Racing Greats (II)

Falbrav

A "private" Falbrav prior to his BC run
(Photo: Patty Yount)

I am convinced to this very day that the Falbrav (*1998, Fairy King-Gift of the Night (Slewpy)) we saw in 2003 was the best and most versatile racehorse I have seen in my entire racing life. Horses simply are not asked to do what Falbrav was asked to do by Luca Cumani in that glorious season, and it was because the horse was a Star, a "machine" in the best possible meaning, that he came through that year with flying clolours, clearly on top of the world. Falbrav was a Top-Class racehorse long before he joined Luca´s Newmarket Stables in Winter 2002, he was already a triple Group 1 winner, even won the Japan Cup, but them wins came on foreign and strange soil, so the public had to learn just what a class act he really was. Falbrav started 10 times in 2003, in 10 Group 1 races to be precise, and won 5 of them. He started winning in May and stopped winning when running away with his very last race in December, he contested basicly every race worth noting between 8 and 12 furlongs, he went to France, Ireland, America and Hongkong, and he beat horses like Russian Rhythm, Nayef, Bright Sky, Alamshar, Islington, Rakti and Soviet Song among others, but he failed twice, in desperatly unlucky circumstances, to beat High Chaparral, and that is what some people choose to remember him for. I can only remember him as the Star he was when taking the International in York,also when running away from Britain´s best Milers over 8f in Ascot, when he all but caught High Chaparral in Leopardstown,and when simply destroying a top-class field including Rakti in Hongkong at the end of his attrocious season. His connections were never more right when stating the following: "What a marvellous day. He has given me more pleasure than any other horse, he's never let us down and it was almost like watching Seabiscuit. Good horses always make room for themselves. I knew the acceleration was good but not that good. He was always so composed, he looked like Muhammed Ali walking around the parade ring before." Luca Cumani (Dec.2003)
"Falbrav is a machine.He never lets you down. He’s a complete professional. He knows how strong and how good he is and he fears no one. It gives me palpitations to see a horse so far out in front in a race like this. You spend the last two furlongs looking out for one to catch him. It would take a very special horse to come from behind and catch him. He is up there with the best I’ve trained. It’s his third Group 1 win of the season. He won the Prix d’Ispahan in convincing fashion. He won the Eclipse when everybody felt he might have been lucky. He showed today it wasn’t luck but pure ability. The way he stamps his authority on the race. When he says ‘go’ the race is over. On good ground he could have had a chance of winning the King George. At Ascot it was mostly the ground and perhaps the trip, but I’d like to see him on fast ground over a mile and a half. There was no sign of him stopping here today "- L M Cumani (Aug.2003)

" I was 100 per cent confident but when I pressed the button I nearly peed myself, he took my breath away, I've not had a sensation like that for a long time. He's the best 2000m horse in the world and up there with the very best I've ridden - his performance was electric." Frankie Dettori

Ardross

Ardross matching strides with Little Wolf
(private Collection Stevie Kingstree)

Ardross (*1976, Run the Gantlet-Le Melody (Levmoss)) died in 1994, aged 18, but he was one of a dying breed long before his rather sad ending. Clearly the best Stayer current racegoers can remember (some call him the best Stayer ever, and his record of 13 Group-race wins was equalled but never headed) the public took to him, and loved his memorable and heroic races, but once Ardross´ racing day´s were finished, he was quickly forgotten, always struggling for vital support as a sire.
Ardross was an adorable racehorse. Well bred by Run the Gantlet (who, among others, also sired Commanche Run), he started racing with Paddy Prendergast in Ireland, only to join Henry Cecil after his four-year-old season. This meant he would be ridden by Lester Piggott, and this marriage in heaven went on to win two Ascot Gold Cups and a Prix Royal Oak, the Geoffry Freer Stakes (Lester´s 4000th winner on a british racetrack!) as well as every other Cup-Race in the English Racing Calendar at least once. Nobody who was there will ever forget their truely heroic try to win the Prix de L´Arc de Triomphe when Ardross all but caught Akiyda in a desperate close finish, never flinching under maximum strong driving by Lester. How would Ardross´ stallion carrer have panned out if it would have been his head in front?
When with Cecil, Ardross was "done" by Stevie Kingstree, and Stevie paid a very emotional tribute to the horse:" Ardross was a lovely natured horse to look after, nothing bothered him, he really was a gentle giant, and a pleasure to deal with. Every morning after riding him out, Ardross would have a roll in the sand pit, he would roll over 5-6 times. I can remember after beating Glint of Gold in the Jockey Club Cup in Newmarket, I had to take Ardross for a routine dope test, and as soon as I took him into the box, he got down to have a good roll and a good shake after. The vet said he had never seen a horse doing that after a race!
I have looked after 25 Group winners in my racing carrier, but Ardross will always be my favourite!"
As a sire it was clear from the outset that Ardross would not get many chances, and thats exactly what happened. Struggling right from the start for support, Ardross did sire some very useful horses (like Alderbrook, Filia Ardross and Karinga Bay, as well as Young Kenny over fences), but they were few&far between, and when Ardross died he was forgotten, left in a field, with only the ghosts of his former glory around him.

