2025

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.

Frankel 2000 Guineas

admin April 19, 2025

Race Replay : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQajCQ1_BSA&t=1s

Every horse racing fans has their favourite horse racing replays. Those moments when you feel like telling the world: ‘You’ve got to watch this!’ Even if you’ve watched it one-hundred times and counting.

Well, this website is founded on those moments.

In truth, there are a million reasons why a horse races captures your interest if not imagination.

There may be many reasons why a horse racing replay heightens your emotions. Perhaps it’s a horse you have followed throughout its career, you backed it at the races and won big, or, perhaps, you own the horse.

The point being, that horse racing replays are both subjective and emotive. And they help re-live those moments time and time again.

Over my 30+ years of following horse racing, I’ve watched hundreds of live horse races and literally thousands of horse racing replays.

But which Horse Racing Replay is worthy of this first website post?

I’m sure horse racing fans will never forget the wonder horse Frankel, trained by Sir Henry Cecil. It was a partnership which achieved ultimate stardom. I won’t detail each and every Frankel victory but one race, in my humble opinion, is remarkable.

30^th April, 2011

2000 Guineas – Frankel, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, ridden by Tom Queally

3:10 Newamrket –

1 Mile –

Going: Good to Firm

Number of runners: 13

Horse Racing Replay:

It sounds a bold statement, but this was the most amazing race I have ever seen in my life!

After 4 wins at two and flying home on his return to racing at three in the Greenham Stakes, the next stop would be his first Classic at Newmarket’s Qipco 2000 Guineas (Group 1). In fact, the 203^rd running).

By all accounts, race fans were anticipating a Frankel win. The bookies had been beaten so many times by this wonder horse they were running scared.

This son of Galileo was priced 1/2f.

Could he be beaten?

Everyone had an inkling Frankel was on the verge of stardom and every victory was cementing this thought. But there is always the slight if and but about a horse which could be a touch keen.

But could any of these twelve rivals beat him?

I watched on Racing TV, the race called by commentator Ian Bartlett.

Just before the start of the race, I felt quite nervous, the anticipation and excitement of the race to come.

As the stalls opened, it felt like the country stopped and watched in wonder.

The race was underway, and after 8 seconds Bartlett uttered these words: ‘Frankel has got out well…’

From that point the race was a mixture of bewilderment and blur.

I truly couldn’t believe my eyes.

Perhaps you were thinking the same.

After 40 seconds, Frankel was 3-lengths clear. I was thinking this looks impressive, if not a stride too fast. If it had been any other horse I would have been fearing the worst that Frankel was going…too fast.

From that point, I thought I was watching a five-furlong race. Someone must have got the distances mixed up or I was still dreaming that somehow, beyond comprehension, in something which was akin to an outer body experience, Frankel had cruised to a ten-length lead at halfway. Even Bartlett was commentating as if he wasn’t sure what he was watching or saying. The crowd cheered louder. Tom Queally, looking through his legs, to see his opponents lagging behind as if this was a walk in the park. It just didn’t seem possible that a horse could make high-class horses look pedestrian.

It was one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen.

A mix of wonder and borderline dismay than any moment the wheels would fall off and Frankel would lose.

Bartlett screams: ‘At the bushes, Frankel is fifteen lengths clear!’

No kidding, if Frankel had been running down Heathrow’s run way and Queally had stretched out his arms, the pair would have taken off like a bird in flight…

If this wasn’t the most impressive performance of a horse at top class then only Pegasus could compete.

Honestly, if someone had asked my opinion at that moment I’m not sure what would have come out of my mouth.

Inside the final furlong, the crowd cheered, the applause grew louder and louder and I watched in wonder.

Bartlett said it all: A horse that’s pure class, Frankel!’

‘He’s destroyed them from halfway.’

‘An amazing performance.’

Nick Luck, presenting on Racing TV, after Frankel crossed the line: ‘Brilliant. Extraordinary. Unprecedented.’

‘Just extraordinary this horse…’

What can you say? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. One of my greatest regrets in racing is never seeing Frankel in flesh.

I just watched the replay now and it’s just as thrilling.

Quite amazing.

Frankel, the wonder horse. Cecil the trainer of trainers. Queally, holding his nerve.

Unbeaten.