Giacometti (1971 – after 1985) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 1974 he became the fourth horse since the Second World War to be placed in all three legs of the British Triple Crown. Regarded by his stable as a potential "world beater", he was unbeaten as a two-year-old, winning his first race by at least twelve lengths and then taking the Gimcrack Stakes and the Champagne Stakes. As a three-year-old he finished second in the 2000 Guineas, third in The Derby and second in the St Leger before winning the Champion Stakes. After two defeats in 1975 he was retired to stud in the United States where he made very little impact as a breeding stallion.
Background
Giacometti was rangy, good-looking chestnut horse with a short white sock on his left hind leg bred in Ireland by C A Ryan. He was sired by Faberge, a French-bred horse who finished second to Baldric in the 2000 Guineas. At stud, Faberge sired the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rheingold before being exported to Japan. Giacometti's dam Naujwan was unbeaten in two races but came from a relatively undistinguished family, although her great-grand-dam Salecraft was a half-sister of the Derby winner Straight Deal.
As a yearling, Giacometti was offered for sale in October and bought for 5000 guineas by Jack Doyle acting on behalf of the Lloyd's underwriter Charles St George. St George sent the colt into training with Captain Ryan Price at Downs House, Findon, West Sussex. He was ridden in the early part of his racing career by Tony Murray.
Racing career
1973: two-year-old season
Before he appeared on a racecourse, Giacometti had built up a formidable reputation, and was reportedly regarded by Price as the best horse he had ever trained. He made his debut in the Mountfield Plate, a maiden race over six furlongs at Lingfield Park in June and started at odds of 4/6 in a fourteen-runner field. He led from the start and was never challenged, winning easily by a margin officially given as twelve lengths although the photo finish strip suggested that he had won by sixteen. The colt was then moved up in class for the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes over six furlongs at York Racecourse in August and started 11/10 favourite ahead of Dragonara Palace, the winner of the July Stakes and Richmond Stakes. Giacometti won again, but produced a disappointing performance, being ridden along by Tony Murray from the start and struggling to overcome Late Love by a length, with Music Maestro a head away in third. He was then moved up in distance for the Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse in September and started the 8/11 favourite. He took the lead two furlongs from the finish, and held off the late challenge of Snow Knight to win by a short head with Pitcairn in third.
1974: three-year-old season
As a three-year-old, Giacometti was campaigned exclusively in Group One races. In the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse he faced a strong field and finished second, beaten a length and a half by the French challenger Nonoalco, with the 4/9 favourite Apalachee in third, Northern Taste in fourth and Habat sixth. A month later, Giacometti started 5/2 second favourite behind Nonoalco for the 195th running of the Derby Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. He settled just behind the leaders on the inside and turned into the straight in third place behind Snow Knight (a 50/1 outsider) and Imperial Prince. In the last quarter mile he was switched to the outside but could make no impact on the two leaders and finished third, beaten two lengths and a length by Snow Knight and Imperial Prince, just in front of the fast-finishing Bustino. Giacometti was matched against older horses for the first time in the Eclipse Stakes over ten furlongs at Sandown in July, and started favourite, but ran poorly and finished fifth of the twelve runners behind the 33/1 outsider Coup de Feu and the four-year-old Ksar. He was found to be suffering from a "blood disorder" and was off the course until autumn.