Having a good swim! Ardross in the pool
(private collection Stevie Kingstree)

Fondmort

Fondmort after is latest success in Cheltenham, 2006; after winning the Ryanair-Chase:
(Photo: Tracy Roberts)

There is an old saying about "horses for courses", and it certainly fit´s FONDMORT (*1996; Cyborg-Hansie (Sukawa)) oh so well. This fellow, in training with Nicky Henderson and mainly ridden by MickFitz nowadays, is a huge public- and stable favourite, and the horses unquestionable liking for Cheltenham might just play a vital role in this. Like so many good jumpers nowadays Fondmort (his name means something like "good death" I was told) was discovered in France, and he joined Nicky Henderson as a 4-year-old. Well, what a start for the new partnership when the new horse&jockey-combination outgunned a certain Impek in a Class B Novice Hurdle in Kempton in Dec 2000!! This pointed towards a liking for flat, left-handed tracks, and in fact Fondmort´s first four win´s came in Kempton (3x) and Sandown, in stark contrast to the start of his love-affair with Cheltenham: his very first start there resulted in the PU letter-combination! But nowawdays it is the buzz of Cheltenham that brings the best out of Fondmort, and his last four wins were gained exclusively at the Cotswolds-Track, in 2002, 2003, and twice in 2006 (so far). Even though Fondmort does run honourable races in between, the public loves him for his extraordinary races full of courage, heart, will and determination when rounding Chelters, never more displayed than in the inaugural running of the Ryanair Chase in 2005, for many THE race of last year´s Festival: two enormously brave horses in Thisthatantother and the very Fondmort fighting it out in a dingdong battle to the line, with even the loser being a winner in the end. Compensation at the Festival duly came for Fondmort in 2006, and with a Festival dominated by the Irish, this clearly was the most emotional and most celebrated english winner of the week. He was led through the winners enclosure for a "round of honour" twice, and connections where quoted after:
He is very special. He might not be Best Mate or Arkle but he loves Cheltenham. You have to win at Cheltenham that's what the year's all about. Really, he doesn't even need a trainer. If you see him jump here you swear he'd like Aintree. Last year our horses were brilliant here but at Aintree they were rubbish. I know what it was so hopefully it won't happen again. The ride he gave Mick for three miles in the National was one of the rides of his life. That said, it's a tough ask after here - Nicky Henderson, trainer;
He is one of those horse you'd pull yourself out of your deathbed for. He means everything to me. When I was lying in bed with a broken neck I never thought I'd make Cheltenham never mind have a winner. I had to rely on a mate to get me out of it. AP was trying to pull the race to suit himself so I kicked on and went past him. This fella is definitely one of my favourite horses of all time - Mick Fitzgerald, jockey
Update 2007: News that Fondmort suffered a potentially life-threatning injury on the galopps where met with fear and shock among his fan´s, but here is one horse who would have all the luck on his side. Being quickly pulled up by his work-rider who sensed the horse´s trouble (in fact Fondmort had broken his pelvis), he was immediatly picked up by Lambourne´s perfectly equipped horse-ambulance to be brought to the state-of-the-art Lambourne Horse-Clinic. Here vets and nurses fought in vain for his life, and while fans left messages and sent flowers to the yard, every day brought better news, until Fondmort was safe and a full recovery could be expected. Surely Fondmort will not race again, but here again is a horse who gave his all for our sport, and who is getting something back now. Its reassuring to know Fondmort in such good hands.

