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Opening Verse

Opening Verse
Sire The Minstrel
Grandsire Northern Dancer
Dam Shy Dawn
Damsire Grey Dawn
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1986
Country United States
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Jacques D. Wimpfheimer
Owner 1) Sheikh Mohammed (UK)
2) Allen E. Paulson (USA)
Trainer 1) Henry Cecil (UK)
2) Richard J. Lundy (USA)
Record 30: 10-7-2
Earnings US$1,669,357
Major wins

Somerville Tattersall Stakes (1988)
Strensall Stakes (1989)
Razorback Handicap (1990)
Oaklawn Handicap (1990)
Fort Harrod Stakes (1991)
Turf Classic Stakes (1991)

Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Mile (1991)
Honours
Opening Verse Handicap at Churchill Downs
Last updated on January 24, 2010

Somerville Tattersall Stakes (1988)
Strensall Stakes (1989)
Razorback Handicap (1990)
Oaklawn Handicap (1990)
Fort Harrod Stakes (1991)
Turf Classic Stakes (1991)

Opening Verse (1986–2002) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in England and the United States.

Bred in Kentucky, his sire was the 1977 Epsom and Irish Derby winner, The Minstrel. Out of the mare Shy Dawn, his damsire was Grey Dawn, the French Champion Two-Year-Old Colt who beat Sea Bird II in the 1964 Grand Criterium at Longchamp Racecourse.

Trained in England by Henry Cecil for Sheikh Mohammed, at age two Opening Verse made his racing debut with a win in the August 27, 1988 Park Lodge Maiden Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Then, on September 30 he won the Somerville Tattersall Stakes on the same course and on October 25, the Provideo Stakes at Redcar Racecourse. As a three-year-old, Opening Verse went winless until September 7, 1989 when he won the Strensall Stakes at York Racecourse. In the Group One Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, he ran second to Nashwan.


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