Casse's mighty mare who became America's royal heroine

There are few better known equine names in the racing world than that of North America's mighty mare Tepin, who in three weeks' time is set to defend her Breeders' Cup Mile crown.

After last year's victory at Keeneland, the five-year-old went from strength to strength, winning her next four starts in the US before a memorable success when everything seemed ranged against her in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. Tepin extended her winning streak to eight on her return to North America in the $1 million Woodbine Mile – but the Queen of the Turf goes to Santa Anita on the back of a shock defeat at odds of 2-5, albeit in unsatisfactory circumstances, at Keeneland eight days ago.

Early years
The Kentucky-bred daughter of former Aidan O'Brien-trained Bernstein was sold for $140,000 as a yearling to owner Robert 'Bat' Masterson at Fasig-Tipton. Named Tepin (pronounced 'Teppin', like the pepper) – after Tepin Way, a street in the Bighorn Golf Club community in southern California where Masterson has a home – she was sent to the family operation of trainer Mark Casse (pronounced 'Cassie'). Although she showed promise at two, when she won the Grade 3 Delta Princess on her final start, she did not win in four outings the following season.