Godswalk
| Godswalk | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Dancer's Image |
| Grandsire | Native Dancer |
| Dam | Kates Intent |
| Damsire | Intentionally |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 9 February 1974 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Grey |
| Breeder | Glade Valley Farms, Peter Fuller |
| Owner | Patrick Gallagher Robert Sangster |
| Trainer | Christy Grassick Vincent O'Brien |
| Record | 11:8-2-1 |
| Major wins | |
|
Norfolk Stakes (1976) Ballyogan Stakes (1977) King's Stand Stakes (1977) |
|
| Awards | |
| Top-rated Irish two-year-old colt (1976) Timeform rating 123 (1976), 130 (1977) |
|
Godswalk (9 February 1974 – 1 December 1988) was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist sprinter, he won eight of his eleven races in a racing career which lasted from the spring of 1976 until September 1977. As a two-year-old he won five of his seven races including the Norfolk Stakes and was rated the best colt of his generation in Ireland. In the following year he established himself as one of the best sprinters in Europe, winning three of his four races including the Ballyogan Stakes in Ireland and the King's Stand Stakes in England. After his retirement from racing, Godswalk had some success as a sire of winners in Europe and Australia.
Godswalk was a "strong, compact" grey horse with a white star bred in Maryland by Glade Valley Farms and Peter Fuller. He was one of the best horses sired by Fuller's horse Dancer's Image who won the 1968 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified after traces of phenylbutazone were discovered in a post-race urinalysis. As a breeding stallion, he stood in Europe and Japan, siring several other good winners including the multiple Group One winner Lianga and the July Cup winner Saritamer. Godswalk's dam Kate's Intent was a successful racehorse in Canada.
As a yearling, Godswalk was sent to the Saratoga sales where he was bought for $61,000. He entered into the ownership of Patrick Gallagher and was sent to race in Europe where he was trained in Ireland by Christy Grassick.
As a two-year-old, Godswalk was campaigned exclusively over the minimum distance of five furlongs. After finishing third on his racecourse debut he recorded impressive wins in minor events at the Curragh and Phoenix Park. At the Curragh in May he won the Marble Hill Stakes, taking the lead at half way and accelerating away from the field in the closing stages to beat Digitalis by five lengths, with Piney Ridge in third. In June, Godswalk was sent to England and moved up in class to contest the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ridden by Derrmot Hogan he started the 8/13 favourite against four opponents. He took the lead two furlongs from the finish and won by four lengths from the Italian colt Alpherat, with Hogan sitting motionless in the closing stages. Godswalk started favourite for the Phoenix Stakes, but proved no match for the filly Cloonlara and was beaten into second place by a margin of six lengths. The colt was scheduled to return to England for the Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot in October but the meeting was abandoned owing to the exceptionally wet, heavy ground. A week later, Godswalk ended his season in the Waterford Testimonial Stakes at the Curragh and won easily by four lengths at odds of 1/3.
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