Tale of the Cat (USA)
April 13, 1994 – Living
Storm Cat (USA) x Yarn (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)
Family 2-f
April 13, 1994 – Living
Storm Cat (USA) x Yarn (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)
Family 2-f
Tale of the Cat was bred primarily for brilliance and proved possessed of that quality in an impressive win in the 1997 King’s Bishop Stakes (USA-G2). Trainer John Forbes was convinced that the colt was capable of going longer distances than the 7 furlongs of the King’s Bishop, but Tale of the Cat never quite delivered over longer trips although he ran well two two tries over 9 furlongs in Grade 1 company. His stallion career was inconsistent—in no small part because of the huge books he has served at Ashford Stud—but he was commercially successful and sired some high-class runners here and there.
Race record
9 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$360,900
1997:
1998:
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse standing 15.3 hands, Tale of the Cat is muscular and powerful with excellent hindquarters and a stong, straight hind leg but is rather heavy in the forehand. He was a good mover on the track. He did not race at 2 due to shin problems and shoeing issues and was retired in the fall of his 4-year-old season after fracturing his left fore ankle. He could be fractious when poised to deliver a major effort. He is said to have exhibited self-mutilating behavior while at stud.
As a stallion
As of July 29, 2023, Tale of the Cat has sired 1562 winners (58.1%) and 109 stakes winners (4.1%) from 2687 named foals of racing age. He is generally considered an influence for speed and precocity but has sired a number of offspring that stayed at least 10 furlongs when he was put to more stoutly bred mates.
Sire rankings
Per Arion (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Cat Moves (USA), Gathering (AUS), Gio Ponti (USA), Glamour Puss (AUS), Lion Heart (USA), My Trusty Cat (USA), She’s a Tiger (USA), Stopchargingmaria (USA), Tale of Ekati (USA), Tell a Tale (AUS)
Notable progeny of daughters
Amazing Maria (IRE), Dortmund (USA), La Renoleta (ARG), Smashing Glory (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tale of the Cat was bred at Indian Creek Farm. After selling for US$375,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale, he was owned by Phantom House Stable. After his victory in the King’s Bishop Stakes, Coolmore bought a half interest in the colt for US$7.1 million. Tale of the Cat was trained by John Forbes and was regularly ridden by Julie Krone. He entered stud at Coolmore's Kentucky operation, Ashford Stud, in 1999 and has also stood in Australia and New Zealand. He was pensioned at Ashford in October 2021.
Pedigree notes
Tale of the Cat is inbred 3x5 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and epochal sire Northern Dancer, 4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler, 5x4 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer, and 5x5 to two-time American champion sire and eight-time American champion broodmare sire Princequillo. He is a half brother to 2000 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Minardi (by Boundary) and to restricted stakes winner Spunoutacontrol (by Wild Again), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Fed Biz (by Giant's Causeway) and restricted stakes winner Spun Silk (by A.P. Indy); second dam of four stakes winners including 2016 Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1) winner Joking; and third dam of Grade 2 winner Red Carpet Ready. Tale of the Cat is also a half brother to Myth (by Ogygian), dam of 2001 American and European champion 2-year-old male Johannesburg (by Hennessy) and of Show Me the Roses (by Storm Cat), second dam of Grade 2 winner Stanford. Finally, Tale of the Cat is a half brother to Castanea (by Horse Chestnut), second dam of Grade 3 winner Untrapped.
Tale of the Cat and his siblings are out of Yarn, whose full sister Preach won the 1991 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) before producing multiple Grade 2 winner and successful sire Pulpit (by A.P. Indy) and stakes producers Tell It (by Storm Cat), Orate (by A.P. Indy) and Convent (by A.P. Indy). Yarn and Preach, in turn, are out of the Honest Pleasure mare Narrate, winner of the 1983 Falls City Handicap (USA-G3) and a half sister to Grade 2 winner Region (by Devil's Bag), Grade 3 winners Announce (by Forty Niner) and Double Feint (by Spectacular Bid) and listed stakes winner Dibs (by Spectacular Bid; dam of Grade 2 winner Simmard, by Dixieland Band, and multiple French stakes winner Le Carre, by Miswaki). The female line traces back to 1959 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Monarchy, a full sister to the great Round Table.
