Thornfield (CAN)
March 15, 1994 – January 20, 2023
Sky Classic (USA) x Alexandrina (CAN), by Conquistador Cielo (USA)
Family 9-g
March 15, 1994 – January 20, 2023
Sky Classic (USA) x Alexandrina (CAN), by Conquistador Cielo (USA)
Family 9-g
Slow to reach his best form, Thornfield earned Sovereign Awards as Canada’s top turf male and Horse of the Year by springing an upset in the 1999 Canadian International Stakes (CAN-G1) at odds of nearly 19-1. Physical issues kept him from reaching the same heights again, but he lived a long and comfortable life in retirement after his final start.
Race record
19 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,206,074 (included converted Canadian earnings)
1999:
Honors
As an individual
A handsome chestnut gelding, Thornfield was friendly and liked having human visitors.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Thornfield was bred and owned by Steve Stavro's Knob Hill Stable. He was trained by Phili England for most of his career, finishing his racing career in the barn of Alec Fehr. Following his retirement from racing, Thornfield was tried as a hunter/jumper but did not do well enough to warrant a second career. After that, he was sent to the Old Friends retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, where he arrived on January 1, 2011. He lived at the Old Friends annex at Kentucky Downs in June 2015-July 2019 before returning to the main Old Friends facility after closure of the annex. He died January 20, 2023, as the result of a paddock accident.
Pedigree notes
Thornfield is inbred 2x4 to 1970 English Triple Crown winner and English Horse of the Year Nijinsky II. He is out of restricted stakes winner Alexandrina, whose Woodman half brother Hawk Wing won three Group 1 races and topped the International Classifications of 2003 with a rating of 133 pounds for his performance in the Lockinge Stakes (ENG-G1). Alexandrina is also a half sister to Race for the Stars (by Fusaichi Pegasus), winner of the 2006 EBF Fillies Stakes (IRE-G3) and dam of Irish listed stakes winner Sir John Lavery (by Galileo). In addition, she is a half sister to Halo My Darlin (by Halo), third dam of Grade 3 winner Halo Dolly, in turn the dam of Grade 3 winner Barraza.
Alexandrina and her siblings are out of 1985 Canadian champion three-year-old filly La Lorgnette (by Val de l’Orne (FR), whose full sister Schonbrunn is the dam of stakes winner La Habitant Time (by Iskandar Elakbar) and Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Nymphenburg (by San Romano) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner Prince Abama. La Lorgnette is also a half sister to Sword Ballet (by Damascus), dam of restricted stakes winner Bayonet (by Wallenda).
La Lorgnette’s dam, The Temptress, won one of her nine starts. Sired by Nijinsky II out of two-time Argentine champion La Sevillana (by Court Harwell), she is a full sister to Lucky Us, dam of 1989 Park Hill Stakes (ENG-G2) winner and multiple stakes producer Lucky Song (by Seattle Song), 1994 Ascot Handicap (USA-G3) winner Pollock’s Luck (by Polish Navy), and listed stakes winner Bid Us (by Bold Bidder and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy. The Temptress is also a full sister to Foolish Redhead, third dam of 2002 Premio St. Leger (CHI-G1) winner Blue Sea.
Books and media
Footage of Thornfield’s win in the 1999 Canadian International can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgQ_2sBdcZ0.
Last updated: April 28, 2025
Race record
19 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,206,074 (included converted Canadian earnings)
1999:
- Won Canadian International Stakes (CAN-G1, 12FT, Woodbine)
- Won Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 12FT, Woodbine)
- 3rd Sky Classic Handicap (CAN-G3, 11FT, Woodbine)
Honors
- Sovereign Award, Canadian Horse of the Year (1999)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion turf male (1999)
As an individual
A handsome chestnut gelding, Thornfield was friendly and liked having human visitors.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Thornfield was bred and owned by Steve Stavro's Knob Hill Stable. He was trained by Phili England for most of his career, finishing his racing career in the barn of Alec Fehr. Following his retirement from racing, Thornfield was tried as a hunter/jumper but did not do well enough to warrant a second career. After that, he was sent to the Old Friends retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, where he arrived on January 1, 2011. He lived at the Old Friends annex at Kentucky Downs in June 2015-July 2019 before returning to the main Old Friends facility after closure of the annex. He died January 20, 2023, as the result of a paddock accident.
Pedigree notes
Thornfield is inbred 2x4 to 1970 English Triple Crown winner and English Horse of the Year Nijinsky II. He is out of restricted stakes winner Alexandrina, whose Woodman half brother Hawk Wing won three Group 1 races and topped the International Classifications of 2003 with a rating of 133 pounds for his performance in the Lockinge Stakes (ENG-G1). Alexandrina is also a half sister to Race for the Stars (by Fusaichi Pegasus), winner of the 2006 EBF Fillies Stakes (IRE-G3) and dam of Irish listed stakes winner Sir John Lavery (by Galileo). In addition, she is a half sister to Halo My Darlin (by Halo), third dam of Grade 3 winner Halo Dolly, in turn the dam of Grade 3 winner Barraza.
Alexandrina and her siblings are out of 1985 Canadian champion three-year-old filly La Lorgnette (by Val de l’Orne (FR), whose full sister Schonbrunn is the dam of stakes winner La Habitant Time (by Iskandar Elakbar) and Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Nymphenburg (by San Romano) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner Prince Abama. La Lorgnette is also a half sister to Sword Ballet (by Damascus), dam of restricted stakes winner Bayonet (by Wallenda).
La Lorgnette’s dam, The Temptress, won one of her nine starts. Sired by Nijinsky II out of two-time Argentine champion La Sevillana (by Court Harwell), she is a full sister to Lucky Us, dam of 1989 Park Hill Stakes (ENG-G2) winner and multiple stakes producer Lucky Song (by Seattle Song), 1994 Ascot Handicap (USA-G3) winner Pollock’s Luck (by Polish Navy), and listed stakes winner Bid Us (by Bold Bidder and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy. The Temptress is also a full sister to Foolish Redhead, third dam of 2002 Premio St. Leger (CHI-G1) winner Blue Sea.
Books and media
Footage of Thornfield’s win in the 1999 Canadian International can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgQ_2sBdcZ0.
Last updated: April 28, 2025