Michael Church Racing Books

 Priam – the peer of Flying Childers and Eclipse

 In 1830, Priam’s Derby victory not only surpassed all previous winners, but he became the yardstick to measure future champions.

Bred by Sir John Shelley, Priam was by Emilius (1823 Derby) out of the 20-year old mare, Cressida – a full sister to Eleanor (1801 Derby and Oaks). Sent as an unbroken yearling to be sold at the Newmarket July Meeting, Priam was bought by William Chifney for 1,000 guineas, then a record price for a yearling..

The Druid wrote of Priam: “In height, he was a trifle above 15.3, rather light-limbed, and with lightish back ribs, from which his critics drew their short-course inferences. His greatest merit lay in his forehand; he had deep oblique shoulders, and one of the most expressive and blood-like of heads.”

Making his debut at the Newmarket Craven Meeting on 12 April 1830, Priam, officially a two-year old (since at this time racehorses became a year older on May Day), won the Riddlesworth Stakes from Mahmoud. He then added the Column Stakes from the future Two Thousand Guineas winner Augustus. Frank Buckle, then 64, rode Priam in both races since neither contracted jockeys could make 8st 4lb.  Days later, such was his early reputation that at Newmarket’s First Spring Meeting he received forfeit in two sweepstakes on the same afternoon.

Taking racehorses from Newmarket to Epsom during the first part of the 19th century was entirely different from today. So the details of Priam’s journey to Epsom for the Derby make interesting reading. On Friday, 14 May, Priam left Newmarket at 4 a.m. to walk the 21 miles to Newport. Next day, he walked a further 22 miles to the ‘Cock’ at Epping, and the day after, he continued through Piccadilly to Smith’s stables in Sloane Street. On the fourth day he travelled on to Mickleham in Surrey, so leaving his trainer, William Chifney, the required nine days needed to put him right for the great race. Due to previous jockey arrangements, however, Priam’s Derby mount went to the third choice of jockey, Sam Day. Nevertheless, William Chifney and his brother Sam backed Priam to win £10,000.

Priam went to Epsom as the 4-1 Derby favourite, however, after bouts of very heavy rain and at least a dozen false starts, when the flag finally fell, Priam was left rearing up at the back of the field. Nonetheless, approaching Tattenham Corner, Sam Day, having used some speed, settled Priam nicely, to move up in close attendance to the leaders. Continuing to the distance pole, Little Red Rover led Augustus and Mahmoud, but from there, Day allowed Priam his head and cruising past Little Red Rover, went on to win easily by two lengths.

At Ascot, Priam, when set to give Mahmoud and another Derby rival 7lb in a sweepstake over the Old Mile, he justified the odds of 1-3 and was then saved for the St Leger.

The 130 mile journey to Doncaster was broken after two days to put Priam through a series of searching gallops in Exton Park, Chester, before continuing the 85 miles on foot to Doncaster. This second part of the journey, however, was subjected to heavy rain, leaving parts of the course all but flooded. Then, on the day, as the field of 28 lined up for the Classic, a thunder and lightning storm broke over Town Moor.  Inevitably, the conditions affected the form, and whilst the winner, Birmingham, a strapping 17.0 hands son of the St Leger winner Filho da Puta, relished the quagmire conditions, the lighter framed Priam struggled to challenge. Heroically, he closed the gap on Birmingham, but was beaten by half-a-length.

Priam recovered remarkably well and, two days later, beat Retriever in a match over one and a half miles, before walking over for the Gascoigne Stakes. To enhance Priam’s reputation, later that afternoon Retriever won the Doncaster Cup.

The following year at the Craven Meeting, Priam won the Craven Stakes and the two-mile Port Stakes, then after a failed attempt to run him in the Ascot Gold Cup, the Chifney’s sold him to Lord Chesterfield for 3,000 guineas. Priam was then matched to carry 7st 11lb, over two miles at Newmarket against the year older mare Lucetta (8st 8lb), winner of the previous Ascot Gold Cup and a Kings Plate only three days earlier, The match generated great interest with level betting – Sam Chifney on Priam and Jem Robinson on Lucetta. The mare, thought to be the better stayer set a strong pace, Chifney, however, kept Priam directly behind Luceta, until 150 yards out, when he not only cruised past, but went on to win by four lengths. This was an outstanding performance, confirming Priam’s reputation as one of the Turf’s great horses.

