Pharaoh's Delight

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Pharaoh's Delight

Pharaoh's Delight (2 April 1987 – 2015) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred mare who became one of Europe’s top two-year-old fillies in 1989 and later a successful broodmare.

Background
- Bred in Ireland by A Tarry and owned by Al-Deera Bloodstock.
- Trained in England by Peter Hudson.
- Sire: Fairy King, a son of Northern Dancer. Dam: Ridge the Times, by Riva Ridge. She came from Thoroughbred family A29.

Racing career

1989: Two-year-old season
- Won Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot as a 11/2 favorite, ridden by Pat Eddery.
- Won Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot, again with Eddery aboard.
- Won the Phoenix Stakes at Phoenix Park, beating eight rivals on softer ground.
- Also ran in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, finishing second.

1989 season summary: A standout two-year-old in Europe, winning three prestigious sprint races and performing well in Group races.

1990: Three-year-old season
- Began with a mile races: sixth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp, and fifth in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
- Switched to sprinting: eighth in the July Cup.
- Improved later: second in the Prix de Meautry, third in the Nunthorpe Stakes, and third in the Haydock Sprint Cup.
- Final major outing of the year: third in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.

1991: Four-year-old season
- Moved to Dermot Weld in Ireland.
- Raced in Ireland with modest results: fourth in the Greenlands Stakes, unplaced in the Ballyogan Stakes and two handicaps, and finished second in a minor race at the Curragh in September.

Breeding record
- Retired to Ballylinch Stud as a broodmare.
- Produced fourteen foals and at least seven winners.
- Notable offspring include:
- Pharmacist (1996) – won the Rochestown Stakes; dam of Red Rocks.
- Mutamarkiz (1997) – won one race.
- Conspirator (1998) – won at least one race.
- Phariseek (1999) – won and later became the dam of Hisaabaat.
- Days of Summer (2008) – won one race.
- Officer Krupke (2003) – won one National Hunt race.
- Others included Matikanehanafubuki and Machikane Emmusubi, among others, with varying degrees of success in Japan and Europe.

Pedigree (summary)
- Sire: Fairy King (USA), a brother of Sadler’s Wells, by Northern Dancer.
- Dam: Ridge the Times (USA), by Riva Ridge.
- Country of origin: Ireland
- Color: Bay

Pharaoh's Delight is remembered as a premier two-year-old sprinter in 1989, with a solid racing career through age four and a productive later life as a broodmare, producing several winners for Ballylinch Stud.