Warrsan

Nine wins in 43 starts might not acutally point towards greatness for some, but tough and honest horses like Warrsan (*1998, Carleon-Lucayan Princess (High Line)) are the backbone of the Group-race system. A cool 1.6 Million GBP in prizemoney indicate that Warrsan did win some decent races all the same, it´s just that he is exclusivly tried in Group 1 races, and in all honesty he is a few pounds shy of being a true Superstar. But people who look down on Warrsan do good to remember the following facts about his career: Warrsan is a dual Coronation Cup AND "Großer Preis von Baden" Winner (Germany´s richest Gr.I Race), he was a head second to Refuse to Bend in a certain race called the Eclipse Stakes; not bad for a horse who started down at the bottom in a Lingfield Maiden and who actually finished down the field in the Ascot Gold Cup as four-year-old. Warrsan is certainly bred to be good (he is by Caerleon out of top-class broodmare Lucayan Princess), and Trainer Clive Brittain, never one to hide with a horse he thinks of highly, always entertained ambitious plans for this handsome bay, brother to the likes of Needle Gun and Luso. After muddling results over various distances (does anyone remember that Warrsan was actually a neck second to a certain Persian Punch in a Conditions Race in Salisbury over 14f?) Warrsan has been campained mainly over 12f since Sep02, and seven of his wins came at that distance. A further nine second places and four 3rd´s underline Warrsan´s battling qualities. 2004 was thought to be his last season in training, but 2005 was such a fine year, so we might for yet another bonus season, who know´s?
Update 19/06/2006: It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of old warrior WARRSAN, who died on monday following complications after an operation on a brain tumor. Earlier in the year Warrsan had been retired due to a niggeling leg injury; but we anticipated a nice retirement combined with a stallion job for him, something Warrsan would have deserved so very much. But fate had other ideas, and once again life kicked us right in the face. Warrsan, Rest in Peace, old boy, you are very sadly missed.

Mubtaker

Mubtaker (*1997, Silver Hawk-Gazayil (Irish River)) is a real rarity these days: a 9-year-old entire of real group-class calibre, owned by Sheik Hamdan - and still in training, not rushed off to stud!
29 life-starts at that age are a clear indication that Mutaker might be fragile in body, but, as Trainer Marcus Tregoning was quoted in 2004: "I've never trained a horse as consistent as him. With all the things that have gone wrong with him he gives you 100 per cent every time. If they all had his heart you wouldn't have a worry."
Mubtaker started his racing life with one single start in Godolphin´s blue colours, back in 1999, when still in David Loder´s care and trained in France. Off for a year after a highly encouraging 2nd place, Mubtaker was switched into Sheik Hamdan´s ownership and transfered to England to be trained in Kingwood House Stables by Marcus Tregoning, and his patient handling of this little chestnut colt with the heart of a lion is the stuff for Racing Legends. Mubtaker has gained 13 wins from his 29 starts so far, but it was a second place in a very special race on the first sunday in october 2003, over in France that brought Mubtaker more publicity than any of the 8 wins he had amassed up to that date: The stage was Paris-Longchamp, the race the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe, and while we saw the grey machine Dalakhani romping to what should have been an easy victory, out off the pack came this little chestnut and gave chase, never flinching under strong pressure from regular jockey Richard Hills, breathing down the neck of the mighty 3-year-old french Derby winner, and leaving a certain High Chaparral a cool 5 length behind! We all rubbed our eyes.. was it? - yes, it was Mubtaker, unconsidered even by the huge english crowd at 33/1! - what a performance!
To be totally honest, Mubtaker never quite fulfilled hopes fuelled by that performance, and he still has to score at Group 1-level, even though he has been tried several times, but who cares about numbers with horses like him, come racing and see him yourself: his keen and intelligent eye and sprightly steps when he takes to the public in the parade-ring, his enthusiastic style of racing, always trying, always giving his all. I have used this phrase before, but it IS horses like Mubtaker that make racing all the more worthwhile. He already brought the house down this year at his beloved Newbury track when taking the prestigious John Porter Stakes after a typical gutsy performance, having been given a brilliant ride by new race-jockey Martin Dwyer, undoubtly one who knows how to steer older four-legged gentlemen over long distances; so knowing that Mubtaker is in the best possible hands we are hopefully in for yet another cracking season in 2006!
We lost Mubtaker too in 2006, a fact that still has to sink in. Read his eulogy in the "Remembrance"-Page.