Priam then went on to win the Goodwood Cup in a canter.

Rested until late October, he won a 10 furlong Match ‘Across the Flat’, against the previous year’s Two Thousand Guineas winner, Augustus, conceding 16lbs and winning by three-quarters of a length.

Now five and reappearing at odds of 1-4 in Newmarket’s Craven Stakes, he ran an unexplained shocker to finish third of five behind Chapman.

In May, Priam beat Lucetta again in a 3½ mile King’s Plate and in June at Ascot, he won the Eclipse Foot, beating Sarpendon.

Returning for the Goodwood Cup on Wednesday, 15 August, and following Lucetta’s win in the Goodwood Stakes, Priam, although even-money, was set to give 31lb to that year’s Derby winner, St Giles, 46lb to the second in the Oaks, Lady Fly and 31lb to Beiram, a winner of four races at Newmarket and the Drawing-room Stakes at Goodwood the day before. And it was Beiram who severely tested Priam, the two in furious combat up the straight, with Priam courageously denying Beiram to win by a short-head.

Inevitably, the race took its toll of Priam and soon after, Lord Chesterfield retired him to his Bretby Park Stud, near Burton-on-Trent, at a fee of £30.

In 1835, after a residency of four years and at time when his two-year-olds were winning, Lord Chesterfield, deeply in debt, sold Priam to Richard Tattersall on behalf of Dr A.T. Merritt of Virginia, for 3,500 guineas to go to America.

In the ensuing years after Priam’s fillies (Miss Letty, Industry and Crucifix), had won the Oaks three times in four years, belated offers sent to America of 4,000 guineas and 5,000 guineas were refused.

Priam was Champion Sire in Britain in 1839 & 1840. Overall his fillies were better than his colts, with Crucifix (b.f. 1837), the best, winning both the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas together with the Oaks, then going on to foal Surplice (b.c. 1845), by Touchstone, winner of the Derby and St Leger.

In North America, Priam was Champion Sire four times in five years 1942-46.  His best colt being the imported Monarch (b.c. 1834) ex Delphine by Whisker, sent from England to South Carolina.

On both sides of the Atlantic, Priam was now heralded as the peer of Flying Childers and Eclipse.

Some years before his death, Priam was transferred from Virginia to the Belle Mead Stud Farm in Tennessee, where sadly, aged 20 and by now, totally blind, he died in 1847.

Acknowledgement: The Goodwood Cup extracts are from Edward and Charles Weatherby’s Racing Calendar’s 1831 and 1832.

For more Racing History see Michael’s Books for Sale.

Variations in the Osteology of Racehorses

It is not readily appreciated that racehorses, being hybrids, vary in their number of ribs and lumbar vertebrae.

To further explain this I have reproduced here an essay featured in my book: ECLIPSE – The Horse – The Race – The Awards.

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Waxy by Potoooooooo

– descendants of Eclipse

ECLIPSE (ch.c. 1764), was the stand-out horse of the century.

Bred by William, Duke of Cumberland and named after the great eclipse in the year of his birth, he won all his 18 races including 11 King’s Plates, before dying of colic at Cannons, in Middlesex, on 27 February, 1789. No racehorse has achieved greater fame or left a more lasting legacy through his progeny. Now, 234 years after his death, more than 95 per cent of all modern thoroughbreds can trace back to him in male line.

One of the best sons of Eclipse was Pot-8-o’s.

However, this was given a twist when Lord Abingdon asked the lad to chalk up the colt’s name, Potatoes, on the stable door. The lad spelt it Potoooooooo, which so surprised and delighted Lord Abingdon that he registered it as such. Later, for everyone’s convenience it was shortened to Pot-8-o’s. As it turned out, he won 30 races, including 28 at Newmarket – an all-time British record for most wins at one course. Pot-8-o’s raced and won to the age of nine, before siring three Derby winners and six of the 13 runners in Waxy’s Derby of 1793.

Waxy then continued the line as Pot-8-o’s best offspring.

Bred by Sir Ferdinando Poole and born a bay colt in 1790, Waxy was described as “a beautiful, lengthy horse, with a lot of Arab in his appearance”.

By Pot-8-o’s out of Maria by Herod, Waxy is an excellent example of the Eclipse/Herod cross, which proved so influential in early Thoroughbred breeding.

  The racing career of Waxy (above) is entwined with that of his arch rival Gohanna (b.c. 1790).

