Top Ten Turf Males Twentieth Century
#10
Kotashaan
(1990 - 1993)
French-bred Kotashaan, who was brought to America in 1992, won the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Turf by a half-length over Bien Bien and was voted the Horse of the Year. Keith Desormeaux was the winning rider.
Photo: Breeders' Cup
PEDIGREE
Dk B/Br H
OWNER
La Presle Farm
TRAINER
T. Jarnet
BREEDER
Wertheimer & Frere (Fr.)
Some Facts
- Kotashaan was born on May 4, 1988, in France. He was bred by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, who own the “House of Chanel” in Paris. While racing in Europe, Kotashaan raced for the ownership of Alain and Gerard Wertheimer and was trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, the world’s most successful female trainer. When he was sent to race in the United States in 1992, the two brothers raced him under the name of their La Presle Farm. Richard Mandella trained him.
- Kotashaan was sired by Darshaan, a son of 1978 Epsom Derby winner Shirley Heights, whose greatest victory was in 1984 in the group one Prix du Jockey Club over Sadler’s Wells and Rainbow Quest. Darshaan also sired Dalakhani, who in 1983 won four group one races, among them the Irish Derby and the Arc de la Triomphe. Dalakhani was a half to Daylami, which won seven group one stakes, including the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Turf, and at year’s end was voted the best horse in the world.
- Kotashaan made his first eight starts at two and three in France, winning three stakes, the listed Prix de Courcelles, Prix Manitou, and the group three Prix la Force. He also finished third in the group one Grand Prix de Paris to Subotica, which won the Arc de la Triomphe in 1992.
- Kotashaan was sent to the United States for his four-year-old campaign in 1992 and made four starts. He won his first, a one-mile allowance at Santa Anita in 1:33 3/5. He did not fare well in the others, two stakes and an allowance, and finished out of the top three in all of them.
- A disappointment his first year in America, five-year-old Kotashaan made nine starts in 1993, all on turf, and won six while suffering a nose loss in the G2 Del Mar Invitational Handicap to another French-bred, Luazur.
- Kotashaan was best at a mile and one-half, winning all four of his American starts at that distance, all of which were grade-one races including the Breeders’ Cup Turf. His best time at the distance was 2:23 4/5 when he won the G1 San Luis Rey. His lone loss at twelve furlongs was in his final career race, the Japan Cup when jockey Kent Desormeaux misjudged the finish line, and he finished second to Legacy World in a field of sixteen.
- Kotashaan defeated a strong field in the mile and one-half Breeders’ Cup turf. Among the defeated were Bien Bien, which won the G1 ten-furlong Hollywood Turf Handicap in 1:57 3/5; Luazur, who defeated him in the G2 Del Mar Inv. Handicap; the English Champion Opera House, which won three group one races in England that year; Fraise, which won the B.C. Turf the previous year while setting a track record; Apple Tree, the winner of four group ones; Hatoof, a three-time group one winning mare who beat colts three times; Hernando, winner of two group one races in France; and Intrepidity, a tough mare which won three group ones in France and England.
- Kotashaan recorded Beyers between 105 and 111 in his final eight races in America. In 1993, he was voted the top turf horse in America and Horse of the Year by a narrow margin over Lure.
- Following his Breeders’ Cup victory, Kotashaan was sold to a Japanese syndicate, thus his appearance in the Japan Cup.
- When his racing career was over, Kotashaan stood in Japan until 2000. He was then sold to Andrew Murphy, who stood him in Ireland. He had little success as a sire, and it is believed he passed away in 2005.
Past Performances:
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