Tikkanen (USA)
January 23, 1991 – April 18, 2015
Cozzene (USA) x Reiko (FR), by Targowice (USA)
Family 1-x
January 23, 1991 – April 18, 2015
Cozzene (USA) x Reiko (FR), by Targowice (USA)
Family 1-x
Tikkanen made the bulk of his reputation on two back-to-back races as a 3-year-old. First, he popped up to defeat a strong field in the Turf Classic International Stakes (USA-G1) at Belmont Park. Then he shipped to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1). Coming from well off the early pace, he got the first jump on the star filly Hatoof and outran her to the wire, with American Horse of the Year hopeful and eventual American champion turf male Paradise Creek checking in third and a host of international stars behind the top three. Sent to Europe at 4, Tikkanen failed to win in three races in England and France and fared no better after his return to the United States. He was exported to Japan for stallion duty and later moved to Ireland and then England but was a dismal failure at stud in all his locations.
Race record
17 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,599,335
1994:
1995:
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the International Classification for European juveniles of 1993, 10 pounds below highweighted Grand Lodge.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1994, 3 pounds below champion Paradise Creek.
As an individual
A gray horse, Tikkanen had good rein length and a deep chest but was more impressive before the saddle than behind it. He was called “courageous and resilient” by his trainer, Jonathan Pease. He preferred to come from off the pace when racing.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by the Jockey Club, Tikkanen sired 234 winners (29.4%) and one stakes winner (0.1%) from 797 named foals of racing age.
Connections
Foaled in Pennsylvania, Tikkanen was bred by George W. Strawbridge Jr. at his Augustin Stables and was sent to Chantilly, France, to begin his racing career under the care of Jonathan Pease. He was ridden in Europe and in the Turf Classic by Cash Asmussen but had Mike Smith up when he won the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Tikkanen entered stud in 1996 at Arrow Stud, Japan, remaining there through 2003. He then moved to Glebe House Stud in Ireland before going on to Wood Farm Stud in England in 2007. He died in April 2015.
Pedigree notes
Tikkanen is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Princequillo, winner of the 1943 Jockey Club Gold Cup and Saratoga Cup. He is also inbred 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, who was also the English/Irish champion sire of 1951. Tikkanen is a full brother to Tarika, dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Auction Watch (by Belong to Me). He is a half brother to multiple Group 1 winner Turgeon (by Cozzene’s sire, Caro), who had some success in France as a sire of steeplechasers, and to restricted stakes winner Greenville (by Clever Trick). Tikkanen is also a half brother to Suva (by Northjet), dam of 1997 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (FR-G2) winner Surgeon (by Sharrood).
Reiko, the dam of Tikkanen, won the listed Prix de la Seine as a 3-year-old in France. Sired by 1972 French champion juvenile male Targowice (by Round Table), she was produced from Group 3-placed Beronaire, a daughter of 1968 Irish Sweeps Derby and St. Leger Stakes winner Ribero (by Ribot) and a half sister to French stakes winner Mogami (by Lyphard). Produced from the Lucky Debonair mare No Luck (an unraced half sister to multiple stakes winner Stop Teasing, by Nashua), Beronaire is also a half sister to Princess Lyphard (by Lyphard), second dam of 1992 Japanese champion older male Mejiro Palmer. The female line traces back to La Troienne through her granddaughter No Fiddling, a foundation mare for the Bieber-Jacobs racing and breeding programs.
Books and media
Footage of Tikkanen’s victory in the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-6GQtduD-g.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 28, 2026
Race record
17 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,599,335
1994:
- Won Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1, 12FT, Churchill Downs)
- Won Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won Prix Greffuhle (FR-G2, 2100mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd 98 Furstenberg-Rennen (GER-G3, 2200mT, Baden Baden)
- 3rd Prix Lupin (FR-G1, 2100mT, Longchamp)
1995:
- 2nd Madagans Jockey Club Stakes (ENG-G2, 12FT, Newmarket)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the International Classification for European juveniles of 1993, 10 pounds below highweighted Grand Lodge.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1994, 3 pounds below champion Paradise Creek.
As an individual
A gray horse, Tikkanen had good rein length and a deep chest but was more impressive before the saddle than behind it. He was called “courageous and resilient” by his trainer, Jonathan Pease. He preferred to come from off the pace when racing.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by the Jockey Club, Tikkanen sired 234 winners (29.4%) and one stakes winner (0.1%) from 797 named foals of racing age.
Connections
Foaled in Pennsylvania, Tikkanen was bred by George W. Strawbridge Jr. at his Augustin Stables and was sent to Chantilly, France, to begin his racing career under the care of Jonathan Pease. He was ridden in Europe and in the Turf Classic by Cash Asmussen but had Mike Smith up when he won the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Tikkanen entered stud in 1996 at Arrow Stud, Japan, remaining there through 2003. He then moved to Glebe House Stud in Ireland before going on to Wood Farm Stud in England in 2007. He died in April 2015.
Pedigree notes
Tikkanen is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Princequillo, winner of the 1943 Jockey Club Gold Cup and Saratoga Cup. He is also inbred 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, who was also the English/Irish champion sire of 1951. Tikkanen is a full brother to Tarika, dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Auction Watch (by Belong to Me). He is a half brother to multiple Group 1 winner Turgeon (by Cozzene’s sire, Caro), who had some success in France as a sire of steeplechasers, and to restricted stakes winner Greenville (by Clever Trick). Tikkanen is also a half brother to Suva (by Northjet), dam of 1997 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (FR-G2) winner Surgeon (by Sharrood).
Reiko, the dam of Tikkanen, won the listed Prix de la Seine as a 3-year-old in France. Sired by 1972 French champion juvenile male Targowice (by Round Table), she was produced from Group 3-placed Beronaire, a daughter of 1968 Irish Sweeps Derby and St. Leger Stakes winner Ribero (by Ribot) and a half sister to French stakes winner Mogami (by Lyphard). Produced from the Lucky Debonair mare No Luck (an unraced half sister to multiple stakes winner Stop Teasing, by Nashua), Beronaire is also a half sister to Princess Lyphard (by Lyphard), second dam of 1992 Japanese champion older male Mejiro Palmer. The female line traces back to La Troienne through her granddaughter No Fiddling, a foundation mare for the Bieber-Jacobs racing and breeding programs.
Books and media
Footage of Tikkanen’s victory in the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-6GQtduD-g.
Fun facts
- Tikkanen is named after Finnish ice hockey player Esa Tikkanen, who played on five Stanley Cup-winning teams. The horse’s naming reflects George Strawbridge’s longtime passion for hockey (among his many accomplishments, he was a director of the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres) as well as Strawbridge’s admiration for Tikkanen’s skills.
Last updated: May 28, 2026