The Derby betting of 10-11 Gohanna, 8-1 bar, made it look a one-horse-race, and Gohanna tried to make it so. He led from soon after the start until rounding Tattenham Corner, where Waxy, to the surprise of the crowd, went on and kept his head in front all the way up the straight to win by half a length.

After such a battle, the principals had to meet again, but everyone had to wait until the Jockey Club Plate at Newmarket the following year. The result was the same but Sam Arnull, Gohanna’s jockey, would not accept defeat and suggested a match the following day. After much deliberation, a match was made for 100 guineas, Gohanna to receive 3 1b. This time, Gohanna won by a head, but later in the year, at Lewes, Waxy beat Gohanna again. In 1796, they both contested the King’s Plate at Guildford, run in four-mile heats. Waxy won the first heat by a short head, the second was a dead-heat and in the final heat Waxy won by half a length. What a field day the modern media would have with events like these!

Waxy’s final race record reads: won 11 races incl. the Derby Stakes, Jockey Club Plate and 4 King’s Plates.

Gohanna was bred on similar lines to Waxy, i.e. sire by Eclipse and dam by Herod. He was foaled at Petworth in Sussex and named after a hill nearby. A small horse himself, his progeny rarely exceeded 15.1 hands but he sired 151 winners, including two in the Derby, Cardinal Beaufort (1805) and Election (1807).

Waxy proved even better at stud, siring 190 winners headed by Derby heroes Pope (1809), Whalebone (1810), Blucher (1814) and Whisker (1815). Champion Sire in 1810, he died in April 1818 in his 28th year and was buried close to All Saints Church in Newmarket. Gohanna also died in April, but three years earlier, and was buried at Petworth.

For more horseracing history – see this month’s offers in MICHAEL’S BOOKS & CHARTS FOR SALE

GALILEO – His Life and His Legacy

THE DAY after the 2001 Vodafone Derby the headlines of “Galileo the star turn” and “Galileo in orbit”, extolled the tale of his impressive victory over Golan, before a modern-day record attendance of 150,000.

However, some racegoers at “Britain’s biggest day out,” suffered long traffic delays, including Sir Michael Stoute and Frankie Dettori, who had to abandon their cars to complete their journey on foot. But for most, once on the downs, this Derby Day was reward enough.

Galileo, the star of the show, was a bay colt by Sadler’s Wells out of the ‘Arc’ winner Urban Sea; bred by Mr David Tsui & Orpendale in Ireland and owned by Mrs John Magnier and Mr Michael Tabor.

The colt arrived at Epsom via three wins at Leopardstown: a maiden victory at two, by a staggering 14 lengths, followed at three by an easy win in the Ballysax Stakes from the future English and Irish St Leger winners Milan and Vinnie Roe, and then finally, he took the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes, beating Exaltation.

On the face of it, the form was not quite good enough to win the Derby but, with his ongoing improvement in the hands of trainer Aidan O’Brien, he looked sure to be a major player.  The opposition was headed by the Michael Stoute-trained Golan, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and ante-post-favourite. Other dangers included Perfect Sunday, winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial; Dilshaan, winner of the Racing Post Trophy, and Tobougg, winner of both the Prix la Salamandre and Dewhurst Stakes, and now ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Twelve runners went to post, with Golan and Galileo going off 11-4 joint-favourites. Rounding Tattenham Corner, the Barry Hills pair, Mr Combustible and Perfect Sunday, led the field, with Galileo just outside them in third. Two and a half furlongs out, Mick Kinane brought Galileo smoothly to the front, from where he accelerated away to win by three and a half lengths, with Golan and Tobougg running on to fill the minor placings.

In the joyous scenes that followed, it did not go unnoticed that Galileo was the first son of Sadler’s Wells to win the Derby, and despite the modest early pace, he did so, in the then, second fastest time (2 min. 33.27 sec.) in the history of the race. Memorably, the previous day, daughters of Sadler’s Wells filled the first three places in the Oaks – a feat not equalled since the daughters of Birdcatcher did so in 1852.

In the Irish Derby, Galileo retained his unbeaten record by beating the Italian Derby winner Morshdi by four lengths, with Golan a further four lengths away third. At Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Galileo received a hero’s welcome for his two-length defeat of the five-year-old Fantastic Light. However, when the pair was re-matched in the mile-and-a-quarter Irish Champion Stakes, Fantastic Light took his revenge by a head, albeit with Dettori being cautioned for his excessive use of the whip.

