Kazzia

Kazzia
Racing colours of Godolphin
Sire	Zinaad
Grandsire	Shirley Heights
Dam	Khoruna
Damsire	Lagunas
Sex	Mare
Foaled	12 April 1999
Died	March 2013
Country	Germany
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Roswitha Grunewald
Owner	Rennstal Wöhler Godolphin
Trainer	Andreas Wöhler Saeed Bin Suroor
Record	7:5-0-0
Earnings	£899,597
Major wins
Premio Dormello (2001) 1000 Guineas (2002) Oaks Stakes (2002) Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (2002)
Awards
European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (2002) Timeform rating 121

Kazzia was a German-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, who was trained in Germany, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. In a racing career which lasted from September 2001 until October 2002 she ran seven times and won five races in four different countries. She is best known for being the only filly since 1990 to successfully complete the Classic double of the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks. She was the first German-bred horse to win a British Classic. After her retirement from racing she became a successful broodmare. Kazzia died in March 2013 from post-foaling complications.

Kazzia, described by Timeform as an "angular filly" was bred in Germany by Roswitha Grunewald. She was sired by the British-bred stallion Zinaad, winner of the Jockey Club Stakes, out of the German mare Khoruna, making her a half-sister to the Schwarzgold-Rennen winner Kimbajar. She was originally sent into training at the Bremen stable of Andreas Wöhler.

Kazzia began her career in September 2001 by winning a minor race at Hoppegarten. She was then immediately stepped up to Group race company, traveling to Milan's San Siro Racecourse for the Premio Dormello. She proved herself to be a useful staying filly, catching the English-trained Kootenay a furlong from home and pulling away to win by two and a half lengths.

Her performance attracted the attention of the Godolphin team who were in Milan to watch Kutub run in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club. According to Simon Crisford, "Sheikh Mohammed was very impressed with the filly and liked her a lot so he made an offer to the owners." Kazzia was sent to join Saeed bin Suroor at the Godolphin winter base in Dubai.

Whilst still in Dubai, Kazzia reportedly showed promise when finishing a close second in a private trial race to the Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Silent Honor. She was primarily regarded as a staying prospect and attracted attention as a possible Oaks winner, but Sheikh Mohammed insisted on sending her straight for the 1,000 Guineas, taking on specialist milers on fast ground. Sent off a 14/1 outsider in "dismal" conditions, Kazzia raced prominently, took the lead a furlong out, and stayed on strongly to beat Snowfire by a neck. Her rider, Frankie Dettori felt that the filly had done very well, particularly as she was essentially a stayer- "She really wants more than a mile."