Donativum (horse)


Donativum is a British thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Background

Donativum was a grey gelding bred in the United Kingdom by the Stratford Place Stud. He was one of the best horses ired by the sprinter Cadeaux Genereux.
As a yearling in October 1997 Donativum was put up for auction at Tattersalls and bought for 120,000 guineas by John Ferguson Bloodtock on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed.

Racing career

2008: two-year-old season

As a juvenile, Donativum was beaten in maiden races on his first two starts and then finished seventh in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. After recording his first victory in a maiden at Yarmouth Racecourse he started a 33/1 outsider for the valuable Timeform Million over seven furlongs at Newmarket on 4 October. Ridden by Martin Dwyer, he finished strongly and won by half a length from Crowded House He was then shipped to California for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Racetrack three weeks later. After being restrained toward the rear of the field by Frankie Dettori he made rapid progress in the straight, took the lead in the last fifty yards and won by half a length from the Irish challenger Westphalia.

2009: three-year-old season

In 2009 Donativum made seven appearance and ran consistently but appeared some way short of top class. His only success came when he won the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick over 1600 metres at Deauville Racecourse on 4 July. He also finished third in the Challenge Stakes, fourth in the Joel Stakes and fifth in both the Jersey Stakes and the Prix Quincey.