Beckett (19 March 1998 – 1 August 2016) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Sold as a yearling for 1.7 million guineas he showed very good form as a two-year-old in 2000 when he won two of his three races including the Group 1 National Stakes. He was sidelined for a year by injury, but returned in the autumn of 2001 to take a strong edition of the Joel Stakes. He was retired at the end of the year to become a breeding stallion and stood in Ireland and Australia but made little impact as a sire of winners. Background Beckett was a bay horse with no white markings bred in Ireland by the County Kilkenny-based Ballygallon Stud. As a yearling in September 1999 the colt was consigned to the Tattersalls Houghton sale where he was bought for 1.7 million guineas by Dermot "Demi" O'Byrne acting on behalf of John Magnier's Coolmore Stud organisation. He was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. During his track career he was officially owned in partnership by Magnier's wife Susan and Michael Tabor. His sire Fairy King, who was full-brother to Sadler's Wells, failed to win a race after being injured on his debut, but sired the winners of over five-hundred races, including Helissio, Falbrav, Turtle Island and Oath. Beckett's dam Groom Order wan unraced but came from a good family, being closely related to Exclusive and Entrepreneur. Racing career 2000: two-year-old season On 14 June Beckett began his racing career in a maiden race over six furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse in which he started the 2/5 favourite and won "comfortably" by one and a half lengths from America Calling after leading from the start. The colt was moved up in class for the Group 3 Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh in August in which he was made the 6/1 fourth choice in the betting in a seven-runner field headed by his more fancied stablemate Bonnard. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, he tracked the leaders before taking the lead a furlong out but was overtaken in the final tride and finished third, beate half a length and a short head by Lady Lahar and Bonnard. On 17 September the colt was ridden by Heffernan again when he stepped up to Group 1 level for the National Stakes on yielding ground over the same course and distance. His stablemate Darwin