Attraction (horse)

Attraction
Attraction, showing her distinctive gait
Sire	Efisio
Grandsire	Formidable
Dam	Flirtation
Damsire	Pursuit of Love
Sex	Mare
Foaled	19 February 2001
Country	Scotland/UK
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Floors Farming
Owner	Duke of Roxburghe
Trainer	Mark Johnston
Record	15:10-2-0
Earnings	£899,597
Major wins
Queen Mary Stakes (2003) Cherry Hinton Stakes (2003) 1000 Guineas (2004) Irish 1000 Guineas (2004) Coronation Stakes (2004) Sun Chariot Stakes (2004) Matron Stakes (2005)
Awards
European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (2003) British Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (2003)
Last updated on March 12, 2007

Attraction (foaled 19 February 2001) is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in Scotland and trained in England. She won several important races and was the first horse to win both the 1000 Guineas and the Irish 1000 Guineas. In a career which lasted from 2003 to 2005, she ran fifteen times and won ten races. She was also well known for her unusual and distinctive action.

Attraction was bred by her owner, the Duke of Roxburghe, at his stud at Floors Castle near Kelso, Scotland. She is one of many good horses sired by Efisio and is a half-sister to several minor winners.

Unlike the overwhelming majority of racehorses, Attraction's female family cannot be traced back to one of the originally accepted Thoroughbred mares. The family was therefore considered "half-bred" until it was admitted to the General Stud Book in 1969.

Attraction was born with crooked forelegs, a flaw that became even more apparent when she galloped. Because of this, her breeder believed that it would be impossible to sell her, and decided to race her under his own colours. Her action was variously described as resembling "a helicopter" and "a demented haymaker wielding a scythe," while one of her prospective trainers said that "it looked as though God had taken a day off when he created her." She was eventually sent into training with Mark Johnston at Middleham, North Yorkshire.

Attraction made her debut in April 2003 with a five-length win in a minor stakes race at Nottingham. She followed up with wins in a small event at Thirsk and the Listed Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley, before being sent south for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. Attraction was sent off the 13/8 favourite. She led from the start and won by three lengths from Catstar, with the third place finisher Majestic Desert a further five lengths back.