Galileo’s finale was in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Belmont Park, when second favourite to the Bobby Frankel-trained Aptitude. However, both ran unplaced to Tiznow (America’s ‘Horse of the Year’ in 2000), who not only beat Sakhee by a nose, but became the first horse to win the race twice. Galileo was afterwards reported as being unable to handle the dirt surface and was later retired to Coolmore Stud in Co. Tipperary.

Thereafter, his stock went from good to great, as he became Champion Sire in Great Britain & Ireland 12 times – in 2008 and from 2010-2020 inclusive. Up till his death in 2021, he had sired 17 British Classic winners including, a record five in the Derby: New Approach (2008), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014), Anthony Van Dyck (2019) and Serpentine (2020).

Amongst his many other Group 1 winners was Frankel, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and unbeaten in 14 races. And in 2021, Frankel took over the mantel of Champion Sire in G.B and Ireland.

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As a point to note, 40 years ago top stallions were usually limited to 40 mares per season and like Shergar were often syndicated as such. Galileo’s dominant position and influence in Thoroughbred breeding, albeit with Frankel waiting in the wings, is strengthened by having had at least three times the opportunities of earlier sires.     

For more Racing History see Michael’s Books for Sale.  To see Michael’s interviews go to the foot of About Michael

THE WOODCOTE STAKES

A race titled the Woodcot Stakes, was first run at Epsom in 1794. Open to two-year-olds, and run over the last half-mile of the Derby Course, colt’s carried 8st 0lb and fillies 7st 11lb.

The first winner was Mr Rutter’s, Filly by Dungannon, a son of Eclipse. The race continued to its last running in 1799, when Mr Dawson’s Jack-a-Lantern by Meteor (another son of Eclipse), beat four rivals.

The race was not run between 1800 and 1806, but continued from 1807 (the inaugural date of the race given in early editions of Ruff’s Guide to the Turf), when won by Mr Lake’s filly, Marybella by Walnut.

In 1837, the race name changed from Woodcot to Woodcote Stakes, but in1839, with colts 8st 6lb and fillies 8st 3lb, the distance was extended to six furlongs and run over the new two-year-course – an off-shoot taking them down to Tattenham Corner, and still the present course.

Due to the two World Wars the race was not run from 1915 to 1918, or in 1940, or from 1942 to 1945. However, in 1941, the race was run at Newbury as the Woodcote Plate and won by Ujiji.

The race, although boasting an illustrious roll of honour in the Victorian era, has sadly, had very few Classic winners since, the last being Lerins, renamed My Babu and winner of the 1947 2,000 Guineas. The other Classic winners are tabled below.

Lord Clifden (1863 St Leger)

Fille de l’Air (1864 Oaks)

Achievement (1867 1,000 Guineas, St Leger)

Cremorne (1872 Derby)

Surefoot (1890 2,000 Guineas)

Ladas (1894 2,000 Guineas, Derby)

Chelandry (1897 1,000 Guineas)

Sceptre (1902 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Oaks, St Leger)

Rock Sand (1903 2,000 Guineas, Derby, St Leger)

Cicero (1905 Derby)

Humorist (1921 Derby)

Dastur (2^nd in 1932 2,000 Guineas, Derby, St Leger)

However, perhaps the greatest winner of the Woodcote Stakes was The Tetrarch in 1913. Drawn on the outside and ridden by Steve Donoghue, he was fast away, crossed to the rails and after blitzing the field was eased down, to set a new Course record time of 1 min. 7.60 sec.

A light grey with dark spots, the press called him “The Spotted Wonder.” He was never beaten, but due to injury, ran only as a two-year-old. When put to stud he confounded breeders by siring  three St Leger winners and the speedy 2,000 Guineas winner, Tetratema. The Tetrarch was Champion Sire in 1919.

The Woodcote Stakes was a Listed race prior to 2017, when it was downgraded to a Conditions race and run as the first race of the Derby Festival. The race has been generously sponsored by Cazoo since 2021.

Herbert Jones, Lester Reiff & Danny Maher

Derby winning jockeys of the Edwardian era

 Herbert Jones (1881-1951), having started as an apprentice to royal trainer, Richard Marsh at the age of 10, he later developed a talent for humouring difficult horses, including the bad tempered Diamond Jubilee (see below). And since none of the stables regular jockeys could master him, not only did he keep the ride, but in 1900, won the Triple Crown on him for the Prince of Wales.

