Rule of Law (horse)

Rule of Law
Sire	Kingmambo
Grandsire	Mr. Prospector
Dam	Crystal Crossing
Damsire	Royal Academy
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	6 March 2001
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Robert Sangster and Ben Sangster
Owner	Sheikh Mohammed Godolphin
Trainer	David Loder Saeed bin Suroor
Record	9: 4-2-2
Earnings	£721,261
Major wins
Acomb Stakes (2003) Great Voltigeur Stakes (2004) St. Leger Stakes (2004)
Awards
Timeform rating 125[1]
Honours
World Champion Stayer (2004)

Rule of Law (foaled 6 March 2001), is a retired World Champion Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in the United States but trained in Britain. In a career which lasted from June 2003 until September 2004, he ran nine times and won four races. He recorded his most important victory when winning the Classic St. Leger Stakes on his final racecourse appearance. He had previously finished second in the 2004 Epsom Derby.

Background

Rule of Law, described by Timeform as a "leggy, attractive"^[1] bay horse, was bred in the United States by Robert Sangster. He is one of many notable thoroughbred racehorses^[2] sired by Kingmambo, a son of Mr. Prospector. His dam, Crystal Crossing, as a descendant of the successful racehorse and broodmare Violetta, was closely related to the Derby winner Teenoso.^[3] Before the start of his racing career, Rule of Law was acquired by Sheikh Mohammed who sent him into training with David Loder at Newmarket, Suffolk. For the 2004 season, the colt was transferred to the Godolphin Racing organisation and was trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

Racing career

2003: two-year-old season

Rule of Law ran four times as a two-year-old, ridden on each occasion by Jamie Spencer. He made his debut in a seven furlong maiden race at Sandown Park Racecourse in June, in which he finished third to Grand Rich King. A month later Rule of Law appeared in a similar event at York Racecourse and led from the start before drawing clear in the closing stages and winning by seven lengths.^[4] Rule of Law returned to York in August and was moved up in class to contest the Listed Acomb Stakes. Starting the 15/8 favourite, he led from the early stages and held the late challenge of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Celtic Cat to win by a neck.^[5] On his final start of the season, Rule of Law was again promoted in class for the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot in September. Spencer again attempted to make all the running, but Rule of Law was caught in the final furlong and finished third, beaten a short head and three quarters of a length by Snow Ridge and Moscow Ballet.^[6]

2004: three-year-old season

Rule of Law began his three-year-old season in the Group Two Dante Stakes at York, an important trial race for the Epsom Derby. Starting at odds of 8/1 and ridden by Frankie Dettori he kept on well in the closing stages to finish second to North Light, beaten half a length, with Let The Lion Roar two and a half lengths back in third.

In the Epsom Derby on 5 June, Rule of Law started a 20/1 outsider, and was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy as Dettori had opted to ride Godolphin's other runner, Snow Ridge. McEvoy restrained Rule of Law at the back of the field before moving him to the outside to make his challenge in the straight. The finish proved to be a repeat of the Dante, with North Light winning by a length and a half from Rule of Law and Let the Lion Roar. In the Irish Derby at The Curragh three weeks later, Rule of Law took the lead in the straight but was outpaced in the closing stages and finished fourth behind Grey Swallow, North Light and Tycoon. In August, Rule of Law was sent to York for the Great Voltigeur Stakes, a major trial race for the St Leger. Ridden by Dettori, he "dominated"^[7] the race from the start and quickened clear in the straight to win by two and a half lengths from Let the Lion Roar.^[8]

In the St Leger at Doncaster on 11 September, Rule of Law started 3/1 joint favourite alongside the Michael Stoute-trained filly Quiff, the winner of the Yorkshire Oaks. He was the Godolphin team's sole representative and had been strongly fancied after working impressively in training.^[9] McEvoy sent Rule of Law into the lead from the start and set a moderate pace before sending him into a clear lead in the straight. In the closing stages he was strongly challenged by Quiff, but ran on "gamely"^[10] to win by a head in what the BBC described as a "thrilling finish".^[11]

Rule of Law was sent to Dubai for the winter of 2004/5, where he sustained a foot injury.^[12] He stayed in training for a further two seasons, but never ran again, owing to his inability to recover fully from his injury problems.^[1]

Assessment and honours

Rule of Law was rated the best racehorse in the world over extended distances in 2004 when he was given a rating of 120 in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.^[13]

Stud career

Rule of Law was retired to stand at his owner's Darley Stud. He has been based in Japan before moving in 2011 to the Kedorah House Stud in County Tipperary, Ireland.^[14] To date, he has had little success as a sire of winners.^[15]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Rule of Law, bay stallion (2001)^[16]

Sire Kingmambo	Mr. Prospector	Raise a Native	Native Dancer
			Raise You
		Gold Digger	Nashua
			Sequence
	Miesque	Nureyev	Northern Dancer*
			Special
		Pasodoble	Prove Out
			Santa Quilla
Dam Crystal Crossing	Royal Academy	Nijinsky	Northern Dancer*
			Flaming Page
		Crimson Saint	Crimson Satan
			Bolero Rose
	Never So Fair	Never So Bold	Bold Lad (IRE)
			Never Never Land
		Favoletta	Baldric
			Violetta (Family 3-c[3])

• Rule of Law is inbred 4 × 4 to Northern Dancer, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References

1. "Horse – Godolphin". Timeform. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
2. "Kingmambo | Stud Record | Bloodstock Stallion Book". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
3. "Whisker Mare – Family 3-c". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
4. "Results from the 4.50 race at YORK – 11 July 2003". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
5. "Acomb Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
6. "Royal Lodge Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
7. Horse Racing (2004-08-18). "Law takes Telegraph race". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
8. "Great Voltigeur Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
9. Ken Oliver (2004-09-07). "Rule of Law is St Leger favourite". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
10. "St Leger Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
11. "Rule of Law wins St Leger". BBC News. 2004-09-11. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
12. "Leger hero Rule Of Law unlikely to return this season". Retrieved 2012-05-07 – via Free Online Library.
13. "IFHA WORLD THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSE RANKINGS 2004". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. 2004-12-31. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
14. "Rule Of Law to stand at Kedrah House Stud". Racing Post. 2011-11-12. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
15. "Rule Of Law Stud Record". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
16. "Rule of Law pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-07-03.