April 2025

2,000 Guineas 1992

admin April 28, 2025

On May 2, 1992, the late Lester Piggott rode Rodrigo De Triano, owned by the late Robert Sangster and trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, to victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. In terms of the finish, the race was not especially memorable, with Piggott producing the son of Secreto to lead inside the final furlong before quickening clear for a routine, 1½-length defeat of 50/1 outsider Lucky Lindy.

However, the result would prove unforgettable for two reasons. Firstly, Rodrigo De Triano provided Piggott with the thirtieth and final Classic winner of his long, illustrious career at the age of 56. The outstanding jockey of the postwar era, ‘The Long Fellow’ had retired from the saddle for the first time in 1985, with over 4,000 winners to his name, including a record 29 English Classic winners. In 1987, he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for income tax evasion, as a result of which his OBE, previously awarded in 1975, was withdrawn. Piggott served a year in prison and two years after his release in 1988 came out of retirement to resume his career as a jockey.

Secondly, Rodrigo De Triano – who had already won the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket as a two-year-old, when ridden by Willie Carson – provided Chapple-Hyam with the first Classic winner of his then-fledgling training career. Chapple-Hyam, 28, was in just his second season as private trainer to Sangster at Manton, near Marlborough, Wiltshire, having replaced Barry Hills in 1991.

The famously taciturn Piggott grinned from ear to ear on his return to the winners’ enclosure at Newmarket, while Sangster was equally ecstatic, exclaiming, “The oldest jockey in the race and the youngest trainer! I couldn’t be more thrilled.” Further delight was to follow for all concerned, with Rodrigo De Triano going on to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, the International Stakes at York and the Champion Stakes at Newmarket later in his three-year-old campaign.

Champion Stakes 2012 – Frankels Final Race

admin April 28, 2025

The Champion Stakes, run over a mile and a quarter at Ascot on October 20, 2012, was memorable for the fact that it marked the final race of Frankel, who remains the highest-rated horse in the history of World Thoroughbred Rankings, which began in 1977. Facing six rivals, including the 2011 Champion Stakes winner, Cirrus Des Aigles, Frankel was sent off at prohibitive odds of 2/11, but despite racing on soft going for the first time since making his racecourse debut at Newbury two seasons previously, made light of the underfoot conditions and the opposition.

Ridden by Tom Queally, as he had been on all of his 13 previous starts, Frankel started slowly, briefly causing consternation for Ian Mongan, aboard his pacemaker, Bullet Train. Nevertheless, Frankel soon recovered and, brought wide inside the final quarter of a mile, cruised past Cirrus Des Aigles approaching the final furlong and only had to be kept up to his work to score a comfortable, 1¾-length success from his nearest market rival. Nathaniel, who, coincidentally, Frankel had beaten by just half a length on his racecourse debut – but had won the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in 2011 and the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown earlier in 2012 in the meantime – finished third, a further 2½ lengths away.

Thus, Frankel finished his career unbeaten in all 14 starts, including the 2011 2,000 Guineas and nine other Group 1 races. Shortly afterwards, his owner/breeder, the late Prince Khalid Abdulla, said, “Today was important because it was his last race”, while his trainer, the late Sir Henry Cecil said, “I can’t believe that in the history of racing there has ever been a better racehorse.” Since his retirement from racing, Frankel has proved an exceptional sire and currently stands at Banstead Manor Stud in Cheveley, near Newmarket, where he commands a fee of £350,000 a time

Horse Racing Replays: Crisp Beaten in Aintree Grand National 1973

admin April 25, 2025

The Aintree Grand National is one of the most famous horse races in the world. If there has been a decade which captured the imagination, excitement and victory of this steeplechase it has to be the 1970s. The mighty Red Rum trained by Ginger McCain and owned by Noel Le Mare. This horse racing replay features all these protagonists. The first National win for the legendary Red Rum.

The 1973 Grand National is arguably one of the greatest ever seen.

It’s a truly amazing race.

Two favourites headed a strong field of 44 including 9/1 shots Red Rum and Crisp.