Foreign Affairs

Any horse that actually manages to creep into Sir Mark Prescott´s heart must have some special ability. Foreign Affairs (*1998, Hernando-Entente Cordiale (Affirmed)) certainly has just that. But it isn´t his (admittingly) well above-average racing ability - he never won above Listed-Level, so nothing special in a time when only Group1-races really count (then again: wouldn´t we all be proud to have one like him?!?)- but above all his seemingly bottomless courage, heart and will, his immense fighting character and spirit that takes Foreign Affairs to fight for every win, in every race; Sir Mark Prescott once wrote to me: "He has brought so much pleasure to so many people. If we could just bottle his courage and give it to those many, man and beast, who lack it!"
Foreign Affairs´ career has all the typical hallmarks of a horse in training with Prescott, one of the shrewdest judges of horses and races in the game. Two small races at 2 resulted in one win, and signs of some abilty, a second behind subsequent Oaks-Heroine Lailani (in a C-Handicap!) and three straight wins in smaller races in his three-year-old career set the path for yet another huge ante-post gamble so typical for a Prescott-trained runner: it was the Tote Ebor next, and Foreign Affairs was at the top of the market. Well, this gamble went wrong, as Foreign Affairs could not master an improving 3-year-old from Aidan o´Brien´s yard called Mediterranean ("He fell asleep in the stalls. All I could do was sit where I was-and hope. In the straight I quickly realised you wouldn't get through on the rail with a can-opener, so I eased to the outer." - George Duffield; "Everything went wrong, but the jockey kept thinking. The plan was to sit third and kick on three out-but because of what happened at the start, you had to tear that up and reverse it. It was a good performance by the horse to do what he did. He won't run again until the autumn-I think he deserves to put his feet up."- Sir Mark Prescott). But if the Racing Post concluded that the St.Leger might be too high an aim for FA, they had something coming, as Foreign Affairs was thrown in at the deep end and actually ran in the Prix de L´Arc de Triomphe next. He was clearly no match for Sakhee, and the horse had to pay the price as well, as he was off for nearly a year after.
As said, Foreign Affairs never managed to win above Listed-Level, but he has won at least once a season since 2000, his latest success only some weeks ago at time of writing (02/08/06). There were many fine hours in between, namely when he edged out World-Champion Epalo in a Listed Race in Cologne/Germany and when he gave 4-times Irish St. Leger Hero Vinnie Roe a proper beating in Leopardstown/Ireland. Ever on the look-out for smart opportunities Forgein Affairs even won at a track called "La Teste De Buch" (collecting a cool 21.000GBP in prize-money), I guess this is in France.
Foreign Affairs is by no means finished yet (he currently holds two entries for Goodwood, one in the Goodwood Cup), so watch and enjoy him as long as he graces the turf!

