Each time you watch one of champion racemare Zenyatta's replays, you sit back and wonder how on earth she pulled off the seemingly impossible every time she went to the races.
You're left in awe of her sheer talent as a racehorse and ability to close from the back of the field at such a rapid pace, often producing sustained runs.
She claimed 19 wins in her 20-start career, which saw her net victories in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic, 2008 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Lady's Secret Stakes (2008, 2009, 2010), Clement Hirsch Handicap (2008, 2009, 2010), Vanity Handicap (2008, 2009, 2010), Santa Margarita Handicap (2010), Milady Handicap (2008, 2009), Apple Blossom Handicap (2008, 2010) and El Encino Stakes (2008).
Her only defeat came at the hands of Blame in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic under lights at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, in what would be her swansong. After giving away too much ground at the start of the race, Zenyatta fell agonisingly short right on the wire. If it wasn't for this loss, she'd have an unblemished record.
Throughout her career on the racetrack, the daughter of Street Cry was ridden by master jockey Mike Smith and trained by John Shirreffs.
When you think of outstanding racemares, who comes to mind?
We'll get the ball rolling with the likes of Beholder, Ruffian, Winx, Enable, Songbird, Black Caviar, Rachel Alexandra, Lady's Secret, Almond Eye, Treve, Oh So Sharp, Miesque, Ouija Board, Gentildonna, Goldikova...the list goes on.
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