Try My Best

Try My Best (1975–1993) was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A son of Northern Dancer, he won the Dewhurst Stakes in 1978 and was the top-rated two-year-old in Britain and Ireland that year.

Try My Best
Sire	Northern Dancer
Grandsire	Nearctic
Dam	Sex Appeal
Damsire	Buckpasser
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	28 April 1975[1]
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	E. P. Taylor
Owner	Robert Sangster
Trainer	Vincent O'Brien
Record	5: 4-0-0
Earnings	£48,389
Major wins
Larkspur Stakes (1977) Dewhurst Stakes (1977) Vauxhall Trial Stakes (1978)
Awards
Irish Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1977) English Champion Two-year-old Colt (1977)
Last updated on May 14, 2010

Background

Try My Best was a bay horse with three white socks bred by E. P. Taylor. Try My Best was sired by Northern Dancer out of the mare Sex Appeal, who also produced his full brother El Gran Senor. The colt was conditioned for racing by the Irish trainer, Vincent O'Brien.

Racing career

At age two Try My Best won the G III Larkspur Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland and the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in England. The unbeaten 1977 Champion Two-Year-Old of England and Ireland won the Vauxhall Trial Stakes at Phoenix Park Racecourse at age three in 1978 following which owner Robert Sangster syndicated the colt for US$6 million. Try My Best then shocked his owners and the betting public when he finished last in the Classic 2,000 Guineas Stakes to winner, Roland Gardens.^[2] Injured, Try My Best never returned to racing.

Stud record

Try My Best had limited fertility but was notably the sire of:

• Last Tycoon (b. 1983) – multiple stakes winner in France, England and the United States including the 1986 Group One Sprint Championship, King's Stand Stakes, and Breeders' Cup Mile. A successful sire and outstanding sire of sires.
• Waajib (b. 1983) – win Prix du Rond Point (1987), Diomed Stakes (1988), Queen Anne Stakes (1988) Sire of Royal Applause
• My Best Valentine (b. 1990) – durable Group race winner who competed for seven years in England and France. Wins include the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp at age eight.

Try My Best was sent to breeders in Japan in 1992.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Try My Best (USA), bay stallion, 1975^[1]

Sire Northern Dancer (CAN) 1961	Nearctic (CAN) 1954	Nearco	Pharos
			Nogara
		Lady Angela	Hyperion
			Sister Sarah
	Natalma (USA) 1957	Native Dancer	Polynesian
			Geisha
		Almahmoud	Mahmoud
			Arbitrator
Dam Sex Appeal (USA) 1970	Buckpasser (USA) 1963	Tom Fool	Menow
			Gaga
		Busanda	War Admiral
			Businesslike
	Best In Show (USA) 1965	Traffic Judge	Alibhai
			Traffic Court
		Stolen Hour	Mr Busher
			Late Date (Family: 8f)

References

1. "Try My Best pedigree". Equineline. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
2. The Age – May 25, 1978