BloodHorse.com

Out with Octave

Dappled out and lighter in color from her racing days, millionaire Octave resides at Darley’s Gainsborough Farm near Versailles, Ky.
"Octave is low maintenance,” said Broodmare Manager Gary Harlow. “Easy to care for and mild tempered.”

Below, Octave at Keeneland in 2007.
Octave @ Keeneland
Order this Photo.

Photos below, Octave at Darley's Gainsborough Farm in September 2010.
Octave Conformation
Order this Photo.

The multiple grade I winner closed out her career with a third-place finish in the Oct. 27, 2007, Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I). She is a full or half-sister to three stakes winners, including grade II winner Belle Cherie (dam of stakes winner Last Best Place by Gone West.)
Octave Headshot
Order this Photo.
 
The gray millionaire daughter of Unbridled's Song--Belle Nuit (by Dr. Carter) was purchased as a 3-year-old for $4 million by John Ferguson on behalf of Shaikh Mohammed’s Darley in 2007 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale. Octave was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod.
 
Octave has a 2010 weanling colt by A.P. Indy and she is in foal to Bernardini.
Octave in Paddock
Order this Photo.

View More Photos of Octave at The Blood-Horse Photo Store.

56 Comments:

She was a wonderful runner and she is still so lovely.

Tiznowbaby 23 Oct 2010 1:27 AM

Beautiful lady !

DBH 23 Oct 2010 2:06 AM

Lovely photos; thanks!  She looks wonderful and happy/mellow.

Laura P in DC 23 Oct 2010 5:30 AM

She's beautiful! She looks like a kind horse. She also looks relaxed and happy. Can't wait to see her offspring on the track. Thanks for the update and the lovely pictures. Best wishes for a safe delivery for her and a healthy filly or colt.

gailg 23 Oct 2010 5:47 AM

She is absolutely gorgeous! Loved this one when she was racing.

Melissa 23 Oct 2010 6:52 AM

FANCY PRANCER...GOTTA LOVE IT WHEN THEY STRUT THEIR STUFF!!!...

Bellwether 23 Oct 2010 7:19 AM

She is beautiful!

HorseLuv73 23 Oct 2010 8:02 AM

Anne, beautiful pix and thanks so much for sharing.  Look forward to seeing the next one.

wee-o 23 Oct 2010 8:29 AM

What a beautiful girl!  She looks relaxed and happy.  LOVE the dapples. :)

BlueHen 23 Oct 2010 8:50 AM

Thank you!  As a fan of all your photos, it's hard to say which of your blogs I enjoy the most, but these focusing on our retired broodmares are so wonderful, I have to say they're right up there.  Octave looks so beautiful in her stunning dapples and you have captured the essence of a happy mare.

txhorsefan 23 Oct 2010 9:13 AM

She looks great!  What a nice balanced trot in the last photo.

Firethorn 23 Oct 2010 9:24 AM

She is beautiful, just beautiful!

annie 23 Oct 2010 9:33 AM

Octave!  She's absolutely gorgeous!

Remember Todd Pletcher always said how good natured and easy going Ocatave is/was.  He really seemed to be quite fond of the gray beauty and with good reason, so it seems.  

What a wonderful treat this is ... and her pics are just beautiful.  

Thank you so much.      

Love 'em all! 23 Oct 2010 10:56 AM

What a beautifal girl. Love her so much. Hope she has a nice peaceful life.

Alex 23 Oct 2010 10:59 AM

What a beautifal girl. Love her so much. Hope she has a nice peaceful life.

Alex 23 Oct 2010 10:59 AM

Octave ♥

Rachel 23 Oct 2010 11:02 AM

Gorgeous mare. Great photos!

Southern Chris 23 Oct 2010 11:08 AM

Thank You for the update and these great photos.

- Peace

Virgil Fox 23 Oct 2010 11:26 AM

I loved watching Octave run...the only filly to come anywhere close to Rags to Riches that year.  She was part of my winning trifecta in the Kentucky Oaks!  She looks GREAT!  She has dappled out incredibly beautifully!  Thanks for the update on her and the pictures.  It feels so good to follow up on some of these horses, to see where they are and how they are doing.

WWSTP 23 Oct 2010 11:44 AM

What a gorgeous girl. perfect example of why I love the gray's. Lovely photos.

Criminal Type 23 Oct 2010 11:57 AM

These updates, especially on mares and geldings, are great! Octave is stunning with those star dapples and white tail. Great photos!

Terry 23 Oct 2010 12:00 PM

Love those Grays!  What a gorgeous picture of a gorgeous mare.

Jodie 23 Oct 2010 12:02 PM

oh then her being bred to discreet cat didn't take hold, but a p indy isn't a bad choice for a first foal either.

anna 23 Oct 2010 12:49 PM

i love keeping up with the "golden

oldies"   thank you...

nmh 23 Oct 2010 12:49 PM

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THESE GREAT MARES STORIES AND PICTURES.  WE SEE THESE MARES AFTER THEIR SECOND CAREERS START AND TO FOLLOW THEIR INFLUENCES ON RACINGS FUTURE. ANY CHANCE OF SOME SIMILAR ON THOSE LIKE LA TROINNE? SO MUCH IS ALWAYS MADE OF THE BOYS BUT THE GIRLS ARE RARELY INCLUDED. AGAIN THESE ARE GREAT, THANKS AGAIN

MITZIEDIVA2 23 Oct 2010 12:51 PM

Ditto to those cheering hearing from the girls and geldings.

Stallions are easy to follow and even visit on the farms. But the mares largely disappear except through their more successful children.