Jones won five other Classic races, including the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby for the now, King Edward VII on Minoru (1909), and the Oaks for William Hall Walker on Cherry Lass (1905). He is also remembered as the jockey thrown from the King’s horse, Amner, when brought down by the suffragette, Emily Davison in the 1913 Derby. Marsh wrote of Jones in his autobiography, “A better servant no man ever had, and a straighter or more honest jockey never got on a horse.”

Lester Reiff (1877-1948), and his brother John were two talented American jockeys who came to England at the turn of the century. Riding in the short-stirrup, crouching style made famous by Tod Sloan, Lester Reiff became Champion Jockey in 1900 with 143 winners. The following year, 1901 he won the Derby for William Whitney on Volodyovski (see below).

However, ‘the American invasion’, as it became known, also included a ring of unscrupulous gamblers and trainers, who, in the main, had taken doping – not unlawful in Britain at this time – to a new level of expertise. Race riding to suit heavy gamblers was also a thorn in the Jockey Club’s side and, after watching Lester Reiff (see below), carefully for many weeks, culminating in his short-head defeat by his brother at Manchester on 27 September, 1901, they withdrew his licence and warned him off.

Danny Maher (1881-1916), was born of Irish parents in Hartford, Connecticut. He became Champion Jockey in the U.S.A. at the age of 17, then around 1900, together with many other top American jockeys, he came to England. Soon after, riding regularly for Newmarket trainer George Blackwell, he won the Triple Crown on Rock Sand in 1903 (see below).

Three years later, he set a new record time of 2 min. 36.80 sec. when winning the Derby for Major Eustace Loder on Spearmint. In 1908, Maher became Champion Jockey with 139 winners and again in 1913 with 115 winners. Maher rode with style and was strong at the finish. However, unable to ride at less than 8st 0lb, his efforts to waste took their toll and he died of consumption in 1916. A British citizen from 1913, he was buried in Paddington Cemetery, Mill Hill, London.

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For more racing history see Michael’s Books for Sale

The hottest handicap in the history of Hurst Park

Hurst Park racecourse was situated in Molesey Hurst, Surrey, close to the River Thames. The Victoria Cup was first run there in 1901 over two miles, then over various distances, until establishing itself in 1908 as a handicap run over a straight seven furlongs.

History relates that four days after Emily Davison brought down the Kings horse in the 1913 Derby suffragettes were reported setting fire to the stands at Hurst Park, causing an estimated damage of £10,000. The delayed repairs followed by the outbreak of war, prevented racing at Hurst Park from 1916-1918.

Later, due to World War II, there was also no racing from 1941-1945, during which, it was used as a prisoner of war camp. However, in 1946, racing was back with recorded crowds of over 70,000 and the need to close the gates.

In 1948, with racing and the Classics back in full swing, My Babu, ridden by Charlie Smirke, won the 2,000 Guineas equalling the record time of 1 min. 35.6 secs, beating The Cobbler (Gordon Richards) by a head, (see below). Four lengths away, third, was Pride of India (Edgar Britt).

  A year later, on 21^st May at Hurst Park, the three re opposed in the Victoria Cup (Handicap), over the straight 7 furlongs; My Babu with 9st 7lbs, The Cobbler 9st 5lb and Pride of India 8st 0lb.

The star packed field of 14 also included: Combined Operations (7y-9st-7lb), winner of the Diadem Stakes at Royal Ascot, Master Vote (6y-9st-4lb), twice winner of the Royal Hunt Cup and Fair Judgement (4y-8st-12lb), favourite when a two-length winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap from 42 rivals.

The betting was heavy, with The Cobbler, a recent winner at Newmarket, backed from 4-1 to 5-2 favourite. There was strong support, 5-1 from 6’s, for the lightly weighted Pride of India, thought by many the blot on the handicap; whereas My Babu, coming from a victory at Alexandra Park, was thought to need further and drifted from 4-1 to 7’s. At 100-8, there was good each-way support for Welsh Honey (5y-8st-6lb), a recent three-length winner over a mile at Newmarket.

