« Download Stud Brochure (PDF 1.6mb) »

« News Round up 2009 »

There can be little doubt that Redoutable was a complete one-off. For an 'entire' to have run in more than 188 races spanning 12 years, bears the utmost testimony to his enthusiasm, his soundness and his temperament. When the Good Lord made this horse, he must have thrown away the mould!

Tom o' Ryan
Racing Post

Redoutable's long and distinguished career epitomises the key ingredients required in the modern racehorse: speed, athleticism, toughness and durability.

In a career spanning 12 years, Reboutable won 21 races - 11 on turf and 10 on the All-Weather - the last of them remarkably at the age of 14.

Redoutable stamped his class as a juvenile when winning the Listed National Stakes at Sandown in 1993 for Richard Hannon, and in doing so lowered the colours of stable companion Risky, who went on to win the Queen Mary Stakes, the Weatherbys Super Spirit and the Molecomb Stacks.

Later in his career, as a popular handicapper with David Chapman, Redoutable won a 0-100 handicap at Newcastle as a seven-year-old, and beat another competitive field to take a 0-95 handicap at Thirsk a year later.

At his best on flat ground on turf, he proved his versatility by winning on Fibresand and Polytack on the All-weather. A veteran of more than 180 races, he was good enough to win at Southwell and Lingfield as a veteran.

His proud trainer David Chapman says: "He's been a great horse for us over the years and we've resisted several offers from America, where he would have been in demand as a commercial stallion."

Simon Mapletoft
At The Races

THE remarkable Redoubtable made light of his 14 years to get up close home in the five-furlong event and end a frustrating wait for Tony Culhane as the rider celebrated his first winner since returning from injury.

Owner-trainer David Chapman, who got a bit of 50-1 abut his 28-1 winner, said: "He hasn't won at this trip for a long time but I knew he was very well. He's been a great horse for us over the years, and I've had to resist a fair few offers from America, where he would have been in demand as a stallion."

Racing Post historian John Randall last night believed Redoubtable's success was the first time a 14-year-old had posted a win on the Flat in Britain for more than 30 years.

He said: "Redoubtable is possibly the first 14-year-old Flat winner in Britain since Le Garcon d'Or, who won the last of his record 34 races at that age in 1972."

Redoubtable's win was the 21st time he had got his head in front in 169 starts, and remarkably the first time he had won over the minimum trip since landing Sandown's National Stakes under Pat Eddery when in the care of Richard Hannon back in 1993.

THE 13-year-old Redoubtable was the most popular winner of the evening, the veteran chalking up the 20th win of his career on his 157th start when powering home in the seller.

Ridden by Tony Culhane, he was settled off the pace but quickened up in the style of a three-year-old to win going away by two and a half lengths to gain his fourth win of the year.

A Listed winner as a juvenile when with Richard Hannon, Redoubtable moved to Godolphin for his four-year-old career when he acted as lead horse for Derby winner Lammtarra, and was bought by his current owner-trainer David Chapman the following year.

What is particularly remarkable about him is that he is still an entire, and he still covers a few mares.
"We don't advertise him, but he often covers a couple. He covered only one last year, but he's got a nice colt foal," said Chapman, who not surprisingly was able to retain him without a bid.

Racing Post

REDOUBTABLE
Age: 13
Trainer/owner: David Chapman
First race/win: Chester, May 5, 1993
Total wins and earnings: 18 wins from 151 starts (pounds 142,152) (also won and placed in Dubai in 1996, earning pounds 7,894) Best moment: Winning Listed National Stakes, Sandown, 1993 Favourite track: Lingfield Background: A $32,000 yearling originally trained by Richard Hannon and a leading winter Guineas contender, before being bought by Godolphin as lead horse for 1995 Derby winner Lammtarra. Present trainer bought him as a six-year-old for just 5,200gns and he has since won 16 times Tell us about him "Grand character, no trouble at all, especially for a stallion," says Chapman. "He became a father recently, having covered two mares last year, but sadly his first foal died. The second is due in early May. He must be the oldest winning stallion around. It's put new life into him - he's now eyeing up one of our younger fillies!" What's he like at home? "Sound as a bell, never needs a vet. Very clean in his box - does all his droppings in one corner - and only uses half as much bedding as the rest. Gets on really well with his groom Lynn Littlefayre." Likes Food; being turned out in the paddock. Dislikes "None - he's a happy boy." What would he be in human terms? A favourite grandad. Describe what he means to you "This year has been very special because of his two wins already. Apart from Glencroft, he's the nicest horse I've ever trained. Both he and Glencroft are extra special to me."

