Shoe worn by the racehorse Arazi.

Shoe worn by the racehorse Arazi,
mounted on a wooden plaque with easel support and set with engraved metal plaques, 20 by 15cm., the shoe has become detached from the backboard.

Provenance: The Ray Goddard Collection (lots 97 to 178). For further information on Ray Goddard and the collection see lot 144.

Arazi was a chestnut colt foaled in 1989 by Blushing Groom out of Danseur Fabuleux (Northern Dancer). He was bred in the USA by Ralph Wilson, founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills NFL team. The colt was originally owned by Allen E Paulson, who sent him to France to be trained by Francois Boutin. Later Sheikh Mohammed bought a half-share.

Arazi was one of the outstanding two-year-olds in racing history. He won six of his seven races in France before travelling to Churchill Downs to run on Dirt for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Here, Arazi recorded an outstanding victory winning by a wide margin in what commentators described as “the single-most spectacular performance in Breeders’ Cup history.” Timeform awarded Arazi a figure of 135, a range of figure usually only reserved for a racehorse at three or above, and the colt was festooned with accolades at the Eclipse and Cartier awards ceremonies.

Sadly Arazi, although winning further races, did not reach the same dizzy heights as a three-year-old and was retired to Stud where he was owned outright by Sheikh Mohammed. Arazi’s greatest influence on the breed can perhaps be found as a broodmare sire - his daughters producing around the globe the likes of Electrocutionist (Dubai World Cup), Lahudood (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare) and American (Melbourne Cup).