Domedriver (IRE)
March 15, 1998 – ?
Indian Ridge (IRE) x Napoli (GB), by Baillamont (USA)
Family 8-f
March 15, 1998 – ?
Indian Ridge (IRE) x Napoli (GB), by Baillamont (USA)
Family 8-f
After he won a world-record seven straight Group 1 races, Rock of Gibraltar was supposed to be the star of the show in the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Mile (USA-G1). Instead, Domedriver delivered a 26-1 upset in a race flawed by the fatal breakdown of Rock of Gibraltar’s stablemate, Landseer. Domedriver did not win any more major races but ran well enough at 5 to be considered France’s best older miler that year. He was not a success at stud.
Race record
21 starts, 6 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,028,349 (includes converted English, French, and Italian earnings)
2000:
2001:
2002:
2003:
Assessments
Rated as the highweight older male in France over 7 to 9.5 furlongs in 2003.
Rated at 119 pounds in the Mile category on the 2003 International Classifications, 14 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing (who was also the top-rated miler).
As an individual
A well-balanced bay horse with powerful, rounded hindquarters, Domesdriver appeared to stand slightly higher at the hips than the withers. Domedriver preferred soft ground and did best in races with a solid pace to run at. His temperament was said to be excellent.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Domedriver sired 84 winners and 6 stakes winners from 205 named foals of racing age. His best runner was French Group 2 winner Domeside, the 2012 champion imported stayer in Spain.
Notable progeny
Domeside (GB)
Connections
Domedriver was bred and owned by the Niarchos family, which raced him in North America in the name of its Flaxside Holdings. He was trained by Pascal Bary and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Mile victory by Thierry Thulliez. He entered stud in 2004 at Lanwades Stud, Newmarket, England. He moved to France in 2009. In 2014, France-Galop reported that he was exported to Tunisia.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1989 King's Stand Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Indian Ridge (a fine stallion in Europe), Domedriver is inbred 5x5 to 1955 Woodward Stakes winner Traffic Judge. He is a half brother to 2002 Prix du Prince d’Orange (FR-G3) winner Tau Ceti (by Hernando) and to Forest Rain (by Caerleon), dam of 2006 Prix de Pomone (FR-G2) winner Freedonia (by Selkirk) and, through her, second dam of 2019 Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (FR-G1) winner Albigna. Domedriver is also a half brother to Niamey (by Pivotal), dam of Japanese listed stakes winner Savoir Aimer (by Daiwa Major).
Domedriver and his siblings were produced from three-time French listed stakes winner Napoli (by multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Baillamont, by Blushing Groom), a full sister to 1993 La Coupe (FR-G3) winner D’Arros. Napoli is also a half sister to Metaphysique (by Law Society), dam of English listed stakes winner Sergeant York (by Be My Chief), and to Winning Appeal, second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Im Spartacus.
The next dam in Domedriver’s tail-female line, Bella Senora (by Northern Dancer), is a full sister to multiple champions Try My Best and El Gran Senor and to 1989/1990 South African champion sire Northern Guest. Produced from the excellent broodmare Sex Appeal (by Buckpasser), Bella Senora is also a full sister to Golden Oriole, dam of 2001 Beresford Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Castle Gandolfo and second dam of 2013/2014 Brazilian champion older female Estrela Monarchos and Grade 3 winner Peace Achieved, and to Northern Prancer, third dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Chinchon. In addition, Bella Senora is a half sister to multiple Irish Group 3 winner Solar (by Halo), second dam of 2004 Nunthorpe Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Bahamian Pirate and third dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Clapton and Chilean Group 3 winner Mar Hondo; to Carillon Miss (by The Minstrel), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Blu Carillon (by Love the Groom), French Group 3 winner Blu Air Force (by Sri Pekan) and Italian stakes winners Try My Segnor (by Tirol) and Blu Air Gun (by Spectrum); to Russian Ballet (by Nijinsky II), dam of Irish stakes winner and highweight Dr Johnson (by Woodman); and to Lotta Lace (by Nureyev), dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Fusaichi Pandora (by Sunday Silence) and second dam of 2018 Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye.
Books and media
Footage of Domedriver’s win in the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Mile can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDuUKwLGNLs.