Such was the class of this race, the course record was broken. This had lasted 38-years, set in 1935 by Reynoldstown.

In 1973, L’Escargot finished a gallant third. A horse that would prove a hard nut to crack finishing runner-up behind Red Red the next year and winning The Grand National 1975. Not forgetting L’Escargot won the 1971 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Much of this story comes from Crisp who was originally trained and raced in Australia in the mid-late 1960s. In fact, he won the Australian Grand National. He was brought over to the UK by Fred Winter in 1970. Known as ‘The Black Kangeroo’, he won the 1971 Queen Mother Champion Chase. The gelding headed to the 1973 Aintree Grand National with a top weight of 12 stone. Red Rum some 23lb better off in the weights (10-5).

It was going to be a clash of the Titans and a race which would be talked about till this day.

31^st March 1973

Aintree Racecourse

Grand National Steeplechase

Distance: 4m 856y

Going: Good to Firm

Runners: 44

Horse Racing Replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMqsk7rHkHk

After jumping the 22nd fence (Becher’s Brook), Crisp looked to have an unbeatable lead, over a distance clear (33-lengths). Jockey Richard Pitman heard one of the fallen jockeys shout: ‘Kick on, you will win!’ However, he also heard race commentator Peter O’Sullevan say: ‘Red Rum is coming out of the pack.’ His jockey, Brian Fletcher, realising Crisp had a colossal lead kicked on endeavouring to catch his leader. At the final fence, Crisp had a lead of 15-lengths. However, the welter weight started to take its toll and Crisp began to tire with every stride. Red Rum was chasing hard and with the dying strides he collard the mighty effort of Crisp by ¾ length. Some 25-lengths in front of L’Escargot (12-0).

It was a course record: 9m 1.9s.

O’Sullevan’s words rang out across the crowd: ‘Crisp is getting very tired, and Red Rum is pounding after him. Red Rum is the one who’s finishing the strongest. He’s going to get up! Red Rum is going to win the National. At the line Red Rum snatches it from Crisp.’

Pitman blamed himself for the loss saying: ‘I committed suicide from the front!’

Meaning he went too fast on Crisp.

‘He ran the race of his life. He gave everything. And I got it wrong.’

‘I could hear the roar building behind me… and I knew what it meant.’

Decades later he said: ‘It still hurts.’

Lyric Fantasy Wins the Nunthorpe Stakes

admin April 21, 2025

Horse racing has seen winners come in all shapes and sizes. Some giants, while others small, tiny if not pocket sized. Well, almost. Perhaps the old adage of the best things come in small packages is fitting for Lyric Fantasy, for this tiny thoroughbred horse was called the ‘Pocket Rocket’.

Trained by Richard Hannon Snr, in the ownership of Lord Carnarvon and Susan Magnier, this daughter of Tate Gallery out of the mare Flying Melody was a cheap yearling purchase at just £12,500. She would prove to be a star turn.

1992 saw this two-year-old come out all guns blazing, winning her first four races impressively, including the National Stakes (Listed Race), Queen Mary Stakes (Group 3) & Super Sprint Trophy by an average of almost six-lengths.

Connections thought she was good enough to take on her peers in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1), at York Racecourse, over 5f. Only four other juveniles had won this race in over 100-years, since its inauguration in 1922.

The unbeaten filly, the pocket rocket, known as Lyric Fantasy headed to York.

20^th August 1992

York Racecourse

Keeneland Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)

Distance 5f

Going: Good to Firm

Runners: 11

Horse Racing Replay: Racing TV

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCZuUAK6IWI

Such was the impressive nature of her earlier races and unbeaten, she was price 8/11f. Ridden by Michael Roberts, the bustling crowd at the Knavesmire watched with anticipation. Could she be the first two-year-old filly to win the Nunthorpe Stakes?

The stalls open…

‘Lyric Fantasy out of the stalls like a pocket rocket!’

