[Pastoral Pursuits]], Martillo ([[Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen]]), Prince Kirk (2004 Prix d'Ispahan) and Hurricane Alan ([[Sandown Mile]]). As [[Ascot Racecourse]] was closed for redevelopment the 2005 "Royal Ascot" meeting (including the Queen Anne) was relocated and took place at [[York Racecourse]]. Soumillon settled the colt behind the leaders before moving up to take the lead from Rakti approaching the final furlong. Valixir ran on strongly to win by a length and a half from the favourite with Starcraft half a length away in third place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/107/york/2005-06-14/381946|title=Queen Anne Stakes result|publisher=Racing Post|date=14 June 2005}}</ref> After the race the Aga Khan said "I have not had horses with André Fabre until recently and he is an outstanding trainer. It looked as though Rakti wasn't going to go on and I think Christophe found himself in front a bit earlier than he expected. The horse surprised me today in the sense that he has improved".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/jun/14/horseracing.uk|title=Valixir leaves Rakti on the rack|author=staff & agencies|date=14 June 2005|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Soumillon, who described the winner as "a true champion", celebrated by throwing his [[Crop (implement)|riding whip]] into the crowd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/4078326.stm|title=Shamardal cruises to York win|date=14 June 2005|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
At Maisons-Laffitte in July the colt was dropped to Group Three class for the Prix Messidor and started odds-on favourite despite carrying top weight of 136 pounds. He led from the start and won "comfortably" by a length from the [[Prix Daniel Wildenstein]] winner Special Kaldoun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/213/maisons-laffitte/2005-07-24/389778|title=Prix Messidor result |publisher=Racing Post|date=24 July 2005}}</ref>
In his next two races Valixir contested France's two most prestigious weight-for-age events over one mile: the [[Prix Jacques Le Marois]] at Deauville in August and the [[Prix du Moulin]] at Longchamp in September. At Deauville he was held up at the rear of the field before staying on in the closing stages and finished third to [[Dubawi]] and [[Whipper (horse)|Whipper]] with the favourite [[Divine Proportions]] in fourth place. At Longchamp he started favourite against eight opponents but after turning into the straight he was unable to quicken in the closing stages and finished fifth, more than six lengths behind the winner Starcraft. On his final run of the year Valixir was sent to the United States for the [[Breeders' Cup Mile]] at [[Belmont Park]] on 29 October. He started the 8/1 third choice in the betting but made little impact in the race, finishing tenth of the eleven runners behind [[Artie Schiller]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/258/belmont-park/2005-10-29/393884|title=Breeders' Cup Mile result |publisher=Racing Post|date=29 October 2005}}</ref>
At the end of November, Valixir was acquired by [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Sheikh Mohammed]]'s [[Godolphin Racing|Godolphin]] organisation and joined the training stable of [[Saeed bin Suroor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/167532/godolphin-buys-shawanda-valixir-from-aga-khan|title=Godolphin Buys Shawanda, Valixir from Aga Khan|author=Blood-Horse staff|date=30 November 2005|work=The Blood-Horse}}</ref>
===2006: five-year-old season===
In 2006 Valixir was ridden is all three of his starts by [[Frankie Dettori]] and began his season at [[Nad Al Sheba Racecourse]] in [[Dubai]]. On 3 March he started second favourite for the [[Jebel Hatta]] but after leading from most of the way he was outpaced in the closing stages and finished seventh behind Touch of Land. Three weeks later he started second favourite for the [[Dubai Turf|Dubai Duty Free]] but ran very poorly, finishing fourteenth of the fifteen runners, more than twenty lengths behind the winner [[David Junior (horse)|David Junior]]. Valixir was then sent to Singapore on 14 May for the [[Singapore Airlines International Cup]] at [[Kranji Racecourse]] where he finished last of the thirteen runners behind the Japanese runner [[Cosmo Bulk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/794/kranji/2006-05-14/409690|title=Singapore Airlines International Cup result |publisher=Racing Post|date=14 May 2006}}</ref>
==Assessment==
In the [[2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings]] Valixir was given a rating of 116, sixteen pounds behind the top-rated [[Ghostzapper]], making him the 82nd best racehorse in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/2004Rankings/2004_Rankings_All.asp|title=IFHA 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings|publisher=IFHA}}</ref> [[2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings|In the following year]] his 121 rating made him the 30th best racehorse in the world and the top-rated four-year-old in Europe over one mile.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.horseracingintfed.com/resources/2005Rankings/2005_WorldRankings.asp|title=IFHA 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings|publisher=IFHA}}</ref>
==Stud record==
At the end of his racing career Valixir was acquired by the [[New South Wales]]-based Lomar Park Stud and was retired to become a breeding stallion in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/australia/Archive.aspx?id=27582&page=103&keyword= |title= Valixir to stand at Lomar Park Stud |author= Brian Russell |date= 23 January 2007 |work= Thoroughbred News}}</ref> He has sired several minor winners but no top-class performers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/583120/valixir|publisher=Racing Post|title=Valixir – Stud Record}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stallions.com.au/stallions/a_stud_record.php?arion_id=102645764&hemisphere=1|title=Stallions – Valixir|publisher=stallions.com.au}}</ref>
==Pedigree==
{{Pedigree
|name = Valixir (IRE), bay stallion, 2001<ref name="pedigree"/>
|inf =
|f = [[Trempolino]] (GB)<br />1984
|m = Vadlamixa (FR)<br />1992
|ff = [[Sharpen Up]] (GB)<br />1969　
|fm = Trephine (FR)<br />1977
|mf = [[Linamix]] (FR)<br />1987
|mm = Vadlava (FR)<br />1984
|fff = Atan
|ffm = Rocchetta
|fmf = [[Viceregal (horse)|Viceregal]]
|fmm = Quiriquina
|mff = [[Mendez (horse)|Mendez]]
|mfm = Lunadix
|mmf = [[Bikala]]
|mmm = Vadsa
|ffff = [[Native Dancer]]
|fffm = Mixed Marriage
|ffmf = Rockefella
|ffmm = Chambiges
|fmff = [[Northern Dancer]]
|fmfm = Victoria Regina
|fmmf = [[Molvedo]]
|fmmm = La Chaussee
|mfff = [[Bellypha]]
|mffm = Miss Carina
|mfmf = Breton
|mfmm = Lutine
|mmff = [[Kalamoun]]
|mmfm = Irish Bird
|mmmf = [[Halo (horse)|Halo]]
|mmmm = Rainbow's Edge (Family: 20-d)<ref name="tbl"/>
}}
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
[[Category:2001 racehorse births]]
[[Category:Racehorses bred in Ireland]]
[[Category:Racehorses trained in France]]
[[Category:Racehorses trained in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Thoroughbred family 20-d]]