Inspiral (GB)

Inspiral was Europe’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2021 on the strength of four wins in four outings, including a trio of stakes wins capped by her victory in the Group 1 Bet365 Fillies’ Mile on Oct. 8, 2021, at Newmarket. 

Trained by John and Thady Gosden for owner-breeder Cheveley Park Stud, Inspiral made her 3-year-old debut June 17, 2022, and picked up right where she’d left off the previous year with yet another victory in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She suffered her first career defeat in her second start of 2022 in the Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes going one mile at Newmarket on July 8, losing that day to QIPCO One Thousand Guineas runner-up Prosperous Voyage. She quickly got back on track, however, in her following outing, which was a victory over older horses in the Group 1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois on Aug. 14 at one mile at Deauville with Frankie Dettori aboard. The Jacques Le Marois is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” race for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Inspiral won her next start in Europe, the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 7, and then shipped to Santa Anita Park for a start in the Nov. 4 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Turf. Making her first career start at 1 ¼ miles, she sat well back in the field and saved ground under regular rider Dettori before wheeling out four-wide at the top of the stretch. Under her rider’s strong urging, Inspiral rallied swiftly through the final furlong to just get up and edge Coolmore’s multiple Group 1 winner Warm Heart by a neck for her third straight top-level victory.

That Breeders’ Cup win was enough to give Inspiral the edge among Eclipse Award voters, and she was honored as champion turf female of 2023.

Inspiral is by leading European sire Frankel out of the Selkirk mare Starscope, runner-up in the 2012 QIPCO One Thousand Guineas.