Court Masterpiece

Court Masterpiece, at home and in full beauty
(Photo: provided by Ed Dunlop, Gainsborough Stud, with many, many thanks)

So often the "nearly" horse, and one that always seemed to come short in Top-Class company: this is Court Masterpiece (*2000, Polish Precedent-Easy Option (Prince Sabo)), well, that WAS Court Masterpiece until the tender age of 5. A fine career with improving form-figures and win´s in Handicap´s and even a Listed Race (by 9(!) length from Elliot´s World (RP:" They went a sedate early pace but it was far from a tactical affair, once it picked up at the four pole. This should not detract from a thoroughly peachy keen performance from COURT MASTERPIECE.
His jockey was motionless as his six rivals were being scrubbed along three out and he eased to the front with the minimum of fuss. His jockey reported that he had never run as well before and felt he had clearly improved. The hurly-burly of a big-field handicap at the Royal meeting will not faze him and in this mood, he should pay to follow.")) did connections proud, but Court Masterpiece would try and fail in Pattern races until the 26th of july 2005: The Lennox-Stakes at his beloved Goodwood (where he posted the above-mentioned Listed win as well) was his for taking, and this was a chance not to be missed. A jubilant Ed Dunlop concluded afterwards:" I'm thrilled for the horse - he's been placed in so many Group races and finally managed to win one. He's been a great horse to have, seems to be improving with age, handled the ground and loves this course. (...) "
Better was to come in autumn when Court Masterpiece not only managed to add another Group-Race, but the prestigous Group 1 "Prix de la Foret" in Paris-Longchamp at the Arc-Meeting! Sent of the longest-priced outsider at the french tote Court Masterpiece belied all the odds to come with a perfectly timed run on the outside, after a very clever ride by french jockey Gerald Mossé, who clearly knew where the 2nd poteau was. This was brilliant, and if one thought it was a flash in the pan, go and re-watch the Sussex Stakes 2006: Again Goodwood, and as good a field for a Mile-Race as one could hope for with young (Aussie Rules, Araafa) and old (Rob Roy, Soviet Song) combined, but Court Masterpiece, who had been very unlucky in running in Royal Ascot and even in defeat had shown that there was still improvement in the tank, was their master, this time getting the gap when it mattered, and, off a strong pace on suitable ground, he simply ran his opposition into the ground.( RP:"With only seven runners, this latest renewal of the Sussex Stakes was towards the lower end of the scale numerically, but four of them were already Group 1 winners, and the two three-year-olds had both won Classics. (...)
The strong pace played into the hands of COURT MASTERPIECE, who settled beautifully, travelled well, and delivered a blistering turn of foot to settle the issue in strides when presented with an inviting gap up the inside rail. While the way the race was run clearly suited him, he was undeniably impressive and put to rest for good suspicions that 1m stretched his stamina, his previous Group 1 win having come over 7f (on very different ground) last October at Longchamp.
He is the oldest winner of the race since Noalcoholic scored at the same age in 1983, and he has never been better. Remarkably, he was beaten in a handicap little more than a year ago - albeit a good one, and off a mark of 109.)
Breathtaking stuff, and so richly deserved for this 6-year-old entire and the team around him. Court Masterpiece repaid all the patience and tender handling in younger years, and it is so refreshing to see horses like him, still so very much in love with the game, still so eager to give. Court Masterpiece, too, is by no means finished yet and might even drop back to sprinting distances. I am sure there are some more magic moments ahead of us!

Update march 2008: Isnt´it a coincidence that both Forgein Affairs and Court Masterpiece retired at the same time, and to the same Stud? They are even in a box next to each other as both have taken up stallion duties in Woodlands Stud, County Galway, Ireland.
We went to see them in jan. 2008, both looked a picture and we wish them the best of luck in their new career.

