French highweight and multiple Group 1 winner ORATORIO (Ire) (Danehill) has been
retired and will join the Coolmore roster for 2006. An earner of more than $1.9
million from a 15-6-3-1 mark, the three-year-old colt recorded an unplaced
finish when making his final career start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
A champion two-year-old, he won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-G1) and
defeated some of Europe’s finest
horses, including Motivator (GB) (Montjeu [Ire]), in high-class renewals of the Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) and Irish
Champion S. (Ire-G1) this season. These accomplishments make him one of
a select group of just four sophomores who have won both of those races in the
last 30 years. The others include top sires Sadler’s Wells and Giants Causeway.
In addition to being part of a member of that select group, Oratorio hails
from the same dam line as Alydar.
“Oratorio is an amazing horse,” trainer Aidan O’Brian said. “He has
everything speed, stamina and a big heart.”