By Andrea Branchini
Group 3 winner Valeria Messalina (Ire), a 3-year-old filly by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire), carries a name heavy with reputation–good and bad but never indifferent. There were many Roman Emperors in the life of the historical Valeria Messalina, who lived in the first century, during the first decades of the Empire: her husband Claudius (she was his third wife), her cousin Caligula, her cousin Nero, and her great-granduncle Augustus. The emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty did not appear to be exemplary models of conservative family values, and Valeria Messalina was probably affected by that perception: she became a target for accusations of promiscuity and unfaithfulness–maybe politically motivated claims at the time, but later picked up by serious historians. She was eventually executed by a Praetorian guard on the order of her husband's men on account of conspiracy against the Emperor. Her legend lived ever after in figurative arts, literature and the popular imagination–a phenomenon that is somehow similar to that of the public fascination with the great outlaws (Robin Hood, Billy The Kid, etc).
Sunday, Cork, Ireland
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF BROWNSTOWN S.-G3, €65,000, Cork, 7-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT, 1:23.72, gd.
1–VALERIA MESSALINA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by HolyRomanEmperor (Ire)
1st Dam: Arty Crafty, by Arch
2nd Dam: Princess Kris (GB), by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: As You Desire Me (Ire), by Kalamoun (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Anthony Rogers;
B-Airlie Stud (IRE); T-Jessie Harrington; J-Shane Foley. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-1-0, $70,913. *1/2 to Pincheck (IRE) (Invincible
Spirit {Ire}), GSW-Ire, $179,594.
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