Spot Thedifference

Clearly his entry on this page is long overdue, and Spot Thedifference still continues to amaze us, and certainly earned our affection the hard way. 47 starts so far brought his fair share of wins and losses, and he did perform over normal fences (if thats what you call the National-Fences, for example) with a lot of credit as well, for example when 5th behind Amberleigh House in 2003 Grand National at Aintree, or finishing in the frame in the Foxhunter´s Chase in Cheltenham on several occasions. But a new type of race must have been created just for him: The Cross-Country Chases, now a regular feature and rapidly one of the people´s best-loved spectacles at any jump-fixture. 31 demanding furlongs over a varity of obstacles, walls and ditches, hills and hedges, on and off, out and about, and Spot Thedifference clearly is the King of this game. On the 8th of December 06 he won such a race for an amazing 6th time, in fact he seems to reserve all his winning for Cheltenham now, as these 6 wins have been his last six wins in total as well. Running in the world-famous McManus green and golden colours, Spot Thedifference is not only close to JP´s heart, but to all of us, and Spot clearly is a sight to behold, when jumping with zest and accuracy, belying his years (he will turn 14 in 2007) and any weight he is asked to carry. Spot does not have to prove anything anymore, but will clearly bring the house down if he achieves to get his "Festival-Cross-Country" crown back in 2007! Here is us praying for him to do so!
Update 2007: It was not meant to be in Cheltenham were Spot finished a somewhat one-paced 4th behind Stablemate Heads onthe Ground and subsequent National Winner Silver Birch. But then came Punchestown, and the stage was set: on his own home ground Spot gave his legion of Fan´s a day to remember, when, under a canny ride and with some luck on his side, he simply scated home by 4 1/2 length, winning with his ears pricked. The Racing-Post concluded:
"With hurdles, fences, up banks, drop banks, walls, logs, poles, ditches, bushes, a hedge and the not yet infamous Easifix French hurdle, the La Touche Cup is a race like no other and, as such, Ireland’s longest event exists in a little world of its own.
As a future form tool, it is not far from meaningless, but that does not detract from one of the sport’s most enjoyable spectacles, a bizarre marathon that deservedly continues to be one of the highlights of the Punchestown festival. And this certainly was one of the highlights if not the highlight of the meeting, as the evergreen SPOT THEDIFFERENCE won the race for the second time and his remarkable trainer, Enda Bolger, for an astonishing tenth successive year. Things fell perfectly into place for the hugely popular winner with Il De Boitron pulling up on the far side of the track when prominent and going well, leader, Moyglass getting carried out by a loose horse and Paul Carberry being forced to pull up Wonderkid when that one wentwrong. Then, as the race was about to enter the final half-mile, I'm On The Line was pulled up lame when seemingly cantering
Nevertheless, however fortuitous the winner was, it is churlish to take anything away from a simply wonderful racehorse who is set to continue his long, long racing career. Whenever he does retire to the Martinstown Stud of JP McManus, the number of Irish visitors to the Vatican and Lourdes will surely drop as patriots flock to a new place of pilgrimage."
After Cheltenham in Nov. 06 JP was quoted saying:
"I didn't back him. I suppose it was a fair price, and I had every encouragement to back him, but I didn't have my betting boots on. I'm just thankful they run these races, otherwise we'd never have known how good he is! He gets better with age. John Thomas said he travelled better than he ever has. He loved it out there today. When you're 13 rising 14 you think that every day is a bonus, but this horse keeps a little bit for himself, so he might be able to go on a bit longer. Today, he's very close to my heart. These are memories for the rocking chair.
- J P McManus, owner

Update 17/11/07:
Immortal Spot shows just what makes him different
by Lee Motterhead, www.racingpost.co.uk

HIS place in immortality is assured. For on Friday at Cheltenham, on the stage he rules like few others ever have, he seemed to achieve the impossible. Spot Thedifference is the horse who came back from the dead.
Now, with the comfort blanket of his safety to warm us, we can look back and smile that we had feared for him when there was no need to fear.
It had only been a slip, nothing more sinister than that.
Yet, for those few awful seconds, it seemed as though events in the amphitheatre of emotion were about to take the cruellest turn. No wonder, then, that when he rose from behind the green screens, the place went crazy.
It seemed impossible that he could have been cheered louder than he was cheered up this hill of hills, but the noise that accompanied him on his long, riderless walk back to the winner's enclosure was the sort normally reserved for great Gold Cup winners.

It was a roar to warm the heart. Be in no doubt.

