Assert (horse)

Assert
Assert, oil on canvas Painting by Bob Demuyser (1920-2003)
Sire	Be My Guest
Grandsire	Northern Dancer
Dam	Irish Bird
Damsire	Sea Bird II
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	17 April 1979
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Moyglare Stud
Owner	Robert Sangster
Trainer	David O'Brien
Record	11: 6-3-0
Earnings	£71,928
Major wins
Beresford Stakes (1981) Gallinule Stakes (1982) Prix du Jockey Club (1982) Irish Derby (1982) Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (1982) Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (1982)
Awards
Timeform rating 113 (1981), 134 (1982) Timeform Best Middle-distance Horse (1982)

Assert (17 April 1979 – 1995) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he was beaten by Golden Fleece on his debut but went on to win the Beresford Stakes. In the following year he was again beaten by Golden Fleece in a trial race but went on to win four Group One races: the Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Derby, Benson & Hedges Gold Cup and Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes. He was rated the best middle-distance horse in Europe in 1982 by Timeform. He was retired to stud at the end of his three-year-old season and became a successful sire of winners.

Assert was a bay horse with a white blaze and three socks bred in Ireland by the Moyglare Stud. He was from the first crop of foals sired by Be My Guest, an American-bred stallion who won the Waterford Crystal Mile when trained in Ireland by Vincent O'Brien. Be My Guest's other offspring included On The House, Pentire Go and Go and Luth Enchantee. Assert's dam Irish Bird, was a half-sister of Irish Ball, a colt who finished third in the Epsom Derby before winning the Irish Derby in 1971. A year before foaling Assert, Irish Bird had produced Bikala, who won the Prix du Jockey-Club 1981. Another of her foals was Eurobird, a filly who won the Irish St Leger.

As a yearling Assert was sent to the ales in France and was bought for 160,000 francs (approximately £16,000) and entered the ownership of Robert Sangster. He was trained throughout his racing career by David O'Brien.