Try My Best (USA)
April 28, 1975 – 1994
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Sex Appeal (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 8-f
April 28, 1975 – 1994
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Sex Appeal (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 8-f
A high-class juvenile, Try My Best was betrayed by his flawed foreleg conformation when he returned to the race course at 3. That same conformation prevented him from becoming a top sire in England, but he did well in Italy and got one important sire son in multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Last Tycoon, who was the Australian champion sire of 1993/94.
Race record
5 starts, 4 wins, 0 second, 0 thirds, £48,389
1977:
1978:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 130 pounds by Timeform as a 2-year-old.
Rated at 120 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
An attractive, medium-sized, close-coupled bay horse of great quality, Try My Best had excellent action but was at his best over firmer going. He was markedly back at the knee and rather light-boned. He was injured while running last in the 1978 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1), ending his racing career.
As a stallion
Despite his tendency to pass on his own back-at-the-knee conformation, Try My Best was a successful sire, getting 233 winners (57.1%) and 30 stakes winners (7.4%) from 408 named foals according to records kept by The Jockey Club; John Sparkman's Foundation Mares credits him with 32 stakes winners (7.8%). He did particularly well in Italy and was among the leading broodmare sires in Turkey.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Last Tycoon (IRE), My Best Valentine (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Try My Best was bred by E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm. He was owned by Robert Sangster and was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Following his win in the Vauxhall Trial Stakes, he was syndicated at a valuation of US$6 million. He was exported to Japan in 1992 and died there in 1994.
Pedigree notes
Try My Best is inbred 4x5 to 1933 dual English Classic winner and six-time English champion sire Hyperion. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1935 American Horse of the Year Discovery. He is a full brother to 1983 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1984 English champion miler and champion 3-year-old male El Gran Senor; to 1989/90 South African champion sire Northern Guest; and to Grade 3 producers Golden Oriole and Bella Senora, both the second dams of Grade 1 winners. He is also a half brother to Grade 3 winner Solar (by Halo); to Grade 3 producer Carillon Miss (by The Minstrel); and to stakes producers Russian Ballet (by Nijinsky II) and Lotta Lace (by Nureyev). The last-named mare is also the second dam of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye.
Try My Best is out of Sex Appeal, a half sister to 1975 Irish champion 2-year-old male Malinowski (by Sir Ivor) and to 1982 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Blush With Pride (by Blushing Groom), dam of French Group 2 winner Smolensk (by Danzig), Irish Group 3 winner Turnberry Isle (by Deputy Minister), and Grade 2 winner and 2007 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (by Deputy Minister). Sex Appeal is also a half sister to English Group 2 winner Giegud (by Sir Ivor) and Irish Group 3 winner Monroe (by Sir Ivor), dam of 1997 European champion 2-year-old male Xaar (by Zafonic), French Group 3 winners Masterclass (by The Minstrel) and Diese (by Diesis), and listed stakes winner Ile de Jinsky (by Ile de Bourbon).
Sex Appeal is out of 1968 Comely Stakes winner Best in Show, also the dam of Grade 1 producers Minnie Hauk (by Sir Ivor) and Nijinsky's Best (by Nijinsky II) and of Show Lady (by Sir Ivor), who has established an important branch of the family in Australia. The 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Best in Show is a full sister to stakes-placed Reckless Driver, dam of multiple stakes winner Greenbriar (by Nashua) and third dam of multiple Australian Group 3 winner Tolanda and Grade 3 winner Clamorosa. Best in Show is also a half sister to 1963 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Journalist (by Nashua) and to Stolen Date (by Sadair), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Bubinka (by Nashua) and French stakes winner Stoshka (by Nashua); second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Lady Carlotta; and third dam of 2003 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 2004 Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Grey Swallow, 1999 Indian champion sprinter Indiscretion, and Irish Group 3 winner Moonlight Dance. In addition, Best in Show is a half sister to Hourly Desire (by Advocator), dam of juvenile stakes winner Existing Desire (by Our Native).