This horse is loved by Irishmen and Brits alike. And apparently loved by the one whose love matters most. For it was not just after the race was over that divine intervention seemed to be at work.
All through the glorious marathon of mayhem that was this BGC Cross Country Chase, somebody important appeared to be helping, doing his best to ensure that Spot Thedifference would secure his fourth successive win in the race and his seventh on the course. With no little help from John Thomas McNamara, the battle was won.
"He was going so fast, he just skidded and slipped up,” said McNamara, explaining the incident that silenced the stands. As he said it, just a few feet away, devoted owner J P McManus stood admiring his 14-year-old hero, a hero he had not long earlier thought might be lost.
“You always fear the worst, but thankfully all's well,” said McManus.
“I went through every emotion; the thrill of his win, the sadness of him going down and then the great relief of him getting up.”
Nobody was more relieved that trainer Enda Bolger, who nominated Saturday's victory as the greatest of his career.
“He is a wonderful horse,” said Bolger, lips quivering, tears approaching.
“When he won at Punchestown this year, that was unbelievable, but this beats it - no doubt, this is the proudest moment of my career.
“He is an amazing horse, and when he comes to the last fence, he just flies. His battling qualities are his forte. He is never beaten here when he gets in a fight. He is unbelievable.”
As was this race, a race in which Spot Thedifference found himself in front much earlier than usual when Puntal and Florida Dream took the wrong course after the fourth fence, earning their riders Noel Fehily and David England 12-day suspensions in the process. Much, much later, French raider Juful Tennis fell at the 27th jump, all but taking out Royal Auclair, who had been travelling as easily as was stablemate Le Duc when he unseated Sam Thomas atthe 30th fence.
Even then Spot Thedifference had a mountain to climb. Turning for home, there were three lengths to make up on compatriot Casadei, but make them up he did before powering clear for a one-length victory. Will it be his last? Bolger willbe the one who decides if Spot Thedifference runs again, and he was no mood to decide on Friday. This was a day when he and McManus - and everyone else - just wanted to appreciate one of the finest four-legged wrinklies the sport has ever seen.
"I think he has a place in everybody's hearts,” said McManus. He does. And, to universal delight, one special equine heart still beats strong.

The thrills and spills

* 14 runners line up at start.

* Omni CosmoTouch unwillingly approaches first tailed off having initially refused to partake. Promptly refuses at the first

* Dom Fontenail unseats Mr Richard Hume at obstacle number four of 32, the 'Canal Turn' where David England on Florida Dream and Noel Fehily on Puntal head straight on, carrying Ollie Dayman and Happy Hussar onto the wrong course

* Before the next Philip Carberry and Juful Tennis nearly crash through the rails

* Absence of canal allows Puntal, Florida Dream and Happy Hussar to aboutturn and they rejoin main pack, now tailed off

* Puntal somehow manages to rejoins leading group

* Dulgodti Bob and James Davies part company on the flat when squeezed out on bend with 12 to jump

* Six to jump, and Juful Tennis unseats Carberry and nearly carries Royal Auclair off course. Millanymere attempts the splits out the back

* Le Duc, travelling well three from home, deposits Sam Thomas unceremoniously out the side door

* Turning for home, Casadei takes it up from long-time leader Spot Thedifference but J T McNamara and 14-year-old Spot Thedifference hold on to win


Update 2008: Spot TheDifference too has been retired in the meantime, and has a place for life in Mr. McManus Martinstown Stud, where all the pensioneers are looked after in exemplary style. His public appearances will be restricted to the odd parade; one was already announced in the local radio news when we went to see him in january 2008. We hope Spot will enjoy his lazy days for many many years to come!

How´s She Cuttin´

How´s She Cuttin´ in David Barrons yard, 2007
Photo: David Barron, with many thanks

