Lammtarra's 1995 renewal of the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. was named the latest recipient of the QIPCO Diamonds & Pearls Award. Each year, QIPCO, the official sponsor of the King George, honours a vintage renewal of the race.
Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the son of Nijinsky II raced in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's nephew, Saeed bin Maktoum al Maktoum. His father, Sheikh Maktoum, bred Lammtarra at his Gainsborough Farm Stud.
Undefeated Lammtarra achieved the rare feat of winning the Epsom Derby, for which he set a track record that was only broken by Workforce in 2010, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe–a remarkable treble that only the legendary Mill Reef had achieved previously.
Partnered by Frankie Dettori in the King George, Lammtarra defeated old rivals, providing his owner, trainer and jockey with their first win in the race.
On Lammtarra's qualities, Dettori said: “He was a special horse. He was like a lion; he loved a fight and was very tenacious. For me, what a horse. He ran four times, retired unbeaten and won the three best races in Europe.”
Following a brief but brilliant career, the regally-bred 3-year-old retired to stand at Sheikh Mohammed's Dalham Hall Stud near Newmarket.
At the end of the 1996 breeding season, Lammtarra was sold to Japanese breeders for $30million to stand at Arrow Stud. Ultimately, Sheikh Mohammed bought his champion back and, in 2006, Lammtarra returned to Dalham Hall Stud. Lammtarra died in 2014.
This year's King George VI, a QIPCO British Champions Series race, takes place at Ascot at 3.40pm Saturday 29 July.
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