Last updated: July 24, 2023
Race record
5 starts, 4 wins, 0 second, 0 thirds, £48,389
1977:
- Won William Hill Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1, 7FT, Newmarket)
- Won Larkspur Stakes (IRE-G3, The Curragh)
1978:
- Won Vauxhall Trial Stakes (IRE-G3, 7FT, Phoenix Park)
Honors
- English champion 2-year-old male (1977)
- Irish champion 2-year-old male (1977)
- Irish champion miler (1978)
- Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male (1977)
Assessments
Rated at 130 pounds by Timeform as a 2-year-old.
Rated at 120 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
An attractive, medium-sized, close-coupled bay horse of great quality, Try My Best had excellent action but was at his best over firmer going. He was markedly back at the knee and rather light-boned. He was injured while running last in the 1978 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1), ending his racing career.
As a stallion
Despite his tendency to pass on his own back-at-the-knee conformation, Try My Best was a successful sire, getting 233 winners (57.1%) and 30 stakes winners (7.4%) from 408 named foals according to records kept by The Jockey Club; John Sparkman's Foundation Mares credits him with 32 stakes winners (7.8%). He did particularly well in Italy and was among the leading broodmare sires in Turkey.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Italian general sire list in 1990 and 1992; 2nd in 1991 and 1993.
Notable progeny
Last Tycoon (IRE), My Best Valentine (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Try My Best was bred by E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm. He was owned by Robert Sangster and was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Following his win in the Vauxhall Trial Stakes, he was syndicated at a valuation of US$6 million. He was exported to Japan in 1992 and died there in 1994.
Pedigree notes
Try My Best is inbred 4x5 to 1933 dual English Classic winner and six-time English champion sire Hyperion. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1935 American Horse of the Year Discovery. He is a full brother to 1983 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1984 English champion miler and champion 3-year-old male El Gran Senor; to 1989/90 South African champion sire Northern Guest; and to Grade 3 producers Golden Oriole and Bella Senora, both the second dams of Grade 1 winners. He is also a half brother to Grade 3 winner Solar (by Halo); to Grade 3 producer Carillon Miss (by The Minstrel); and to stakes producers Russian Ballet (by Nijinsky II) and Lotta Lace (by Nureyev). The last-named mare is also the second dam of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye.
Try My Best is out of Sex Appeal, a half sister to 1975 Irish champion 2-year-old male Malinowski (by Sir Ivor) and to 1982 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Blush With Pride (by Blushing Groom), dam of French Group 2 winner Smolensk (by Danzig), Irish Group 3 winner Turnberry Isle (by Deputy Minister), and Grade 2 winner and 2007 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (by Deputy Minister). Sex Appeal is also a half sister to English Group 2 winner Giegud (by Sir Ivor) and Irish Group 3 winner Monroe (by Sir Ivor), dam of 1997 European champion 2-year-old male Xaar (by Zafonic), French Group 3 winners Masterclass (by The Minstrel) and Diese (by Diesis), and listed stakes winner Ile de Jinsky (by Ile de Bourbon).
Sex Appeal is out of 1968 Comely Stakes winner Best in Show, also the dam of Grade 1 producers Minnie Hauk (by Sir Ivor) and Nijinsky's Best (by Nijinsky II) and of Show Lady (by Sir Ivor), who has established an important branch of the family in Australia. The 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Best in Show is a full sister to stakes-placed Reckless Driver, dam of multiple stakes winner Greenbriar (by Nashua) and third dam of multiple Australian Group 3 winner Tolanda and Grade 3 winner Clamorosa. Best in Show is also a half sister to 1963 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Journalist (by Nashua) and to Stolen Date (by Sadair), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Bubinka (by Nashua) and French stakes winner Stoshka (by Nashua); second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Lady Carlotta; and third dam of 2003 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 2004 Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Grey Swallow, 1999 Indian champion sprinter Indiscretion, and Irish Group 3 winner Moonlight Dance. In addition, Best in Show is a half sister to Hourly Desire (by Advocator), dam of juvenile stakes winner Existing Desire (by Our Native).
Last updated: July 24, 2023