How´s She Cuttin´ is no Racing Great, no doubt about that. In fact, she is slightly "outpaced" in this section, consisting of so many Group- and Graded Winners. But then again, we think she is great, so here she is. We noted this daughter of the very gifted racehorse Shinko Forest on her third run, in august 2006 in Ripon. She had been tried with no success over 7 and 6 furlongs, and was coming back to the minimum-trip here. We noted her lovely conformation, her strong back, her pretty face and alert behaviour, and were hooked. "Tell you what happens" Jimmy said "She will jump out, make the running, and they will never see her again" - Well, this is exactly what happend on that day in Ripon, and our nice touch at 7/1 certainly helped liking her even more. That was (nearly) exactly what happend on all her next 8 starts too, ´cause How´s She Cuttin´ got the hang of sprinting - and winning- and 5 wins and 3 seconds is a record every self-respected racehorse can be very proud of. She has her quirks and showed a marked tendency to hang, but always ran on as honest as they come. Her wonderful run through the Handicaps was stopped in a Class 2 Handicap in Ayr in july 2007, when heavyweighs like Fullandby, Orientor and Fantasy Believer proved much too strong for her, and How´s She Cuttin´was never able to get on terms with them. She gets a little break now, but will be back, and here´s us waiting eagerly!
Update oct.07: After a 94-day-break How´s She Cuttin contested the Catterick-Dash, a 5f Class 2 Handicap, where, from a very unfavourable draw, she ran a stormer to finish 3rd, beaten under length. She is back !!!
UPDATE 2008: After failing to sell in the 2007 Tattersalls Sales How´s She Cuttin´ run with much credit in 2008 and even gained some Listed placings, thus is a Black-Type performer now. Her first win this year came late but furious though, on the 2nd of Nov. in Southwell on dirt, when she ran her rivals ragged in a nice Sprint Handicap; the Racing Post noted:
"A good, competitive sprint handicap on paper, but in the event it was a one-horse race.
HOW'S SHE CUTTIN' pinged the gates and never saw another rival. She appreciates some dig on turf and clearly took to this surface very well, as she came home a most impressive winner. This win followed a very good seventh in a Listed race at Newmarket and she is clearly at the top of her game at present. She is in at Musselburgh on Friday, and could be interesting under a penalty, as she has such a good record at that particular track" -
Again many congratulations to all concerned!


very tired after no luck in running to finish 7th in a strong Newmarket Listed Race over 6f, october 08
photo: Jim Clark

Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas before the Tattersalls Gold Cup
Ireland May 2007
(Photo: Jim Clark)

Do not go gentle into that good night
rage, rage against the dying of the light

Dylan Thomas the poet´s famous lines were certainly not meant to be about his equine namesake, but clearly -if he would have ever thought about it- he could not have wished for a better horse to carry his name: so gentle in nature, the equine Dylan Thomas (*2003, by Danehill-Lagrion (Diesis)) surely is more than just a light in the horseracing world, he positivly is one of their brightest stars, shining for two glorious seasons now, with his swansong in the Breeders Cup Turf only weeks away at time of writing (oct.2007).
His two-year-old season hinted class but not greatness, and even the start to his 3-year-old season in 2006 was good rather than great, with a workmanlike performance beating Mountain and a certain Youmzain in the Derrinstown Derby Trial in Leopardstown and a third place in the Epsom Derby behind Sir Percy, albeit not beaten far. Dylan then took the Irish Derby by storm, certainly his finest hour in 2006, but it was not until 2007 that people realized what a class-act he really is. He started in April with a win in a small race doing his confidence the world of good, and contested a Gr.I race every month after, winning 3 (namely the Prix Ganay in Longchamp, the King George in Ascot and the Prix de L´Arc de Triomphe in Longchamp); he was asked to compete over 10, 11 and 12 furlong; he was never worse than second and only had to give way to Notnowcato, Manduro and Derby-winner Authorized over 10f, clearly not his favoured trip. Even though Alaistar Down described him as "rather uninspiring" after his King George win, we find seeing him at the races a real treat: a massive but beautiful creature, so calm and content before his starts, Dylan saves his best for the race itself, and always gives his all, never going down without a fight; he is clearly very fond of his lad with whom he shares a very visible bond, always a heartwarming sight in the paradering and after the race itself. Described by Kieren Fallon as the "best he has ridden" and his "favourite horse", their Arc win on french soil (meaning that Fallon was able to partner Dylan as the race-fixing trial against the jockey continues) no doubt displayed the finest qualities of horse and rider: class, courage, stamina and fighting spirit in abundance; the best horse won, and any other outcome of the enquiry would have robbed the race its rightly winner.
Dylan has nothing left to prove, but will try to fly the Irish Flag in America once more - and we will have our fingers crossed for the stout battler with the heart of a Lion. Ah well it wasnt to be in the USA but now he can look forward to a life of enjoyment with his ladies at stud in 2008 :-)