Books and media
A Thoroughbred Daily News video of Tale of the Cat as an older stallion at Ashford Stud can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcFNeyIyEnE.
Last updated: July 29, 2023
Race record
9 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$360,900
1997:
- Won King's Bishop Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
1998:
- 2nd Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1.7FD, Belmont)
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse standing 15.3 hands, Tale of the Cat is muscular and powerful with excellent hindquarters and a stong, straight hind leg but is rather heavy in the forehand. He was a good mover on the track. He did not race at 2 due to shin problems and shoeing issues and was retired in the fall of his 4-year-old season after fracturing his left fore ankle. He could be fractious when poised to deliver a major effort. He is said to have exhibited self-mutilating behavior while at stud.
As a stallion
As of July 29, 2023, Tale of the Cat has sired 1562 winners (58.1%) and 109 stakes winners (4.1%) from 2687 named foals of racing age. He is generally considered an influence for speed and precocity but has sired a number of offspring that stayed at least 10 furlongs when he was put to more stoutly bred mates.
Sire rankings
Per Arion (www.arion.co.nz):
- 8th on the New Zealand general sire list in 2008/2009.
- 10th on the New Zealand broodmare sire list in 2015/2016.
- 9th on the North American broodmare sire list in 2015.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 7th on the American general sire list in 2008; 8th in 2010; 10th in 2004 and 2009.
- 9th in the American broodmare sire list in 2015.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2003.
Notable progeny
Cat Moves (USA), Gathering (AUS), Gio Ponti (USA), Glamour Puss (AUS), Lion Heart (USA), My Trusty Cat (USA), She’s a Tiger (USA), Stopchargingmaria (USA), Tale of Ekati (USA), Tell a Tale (AUS)
Notable progeny of daughters
Amazing Maria (IRE), Dortmund (USA), La Renoleta (ARG), Smashing Glory (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tale of the Cat was bred at Indian Creek Farm. After selling for US$375,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale, he was owned by Phantom House Stable. After his victory in the King’s Bishop Stakes, Coolmore bought a half interest in the colt for US$7.1 million. Tale of the Cat was trained by John Forbes and was regularly ridden by Julie Krone. He entered stud at Coolmore's Kentucky operation, Ashford Stud, in 1999 and has also stood in Australia and New Zealand. He was pensioned at Ashford in October 2021.
Pedigree notes
Tale of the Cat is inbred 3x5 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and epochal sire Northern Dancer, 4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler, 5x4 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer, and 5x5 to two-time American champion sire and eight-time American champion broodmare sire Princequillo. He is a half brother to 2000 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Minardi (by Boundary) and to restricted stakes winner Spunoutacontrol (by Wild Again), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Fed Biz (by Giant's Causeway) and restricted stakes winner Spun Silk (by A.P. Indy); second dam of four stakes winners including 2016 Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1) winner Joking; and third dam of Grade 2 winner Red Carpet Ready. Tale of the Cat is also a half brother to Myth (by Ogygian), dam of 2001 American and European champion 2-year-old male Johannesburg (by Hennessy) and of Show Me the Roses (by Storm Cat), second dam of Grade 2 winner Stanford. Finally, Tale of the Cat is a half brother to Castanea (by Horse Chestnut), second dam of Grade 3 winner Untrapped.
Tale of the Cat and his siblings are out of Yarn, whose full sister Preach won the 1991 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) before producing multiple Grade 2 winner and successful sire Pulpit (by A.P. Indy) and stakes producers Tell It (by Storm Cat), Orate (by A.P. Indy) and Convent (by A.P. Indy). Yarn and Preach, in turn, are out of the Honest Pleasure mare Narrate, winner of the 1983 Falls City Handicap (USA-G3) and a half sister to Grade 2 winner Region (by Devil's Bag), Grade 3 winners Announce (by Forty Niner) and Double Feint (by Spectacular Bid) and listed stakes winner Dibs (by Spectacular Bid; dam of Grade 2 winner Simmard, by Dixieland Band, and multiple French stakes winner Le Carre, by Miswaki). The female line traces back to 1959 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Monarchy, a full sister to the great Round Table.
Books and media
A Thoroughbred Daily News video of Tale of the Cat as an older stallion at Ashford Stud can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcFNeyIyEnE.
Last updated: July 29, 2023