Last updated: July 22, 2023
Race record
21 starts, 6 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,028,349 (includes converted English, French, and Italian earnings)
2000:
- Won Prix Isonomy (FR-L, 1600mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
2001:
- Won Prix de Tourgeville (FR-L, 1600mT, Deauville)
- 2nd Prix de La Jonchere (FR-G3, 1600mT, Chantilly)
- 3rd Prix Quincey (FR-G3, 1600mT, Deauville)
- 3rd Prix Djebel (FR-L, 1400mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
2002:
- Won NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1, 8FT, Arlington Park)
- Won Prix Daniel Wildenstein (FR-G2, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord (FR-G3, 1600mT, Chantilly)
- 2nd Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- 2nd Prix Messidor (FR-G3, 1600mT, Deauville)
2003:
- 2nd Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- 2nd Prix du Muguet (FR-G2, 1600mT, Saint-Cloud)
Assessments
Rated as the highweight older male in France over 7 to 9.5 furlongs in 2003.
Rated at 119 pounds in the Mile category on the 2003 International Classifications, 14 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing (who was also the top-rated miler).
As an individual
A well-balanced bay horse with powerful, rounded hindquarters, Domesdriver appeared to stand slightly higher at the hips than the withers. Domedriver preferred soft ground and did best in races with a solid pace to run at. His temperament was said to be excellent.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Domedriver sired 84 winners and 6 stakes winners from 205 named foals of racing age. His best runner was French Group 2 winner Domeside, the 2012 champion imported stayer in Spain.
Notable progeny
Domeside (GB)
Connections
Domedriver was bred and owned by the Niarchos family, which raced him in North America in the name of its Flaxside Holdings. He was trained by Pascal Bary and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Mile victory by Thierry Thulliez. He entered stud in 2004 at Lanwades Stud, Newmarket, England. He moved to France in 2009. In 2014, France-Galop reported that he was exported to Tunisia.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1989 King's Stand Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Indian Ridge (a fine stallion in Europe), Domedriver is inbred 5x5 to 1955 Woodward Stakes winner Traffic Judge. He is a half brother to 2002 Prix du Prince d’Orange (FR-G3) winner Tau Ceti (by Hernando) and to Forest Rain (by Caerleon), dam of 2006 Prix de Pomone (FR-G2) winner Freedonia (by Selkirk) and, through her, second dam of 2019 Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (FR-G1) winner Albigna. Domedriver is also a half brother to Niamey (by Pivotal), dam of Japanese listed stakes winner Savoir Aimer (by Daiwa Major).
Domedriver and his siblings were produced from three-time French listed stakes winner Napoli (by multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Baillamont, by Blushing Groom), a full sister to 1993 La Coupe (FR-G3) winner D’Arros. Napoli is also a half sister to Metaphysique (by Law Society), dam of English listed stakes winner Sergeant York (by Be My Chief), and to Winning Appeal, second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Im Spartacus.
The next dam in Domedriver’s tail-female line, Bella Senora (by Northern Dancer), is a full sister to multiple champions Try My Best and El Gran Senor and to 1989/1990 South African champion sire Northern Guest. Produced from the excellent broodmare Sex Appeal (by Buckpasser), Bella Senora is also a full sister to Golden Oriole, dam of 2001 Beresford Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Castle Gandolfo and second dam of 2013/2014 Brazilian champion older female Estrela Monarchos and Grade 3 winner Peace Achieved, and to Northern Prancer, third dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Chinchon. In addition, Bella Senora is a half sister to multiple Irish Group 3 winner Solar (by Halo), second dam of 2004 Nunthorpe Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Bahamian Pirate and third dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Clapton and Chilean Group 3 winner Mar Hondo; to Carillon Miss (by The Minstrel), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Blu Carillon (by Love the Groom), French Group 3 winner Blu Air Force (by Sri Pekan) and Italian stakes winners Try My Segnor (by Tirol) and Blu Air Gun (by Spectrum); to Russian Ballet (by Nijinsky II), dam of Irish stakes winner and highweight Dr Johnson (by Woodman); and to Lotta Lace (by Nureyev), dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Fusaichi Pandora (by Sunday Silence) and second dam of 2018 Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye.
Books and media
Footage of Domedriver’s win in the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Mile can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDuUKwLGNLs.
Last updated: July 22, 2023