By Andrea Branchini
It is simply wonderful that there is a Group 1 winning filly called Fonteyn. The name has such a life of its own that a quick look at pedigrees from the near and distant past shows at least 20 other horses so baptized, all over the world.
Why is that? When the great Northern Dancer (1961, bay, by Nearctic out of Natalma) ruled the Thoroughbred world, the names of his sons arrived fast and furious with solid connections to the stars of ballet, especially the Russian ones–a very rich vein. The two equine stallion princes of this great dynasty were Nijinsky (last winner of the English Triple Crown, trained by legendary Irishman Vincent O'Brien) and Nureyev (disqualified 2000 Guineas winner and phenomenal sire, trained by legendary Frenchman Francois Boutin). The first was named after the mad, mad, mad genius of the history of dance–while the second was the namesake to an individual greater than ballet itself: incredible performer, Soviet defector, rock star celebrity, handsome & androgynous.
Rudolph Nureyev the ballet dancer (1938-1993) was so good that the greatest ballerina of those golden years cancelled her retirement plans to dance with him, or so the story goes. Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991) was equal if not superior in star power and charisma to his 19-year-younger stage partner, and her life was just as romantic and rocambolesque: internationally bred (British-born, with Irish mother & Brazilian grandfather), childhood sojourns in Kentucky & China, Panamanian coup d'etat-engineering husband later shot by a political rival, prima ballerina of the Sadler's Wells (please note!) ballet company at 20 years of age. Together Nureyev and Fonteyn alighted the ballet stage all over the world.
Rudolf Nureyev's famously said: “At the end of 'Swan Lake', when she left the stage in her great white tutu, I would have followed her to the end of the world.”.
In the case of the equine Fonteyn who triumphed in Newmarket on October 1, 2022, in the Sun Chariot Stakes, following her was all that most of her fellow competitors could do, as she led the race, lost the lead and came back to win at the line–in a determined and graceful move worthy of a very great performer.
ROYAL BAHRAIN SUN CHARIOT S.-G1, £266,875, Newmarket, 10-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:35.53, g/s.
1–FONTEYN (GB), 128, f, 3, by Farhh (GB)–Luzia (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (GB); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Neil Callan.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