Dr Cal 23 Oct 2010 1:40 PM

Beautiful lady! Thanks for the pictures.

Saddle57 23 Oct 2010 1:46 PM

Wow, she is gorgeous!!!!

LyndaP31 23 Oct 2010 2:05 PM

Oh my, Octave just dazzles.

Freetex 23 Oct 2010 2:59 PM

        What a gorgeous mare ! I 'll be looking forwards to seeing her foals hit the track !!

Pedigree Shelly 23 Oct 2010 3:25 PM

Wow! is about all I can say. Thanks so much for the updates.

gammyp6 23 Oct 2010 6:22 PM

What a beautiful stride she has -- I would love to see pix of her babies!

skyfire 23 Oct 2010 7:21 PM

great pictures of a beautifull mare

y64jonjo 23 Oct 2010 8:04 PM

Thank you so much for this update on Octave. She has always been one of my favorites. Always ran her heart out. I saw her run at Saratoga and she is breath taking. I have thought about her often ever since and even wrote the farm asking about her. (no response) I am very grateful for the update on her!!!  I would love to see her baby!!

Thanks again!!  You made my day!!

Stacy 23 Oct 2010 8:43 PM

Wonderful photos and update. She was so consistent and in such contrast and style to her crop mate Rags to Riches. She looks absolutely lovely. Can't wait to see her 'Slew' babies.

MRO 23 Oct 2010 10:32 PM

Thank you for the update on Octave.  Love to hear how the mares after their race careers.

Danielle 23 Oct 2010 10:34 PM

Exquisite! That's all I have to say. Thank you.

diastu 24 Oct 2010 1:33 AM

Thank you so much for your pictures! She looks gorgeous!

ashley 24 Oct 2010 8:15 AM

Octave is as pretty as pretty can be! Her coloring changed so much from 2007 to 2010, you wouldn't recognize her as the same horse if not for the very distinctive head and tail!

I can't help noticing how parched the grass looks in that last picture. No nourishment there.  I'd be interested in your observations as to how the farm managers (and horses) are dealing with the drought.

sherpa 24 Oct 2010 3:06 PM

She is stunning.  

summergames84 24 Oct 2010 7:09 PM

I love this mare. She always gave her best.

nina 24 Oct 2010 8:07 PM

She's as beautiful as ever-Thanks to  Darley for giving her the best.The AP Indy can only add to her stamina and grit.The memories of this girl are endless.

Donnie 24 Oct 2010 8:22 PM

Thank you Anne, Octave is a beautiful gray roan mare and obviously a wonderful mom in foal to have a little bit of Seattle Slew in its bloodlines!

I saw the article, clicked on it and when her photo came up i have to admit i choked up a little to be honest with you.

She is simply ebulient with peace and tranquility. You do have a way with your lens.

Thank you so much.

Linda in Texas 24 Oct 2010 9:04 PM

How is the A.P. Indy Colt?

And when is the foal by Bernardini due?

I forgot to ask in my first post.

Thank you, Linda

Linda in Texas 24 Oct 2010 9:52 PM

The photos are lovely~Octave looks beautiful!  Thanks for your devotion to the continuing reports on the mares-it's great to hear about the girls for a change!

Laura 25 Oct 2010 9:36 AM

Wow. She is so lovely!! What a show horse she'd make:):)

Thanks for the wonderful photos.

MintHillFarm 25 Oct 2010 10:05 AM

What a pretty girl! Thank you for posting these photos. She looks like a happy horse!

Flora 25 Oct 2010 3:50 PM

Octave you are as beautiful as ever.  I wish I could go back to the day at church hill when I was petting and hugging you at the stable.  We miss you lots, and I am sure you are a great mommy!!

JOSEPHA 25 Oct 2010 4:27 PM

Octave - always a favorite of mine.  Thanks for providing us with current information concerning these horses we have loved and still do!

Wow - she's beautiful!!!!  Please keep the updates coming!  

S Farrar 25 Oct 2010 8:02 PM

Her dapples are absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks for providing us with such stunning visuals of past champions :)

Mallory 25 Oct 2010 9:40 PM

Thanks so much for another update on one of my favorites!  Keep up the great work!

Swanmate 26 Oct 2010 5:44 AM

Thank you so much for this section! I just can't get enough! Octave looks beautiful, and I so enjoy seeing these fantastic ladies after their racing days are over!

easygoer 26 Oct 2010 10:59 AM

Thank You Anne for these gorgeous pictures of Octave.  She was marvelous on the race track and a standout grey, as she matures her coloring becomes richer and shows off that magnificent body.  Her face is just so lovely, her eye  reveals a contentment and alertness.  She seems to be smiling and happy with life as it is.  Thank you so much for bringing her to us.  

Another favorite grey of mine is Stellar Jayne.  She shared the spotlight with Ashado.  Any chance you could bring us an update regarding her and her foals?

Best,

NancyP

NancyP 26 Oct 2010 12:31 PM

Thank you- that brought back amazing memories of the 2007 season. I wish we could be updated on all of those runners more often. Curlin, Street Sense, Hard Spun, such a great year!

Emily27 26 Oct 2010 7:34 PM

Gorgeous photos of a gorgeous mare. Love the updates on retired mares. Stallions are so much easier to keep up with. Keep the mares coming. Love to see that A.P.Indy foal too.

LeeAnne 26 Oct 2010 8:37 PM

WWSTP,

that was some score in the Oaks, how hard was it for you to pick 3 of the 4 faves? and $131 for $2??? way to go out on a limb buddy!

rick 28 Oct 2010 9:09 AM