IF Redoubtable ever writes his autobiography, it will be a tale to make Jordan's appear tame.

Now 13 and still winning races, the sprinter was a high-class juvenile, has been ridden by Lester Piggott, and acted as lead horse to Lammtarra. Add to that the fact that he was introduced to the pleasures of the flesh last year at the age of 12, and you have a potential best-seller.

Today, the most evergreen of Flat racehorses goes after the 18th success of a remarkable career when he lines up in Southwell's six-furlong banded stakes. Triumphant in a similar heat at Lingfield this month, David Chapman's entire goes up against 13 rivals but, win or no win, the American-bred will remain a star in the eyes of his owner-trainer.

"He's a gentleman, no trouble at all," said Chapman, who devised an unusual way of revitalising Redoubtable after 2003 passed without a victory. "He didn't fire at all last season," said Chapman, "but he covered two of my mares for the first time last year and it seems to have given him a new lease of life. He keeps looking at the mares, so I've told him if he continues running well I'll let him cover a few more!"

Now rated only 35, in days of yore Redoubtable landed the Listed National Stakes for Richard Hannon, was third in the Middle Park Stakes, and was sent off at odds of 14-1 for the 2,000 Guineas. Then he went to the desert. "I bought him as a five-year-old after he had a spell in Dubai and acted as lead horse to Lammtarra, which didn't do him much good," said Chapman. "He's also well bred and the late Joss Collins spent years trying to buy him for a stud in America. I'm glad we kept him.

"He loves his days out and is really a bit of a boyo," added Chapman. "He pretends he doesn't want to go into the wagon but we know damn well he does. He's winning again, and though it's in a low grade, we haven't told him - he still thinks he's winning the National Stakes!"

IF REDOUBTABLE did not make a bit of racing history at Thirsk on Saturday, he came very close to it. The eight-year-old's victory in the Black Cat Fireworks Handicap came 37 years after the birth of his sire Grey Dawn.

That is an astonishing gap, and I don't know of a greater one when it comes to a Flat winner. It is exceptionally rare for a stallion to be active at the age of 28, Grey Dawn's age when Redoubtable was conceived. That crop, foaled in 1991, numbered a remarkable 27 foals and was the last for Grey Dawn, who died that year.

Grey Dawn, a contemporary and compatriot of Sea-Bird, was the champion French two-year-old of 1964 and was then second in the Poulains before being exported to the US, where the son of Herbager won a stakes event on turf at four.

The first of his 24 crops was foaled in 1968. His offspring include North American champions Heavenly Cause (two-year-old filly) and Christmas Past (three-year-old filly), while among his sons are top-level winners Bounding Basque, Delegant, Dunbeath, Mr Redoy, Swing Till Dawn and Vigors. His daughters have produced the likes of Alphabatim, El Senor, Itsallgreektome, Opening Verse and Silver Patriarch.

Redoubtable, who is out of a half-sister to Prix Lupin winner Persepolis, is Grey Dawn's only runner in Britain and Ireland since the beginning of 1994. In 1993, Redoubtable, then trained by Richard Hannon, won the National Stakes (Listed) and was third in the Group 3 Norfolk Stakes and Group 1 Middle Park Stakes.

At three, he showed smart form from six to eight furlongs in the best company and was then sent to Dubai, where he won twice in decent company, before being sold for 5,500gns at the 1997 Tattersalls July Sales to David Chapman.

The trainer recalls: "People said he had far too many miles on the clock. He'd been a lead horse for Lammtarra. I saw him and thought what a lovely little horse he was. The following week people contacted me asking to buy him as a stallion. I'd entered him for pounds 10,000 in a claimer, so thought I'd better not run!"

He has won five races for Chapman and eventually will become the last son of Grey Dawn at stud.

Racing Post