Six Perfections

~Six Perfections~

2000 black filly

Celtic Swing x Yogya (by Riverman)

*Champion 2 year-old filly in France 2002*

*2003 Breeders Cup Mile Winner*

Six Perfections is an uncommon filly on several counts. The first is her beautiful black coat. True black horses are somewhat unusual, and true black Thoroughbreds are even more rare. Six Perfections is also special because she is one of those rare fillies who can best not only her own sex, but also the colts, who are usually stronger and faster.

Celtic Swing, sire of Six Perfections

Six Perfections is bred and owned by the Niarchos family of France. She is by Celtic Swing, winner of 5 of 7 starts from 7 to 12 furlongs, out of the Riverman mare Yogya, a half-sister to the brilliant racehorse and broodmare, Miesque. Six Perfections is Yogya's first foal, born February 24, 2000. Six Perfections, like Miesque, is owned by the Niarchos family of Greece.

Six Perfections' first start came on June 17, 2002, at Chantilly in the Prix des Jardins, a 5.5 furlong sprint for unraced fillies. She closed gamely to finish second to Trevise by 3/4 of a length in a field of 13 starters.

Her connections opted for a bit more distance in her second start, the (Listed) Prix Roland de Chambure at Deauville on July 11th. Six Perfections won easily over the soft ground by 6 lengths in 1:25.40.

Her third start was again over 7 furlongs in the Gr.3 Prix du Calvados for fillies at Deauville on August 23. Six Perfections prevailed again, stalking the leaders from the start and drawing clear in the final furlong to win by 4 lengths in 1:24.30.

The filly's most important start as a two year-old came on October 6th in the Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium Pouliches-Royal Barriere de Deauville at Longchamp, the premiere race for 2 year-olds. Six Perfections was held up in the early going of this mile race, but after the first furlong, she made the lead, and kept it throughout to win easily by 2 lengths. Her time was 1:39.70. Having won three of her four starts, she was named Champion French 2 Year-Old Filly.

Six Perfections pulls away from Etoile Montante in deep stretch of the Prix Marcel Boussac

Winning the Prix Marcel Boussac

Six Perfections (far left) just misses the win to Russian Rythym (front right)

Six Perfections began her three year-old season on April 7, 2003, with a win, taking the 7 furlong (Listed) Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte by a length and a half in 1:29.40.

For her second start of the year, Six Perfections was sent to England for the Gr.1 Sagitta 1000 Guineas Stakes for fillies at Newmarket on May 4th. She was sent out as the favorite, but had a troubled trip. She was held up in the early going and was not able to get clear of the traffic until the final furlong of the mile-long race. Once she had running room, Six Perfections began driving for the finish, but she ran out of ground and finished second by a length and a half to Russian Rythym.

For her next start, Six Perfections was sent to Ireland for the Gr.1 Entenmann's Irish 1,000 Guineas on May 25th. Once again, luck was not on her side, and Six Perfections was caught in traffic through most of the 8 furlong race. She finally got a clear run in the final furlong, and she closed dramatically on the leader Yesterday who was running all out The finish came just a stride too soon, though, and Six Perfections was denied the win by a short head.

Six Perfections was given a rest for the summer and didn't return to the races until August 3rd. There she started in the 1 mile Prix d'Astarte, a Gr.2 race for fillies and mares at Deauville. She ran well throughout, gaining the lead late, but was caught in the final strides by Bright Sky who out-finished her by a neck.

Just past the finish in thePrix d'Astarte

Six Perfections beats 2002 BC Mile winner Domedriver

After her string of unlucky races, Six Perfections was sent back to the races at Deauville just two weeks later for the Gr.1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard-Jacques le Marois on August 17th. It was her first start against males, and she went to post at fairly long odds. In the field were Dubai Destination (winner of the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes) and her stablemate Domedriver (winner of the 2002 Breeders Cup Mile). The filly ran well throughout and won in a drive, a neck over Domedriver. After this sensational win over older horses and males, Six Perfections was given a short rest and then declared for the Breeders Cup Mile at Santa Anita in California.

Six Perfections best race to date came in the 2003 Breeders Cup Mile on October 25th. She faced a deep field, including Refuse to Bend, winner of the 2000 Guineas, as well as Decarchy, Special Ring, and Oasis Dream. There was much speculation that the filly would not relish the firm turf in sunny California, and she had drawn post 13, the far outside, a disadvantage in the short run to the first turn. She was very fractious at the start, rearing and bucking so much so that jockey Jerry Bailey hopped off until the starters forced her into the gate. She broke smoothly, though, and rated comfortable throughout. At the top of the stretch, Bailey guided her through a gap between horses on the outside, and she burst forward with a terrific turn of foot. In the final 150 yards, she surged to the front and won by three-quarters of a length over the late charging Touch of the Blues in a fantastic time of 1:33.86.

Winning the 2003 Breeders Cup Mile

Six Perfections was given a long and well-deserved rest after the 2003 Breeders Cup Mile. She did not return to the races until May 23, 2004, at Longchamp in the 9 furlong G1 Prix d'Ispahan. Despite being her first start beyond a mile and beyond her best distance as well, Six Perfections gave an excellent account of herself. She took command of the race just over a furlong out, but was headed by Prince Kirk in deep stretch, and finished half a length behind him at the wire. Three weeks later on June 15th, Six Perfections faced 15 rivals in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes (8F) at Ascot. Though she had good positioning through much of the race, she had nothing to give when asked in the final furlong, and she finished sixth by four lengths. Though it was her first and only time (to date) worse than second, Six Perfections was beaten by three very good horses in Refuse to Bend, Soviet Song, and Nebraska Tornado, and the finish was very close among the top 7 horses. The black filly's bad luck streak followed her, unfortunately, in her third start of the year, the G1 Prix Fresnay-le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. There, she ran well but just couldn't catch the leader, Whipper, and she finished second again by a length. Since then, Six Perfections has been pointed to the 2004 Breeders Cup Mile at Lone Star Park on October 30th.

Her final workout at Lone Star Park for the 2004 Breeders Cup Mile

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(All pictures on this page are ones I have gleaned from Google searches. If you see one of yours, please let me know, and I will gladly give you credit. Thanks!)