Freddie Lloyd led until disputed halfway with Diamonds Galore and Paris House in contention. At the 2-furlong pole Lyric Fantasy ran on to challenge the lead. With just over a furlong to go the commentator said: ‘It’s only now this little filly starts to go on by half a length. Inside the final furlong it’s Lyric Fantasy who’s going to take it but the challenge comes from Mr Brooks (trained by Richard Hannon Snr, ridden by Lester Piggott). Lyric Fantasy by a lenght-and-a-half, And it’s going to be Lyric Fantasy, ears pricked at the line, oh so cheekie, with Mr Brooks is second, then Diamonds Galore.’

‘A brilliant little one beats a good big one!’

She won in a time of 57.39s.

Her next start saw her finish runner-up when favourite in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) over 6f.

She would race four times as a three-year-old, making her return in the 1000 Guineas over one-mile where she finished 6^th tiring in the final furlong behind the truly talented Sayyedati.

Lyric Fantasy made her final run returning to the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) in 1993, but this time without a substantial age weight allowance she finished last behind Lochsong (who went on to win the race again in 1998).

Purchased for just £12,500 as a yearling, at two she was sold for 340,000G.

She won six of her ten races, earning total prize money of £221,762.

Many horse racing fans remember Lyric Fantasy.

‘The Pocket Rocket.’

Dayjur Breeders’ Cup Sprint 1990

admin April 21, 2025

Horse racing fans of a certain age will remember Dayjur. And if the name isn’t familiar to you then you will enjoy reminiscing about this exceptionally talented and super-fast horse. Trained by the Major Dick Hern, in the ownership of Sheikh Hamdam Al-Maktoum, ridden in all his 11 races by Willie Carson.

He had a relatively short career spanning from June 1989 – October 1990.

A hugely expensive yearling purchase at $1.65m, this diminutive colt (15.3 hands) dominated European sprinting winning the following races:

All 1990:

Temple Stakes 5f (Group 2)

King’s Stand Stakes 5f (Group 2)

Nunthorpe Stakes 5f (Group 1)

Ladbroke’s Sprint Cup 6f (Group 1)

Prix de’l’Abbaye de Longchamp 5f (Group 1)

This son of Danzig out of the mare Gold Beauty won 7 of his 11 starts, but his final start would be one of the most dramatic races of all time. Having proven to be the fastest sprinter in Europe, connections headed to the United States to contest the Breeders’ Cup Sprint over 6f (Dirt) at Belmont Park.

The Racing Post and Sporting Life called him ‘The world’s fastest horse’

27^th October 1990

Belmont Stakes (Grade 1)

Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Dirt) 6f

Runners: 14

Horse Racing Replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xgZV9ADl9s

If you haven’t seen this race then you really should.

The race was seen as a dual between American hope Safely Kept Vs Dayjur.

Safely Kept, the only filly in the race, had finished runner-up in the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and in 1990 had won 7 or her 9 races.

As the presenter said: ‘How would he handle his first career start on dirt?’

‘And they’re off…’

Dayjur wasn’t helped by a relatively wide draw and a tardy start, while Safely Kept shot out of the gates to secure a two-length lead. Willie Carson pushed forward, rapidly making up ground to sit in second place at the quarter pole, with Glitterman in third. Within strides, it was a two-horse race, with little to choose between Safely Kept and the challenging Dayjur at the half-mile pole.

In the final furlong, Dayjur nosed ahead looking to have the edge over the strong filly when he jumped a shadow losing his momentum and the filly regained the lead to win by a neck.

The commentator said: ‘Dayjur took a bad step 10-feet from the wire…’

As he crossed the line in second, you could see Willie Carson shaking his head in disbelief.

The commentator continued: ‘They were clearly the best two sprinters in the world but victory has gone to the American filly.’

‘It seemed like Dayjur had the race in hand, when in the final strides he jumped shadows and lost his action.’

Carson said: ‘He jumped a shadow. I’ve never known anything like it. He was going so well – we had it won.’

The incident become one of racing’s most famous stories.

Sadly in the race Mr. Nickerson suffered a heart attack, bringing down Shake Knit. Both horses died.