The race underway on good ground, Brogue took them along, with Kety, Pride of India, Welsh Honey and Combined Operations close up. Two furlongs out The Cobbler rushed to the front, only to give way at the distance when passed by Welsh Honey, Pride of India and My Babu, the latter, striding out impressively to win by three lengths. Pride of India ran on well to be second, with Welsh Honey a head away third.

Without doubt, this was the hottest handicap in the history of Hurst Park.

The last days’ racing at Hurst Park was on 10^th October 1962, after which it was sold for housing-development.

In 1963, the Victoria Cup was transferred to Ascot, though the fixture was temporarily moved to Newbury for one year in 1964, both races run over seven furlongs, as it remains at Ascot today.

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To see Michael’s interviews go to the foot of About Michael

SNOWFALL

(b.f 2018)

Winner of the 2021 Cazoo Oaks Stakes

RUN on Friday, 4 June. 2020, as the Cazoo Oaks, over the Derby Course of one mile and a half and 6 yards, Epsom Downs. For three-year-old fillies, 9st 0lb. Value to winner £224,004.50.

1^st    SNOWFALL         Frankie Dettori    11-2

2^nd   MYSTERY ANGEL    Ben Curtis     50-1      16 lengths

3^rd   DIVINELY        Seamie Heffernan 20-1       1¾ lengths

Also ran: 4^th Save A Forest (Callum Shepherd 40-1; Santa Barbara (Ryan Moore) 5/2 Fav; Ocean Road (Oisin Murphy) 25-1; Technique (Sean Levey) 125-1; Saffron Beach (Adam Kirby) 10-1; Sherbet Lemon (Hollie Doyle) 28-1; Teona (David Egan) 12-1; La Joconde (William Buick) 40-1; Dubai Fountain (Franny Norton) 4-1;  Zeyaadah (Jim Crowley) 6-1; Willow (Wayne Lordan)  22-1 (last, 39¾ lengths behind the winner).    14 ran.             Time 2m 42.67 sec.      

Commentary:  Fourth in the 1,000 Guineas with the promise of more over further, Santa Barbara started the  5-2 favourite. Dubai Fountain now 4-1 and Zeyaadah 6-1, renewed their challenge after finishing first and second in the Cheshire Oaks, where Dubai Fountain, in receipt of 3lb, won by a length. Snowfall, an impressive winner of the Musidora at York, was well supported at 11-2.

With rain throughout the day, the 14 runners got underway. Hollie Doyle, drawn 14 on Sherbet Lemon, was quickly away to negate any disadvantage and  led early from Mystery Angel, Dubai Fountain and Saffron Beach. Settling down after 2 furlongs, Mystery Angel led from Sherbet Lemon on  her outside, with La Joconde and Willow, third and fourth and  Santa Barbara, held up last.  The order was maintained as the pace slowed in the descent to Tattenham Corner. As a result of the downpour, on leaving the Corner, the field came up the stand side and from 3 furlongs out Mystery Angel took a two lengths lead. Soon after Frankie Dettori and Snowfall forced their way through beaten horses and with Santa Barbara no longer looking a threat, turned the last 300 yards into a procession. A record 16 lengths behind the winner Mystery Angel and Divinely plugged on for the places. In a memorable interview with Lydia Hislop, Frankie described his victory as going, “Like a hot knife through butter.”

The winner was BRED by Roncon, Chelston Ire. & Wynatt; OWNED by Mr D. Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr M. Tabor and TRAINED by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, Co. Tipperary.

The winner, SNOWFALL (b.f), has won 3 races (from 9 starts): Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, The Curragh, Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, York, Cazoo Oaks Stakes, Epsom.

The sire, DEEP IMPACT (b.c. 2002), won 12 races (from 14 starts) incl. Hochi Hal Yayoi Sho Stakes & Satsuki Sho, Nakayama, Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger), Tenno Sho Spring & Takarazuka Kinen, Kyoto, Japan Cup, Tokyo, Arima Kinen, Nakayama.

The dam, BEST IN THE WORLD (b.f. 2013) by Galileo, won 2 races (from 9 starts): Staffordstown Stud Stakes, The Curragh, Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes, Cork. She is a full sister to the Arc and Breeders’ Cup Turf heroine Found, both out of Red Evie, winner of the Matron Stakes, Leopardstown and the Lockinge Stakes, Newbury.

SNOWFALL is her first foal.

