Anthony Van Dyck (horse) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anthony Van Dyck |
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Anthony Van Dyck at the 2018 Breeders' Cup
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| Sire | Galileo |
| Grandsire | Sadler's Wells |
| Dam | Believe'N'Succeed |
| Damsire | Exceed And Excel |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | 19 May 2016 |
| Died | 3 November 2020 (aged 4) |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt |
| Owner | Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith |
| Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
| Record | 19: 6-4-3 |
| Earnings | £2,360,481 |
| Major wins | |
| Tyros Stakes (2018) Futurity Stakes (2018) Derby Trial Stakes (2019) Epsom Derby (2019) Prix Foy (2020) |
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Anthony Van Dyck (born May 19, 2016 – died November 3, 2020) was a famous Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for winning the important 2019 Epsom Derby race.
As a two-year-old in 2018, he was a very good young horse. He won three of his seven races, including the Tyros Stakes and the Futurity Stakes. He also finished second in the National Stakes and third in the Dewhurst Stakes.
When he was three, he won the Derby Trial Stakes. Then, on June 1, he won the big Epsom Derby. Later that year, he placed well in other major races like the Irish Derby and Breeders' Cup Turf.
In 2020, as a four-year-old, he continued racing. He won the Prix Foy and came second in the Coronation Cup and the Caulfield Cup. Sadly, he had a serious injury during the 2020 Melbourne Cup race and had to be put to sleep on November 3, 2020.
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About Anthony Van Dyck
Anthony Van Dyck was a bay colt, which means he was a male horse with a reddish-brown body and a black mane and tail. He had a white stripe, called a blaze, on his face. He was born in Ireland on May 19, 2016.
He was bred by a company called Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt, which is linked to the famous Coolmore Stud. Coolmore Stud is a very well-known horse breeding farm. Anthony Van Dyck was trained by Aidan O'Brien at his stable, Ballydoyle.
His owners were usually listed as Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier. These owners often work together for horses from Coolmore.
His Family Tree
Anthony Van Dyck's father was a horse named Galileo. Galileo was a super-star racehorse himself. He won the Derby, Irish Derby, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001.
Galileo became one of the best male horses for breeding in the world. He was named the top male breeding horse in Great Britain and Ireland ten times! Many of his other children also became famous racehorses, like Frankel and Minding.
Anthony Van Dyck's mother was Believe'N'Succeed. She was a good racehorse in Australia. She also gave birth to another winner, Bounding, before she moved to Ireland.
Anthony Van Dyck's Racing Life
Anthony Van Dyck had an exciting racing career. Here's how he performed each year:
2018: His First Races as a Two-Year-Old
Anthony Van Dyck started his racing life on July 1, 2018. He ran in a maiden race at the Curragh. A maiden race is for horses who haven't won a race yet. He finished seventh in this first race.
Just two weeks later, he raced again at Killarney Racecourse. He was the favourite to win, meaning most people thought he would. His trainer's son, Donnacha O'Brien, was his jockey (the person who rides the horse). Anthony Van Dyck won easily by eight lengths!
Soon after, he moved up to a higher level of race, a Group 3 race called the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse. This time, Ryan Moore rode him. Anthony Van Dyck won easily again, showing he was a very smart colt.
In August, he raced in a Group 2 race, the Futurity Stakes, at the Curragh. He won by a small margin from another horse from his own stable, called Christmas. His trainer, Aidan O'Brien, said he thought Anthony Van Dyck would be good at longer races next year.
In September, he raced in his first Group 1 race, the National Stakes. He finished second. Then he came third in the Dewhurst Stakes in England. For his last race of the year, he traveled to the United States for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, where he finished ninth.
2019: Winning the Derby
On May 11, 2019, Anthony Van Dyck started his three-year-old season. He ran in the Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park. He was the favourite and won by over two lengths. This race helped him get ready for the big Derby.
The 240th Epsom Derby was held on June 1, 2019, at Epsom Racecourse. This is one of the most famous horse races in the world. Anthony Van Dyck was ridden by Seamie Heffernan. He was the fourth favourite to win.
He started the race in ninth place. As they turned into the final straight part of the track, he found a clear path. He ran very strongly and took the lead just 100 yards from the finish line. He won by half a length in a very close finish! It was Seamie Heffernan's first Derby win after trying 12 times!
After winning the Derby, Anthony Van Dyck raced in the Irish Derby on June 29. He was the favourite but finished second to another horse from his stable, Sovereign.
Later, he raced against older horses in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. He didn't perform his best in this race. However, he did much better in the Irish Champion Stakes in September, finishing third.
For his next race, Anthony Van Dyck went to California for the Breeders' Cup Turf. He finished third in this important race. He ended his year in Hong Kong, where he didn't place.
2020: His Final Season
The racing season in 2020 was different because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Many races were held without people watching. On June 5, Anthony Van Dyck ran in the Coronation Cup at Newmarket. He finished second to a horse named Ghaiyyath.
Two weeks later, he raced at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke Stakes, but he finished fifth. After a break, he returned to racing in France. He won the Prix Foy over 2400 meters at Longchamp Racecourse. He led from the start and held off a strong challenge to win by a short neck.
After his win in France, Anthony Van Dyck traveled to Australia to race. On October 17, he ran in the Caulfield Cup. He made a strong late run but just missed winning by a head, finishing second.
On November 3, he raced in the 2020 Melbourne Cup, carrying the most weight of any horse. During the race, about 400 meters from the finish, he stumbled. His jockey, Hugh Bowman, pulled him up (stopped him) because he knew something was wrong.
Sadly, Anthony Van Dyck had a serious injury to his fetlock (a part of his leg). Because of the injury, he had to be put to sleep. His trainer, Aidan O'Brien, said Anthony Van Dyck was a "very kind, sound, lovely-natured horse – incredibly tough and genuine."
In the 2020 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, Anthony Van Dyck was rated very highly. He was ranked as the equal twenty-first best racehorse in the world.
