Barathea (horse)

Barathea
Racing silks of Sheikh Mohammed
Sire	Sadler's Wells
Grandsire	Northern Dancer
Dam	Brocade
Damsire	Habitat
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	2 March 1990
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Gerald W Leigh
Owner	Sheikh Mohammed
Trainer	Luca Cumani
Record	16: 5-4-0
Earnings	£833,277
Major wins
Irish 2,000 Guineas (1993) Queen Anne Stakes (1994) Breeders' Cup Mile (1994)
Awards
European Horse of the Year (1994) European Champion Older Horse (1994)
Last updated on September 13, 2008

Barathea (2 March 1990 – 14 May 2009) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from October 1992 until November 1993 he ran sixteen times and won five races. In 1994 Barathea won the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs and was named European Horse of the Year at the Cartier Racing Awards. He went on to become a successful stallion.

Barathea was a handsome, powerful, 16.1 hand bay colt bred in Ireland by Gerald W Leigh (1930–2002). He was sired by the fourteen times champion Sadler's Wells, his dam being the successful racemare Brocade, winner of the Prix de la Forêt. Brocade also produced the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Gossamer and the Summer Stakes winner Free at Last He was bought as a foal by Sheikh Mohammed and later sent into training with Luca Cumani at Newmarket.

Barathea was undefeated in two starts as a two-year-old in October 1992, beating a field including the future Derby Italiano winner White Muzzle in the Westley Maiden Stakes at Newmarket, and following up in the Houghton Stakes over the same course and distance two weeks later.

These performances attracted a good deal of attention, and he was sent off odds-on for his three-year-old debut in the Craven Stakes. He could only finish a disappointing fourth behind Emperor Jones and Wharf, but was beaten less than a length and was still regarded as a contender for the 2000 Guineas. In the classic two weeks later, he was sent off 10/1 third favourite. He reversed the Craven form with Emperor Jones and Wharf, and proved the best of the British colts, but was no match for the French champion, Zafonic, who beat him into second place by three and a half lengths.