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Note: Michael has recently published The Classics Chart 1776-2020, showing the male lineage of every Classic winner – see Michael’s BOOKS FOR SALE for more details

ADAYAR

(b.c. 2018)

Winner of the 2021 Cazoo Derby Stakes 

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Run on Saturday, 5 June, 2021 as the Cazoo Derby Stakes over the Derby Course of one mile and a half and 6 yards, Epsom Downs. For three-year-olds; entire colts 9st 0lb, fillies 8st 11lb.  387 entries. Value to winner £637,987.50

1^st      ADAYAR                          Adam Kirby       16-1

2^nd     MOJO STAR                    David Egan       50-1     4½ lengths

3^rd     HURRICANE LANE       William Buick      6-1        3¼  lengths

 Also ran: 4^th Mac Swiney (Kevin Manning) 8-1; Third Realm (Andrea Atzeni) 14-1; One Ruler (James Doyle) 17-1; Bolshoi Ballet (Ryan Moore) 11-8 Fav: Youth Spirit (Tom Marquand) 25-1; John Leeper (Frankie Dettori) 8-1; Gear Up (Ben Curtis) 50-1; Southern Lights (Declan McDonogh) 33-1 (tailed off 42 lengths behind the winner.

Commentary: Minutes after the winner crossed the line all the talk was of the jockey, not the horse; Adam  Kirby, having been offered the ride on the much fancied John Leeper, apologetically, turned down the ride on the Godolphin long shot Adayar. However, when Aidan O’Brien released Frankie Dettori, he took over the ride on John Leeper, returning Kirby to Adayar. Fate, however, later sought fit to reverse Kirby’s misfortune.

The betting centred on Bolshoi Ballet, Aiden O’Brien’s sole representative, a Galileo colt having won the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Derby Trial, to send him off the 11-8 favourite. Other fancies were Godolphin’s, Hurricane Lane, winner of the Dante Stakes, now at 6-1, while John Leeper, winner of Newmarket’s Fairway Stakes, and Jim Bolger’s homebred Mac Swiney, winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas, were both on offer at 8-1. The mystery of the betting was Adayar –almost exclusively backed on the exchanges from 40-1 down to 16-1.

On a glorious sunny day the 11 runners left the stalls on good to soft ground. After a furlong, Gear Up led from Youth Spirit with Bolshoi Ballet close up. Soon after, Adayar, drawn 1, dubbed by experts as “the coffin box”, was driven up to lay handy alongside his stable companion, Hurricane Lane. From the mile post to the top of the hill, the order was unchanged, but rounding Tattenham Corner, Bolshoi Ballet ominously closed on the front two, while Adam Kirby on Adayar saw to track Gear Up at the rail. When half a gap appeared Adayar courageously went through and with authority went on to win by 4½ lengths. Mojo Star and Hurricane Lane came out of the pack to fill the places, but by now the bird had flown.    

11 ran. Time 2 min 36.85 sec.     

The winner was OWNED and BRED by Godolphin and TRAINED by Charlie Appleby at Newmarket, Suffolk.

Finally, two quotes that will live long in the memory:

Adam Kirby revealed, “I always said I’d rather win the Derby than be Champion Jockey”. And when Charlie Appleby suggested to Sheikh Mohammed that Adayar was more of a St Leger horse, the Sheikh replied, “No Charlie, there’s only one Derby – you need to keep him in the Derby.”           

Footnote: Due to the Government’s revision of the Coronavirus situation, the 2-day Cazoo Derby Festival was run before a limited crowd of 4,000, with no access to The Hill.

The winner, ADAYAR, has won 2 races from 5 starts: EBF Stallions Golden Horn Maiden Stakes, 1m 75y, Nottingham, Cazoo Derby Stakes, Epsom.

The sire, FRANKEL b.c. 2008 ex KIND by DANEHILL, (unbeaten), won 14 races incl. Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, (twice), Queen Anne Stakes, International Stakes, Champion Stakes. Sire of 3 Classic winners since retiring to Judmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in 2013, incl. ANAPURNA , 2019 Investec Oaks; LOGICIAN, 2019, William Hill St Leger Stakes .

The dam, ANNA SALAI  b.f. 2007 by Dubawi. Won 1 race from 8 starts : Prix de l’Grotte, Longchamp. She has bred 1 winner from 3 runners.

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Michael has recently published The Classics Chart 1776-2020 showing the male lineage of every Classic winner – see Michael’s BOOKS FOR SALE for more details.