Storm Bird
| Storm Bird | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Northern Dancer |
| Grandsire | Nearctic |
| Dam | South Ocean |
| Damsire | New Providence |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 19 April 1978 |
| Country | Canada |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Windfields Farm |
| Owner | Robert Sangster |
| Trainer | Vincent O'Brien |
| Record | 6: 5-0-0 |
| Earnings | $168,891 |
| Major wins | |
|
Anglesey Stakes (1980) National Stakes (1980) Larkspur Stakes (1980) Dewhurst Stakes (1980) |
|
| Awards | |
| Top-rated European two-year-old (1980) Timeform top-rated two-year-old (1980) Timeform rating 134 |
|
| Last updated on May 14, 2010 | |
Storm Bird (April 19, 1978 – December 3, 2004) was a Canadian-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the outstanding European two-year-old of 1980, when he was unbeaten in five races, including the Anglesey Stakes, National Stakes, and Dewhurst Stakes. His subsequent career was disrupted by injury and illness, and he was well beaten in his only race of 1981. He was then retired to stud, where he became a successful breeding stallion.
Storm Bird was a bay horse with a white star and snip and two white socks bred in Canada by Windfields Farm. He was one of many important winners sired by Northern Dancer, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1964 before becoming one of the most successful breeding stallions in Thoroughbred history. His dam, South Ocean, had previously produced Northernette (also sired by Northern Dancer), the champion filly of her generation in Canada at two and three years of age. The colt was sent to race in Europe and was trained by Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle, County Tipperary.
On his racecourse debut, Storm Bird started 2/5 favourite for a 19-runner maiden race over six furlongs at the Curragh in July. He was bumped by one of his opponents at the start, but recovered to win by six lengths. The colt was then moved up in class for the Group Three Anglesey Stakes at the same course in August. He took the lead two furlongs from the finish, but appeared to idle in front and won by only half a length from Prince Echo. The form of the race was boosted when Prince Echo won the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September. Two weeks after his win in the Anglesey Stakes, Storm Bird moved up in distance to contest the seven-furlong National Stakes, Ireland's most valuable race for two-year-olds. Ridden by Tommy Murphy, he started the 2/5 favourite and won in emphatic style, taking the lead two furlongs from the finish and beating Master Thatch by four lengths.
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