Michael Church Racing Books

MILL REEF – 50 years on – His career and his legacy

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It is now 50 years since Mill Reef won the Derby, proving to the doubting pedigree experts that he really could stay a mile and a half.

Mill Reef, a handsome, strong, compact colt, was by Never Bend (second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness), out of the maiden Milan Mill, bred in America by his owner Paul Mellon. He was then sent to England in December 1969, to be trained by Ian Balding at Kingsclere.

As a juvenile, he won five of his six starts and after taking Newbury’s Greenham Stakes as a three-year-old, he finished a three lengths second to Brigadier Gerard, in the Two Thousand Guineas.

So lets now go to Derby Day, and despite his sires’ owner/breeder, Harry Guggenheim, strongly doubting Mill Reef’s staying ability, the bookmakers sent him off the 100-30 favourite.

On a warm day, under blue skies and after a long delay at the start, caused by, Bourbon breaking his bridle, the 21 runners finally got on their way. Linden Tree took them along and led into the straight from Homeric, Lombardo and Mill Reef. Two furlongs out, Linden Tree was still going strongly, but Homeric weakened and Lombardo soon gave way. Soon after, Mill Reef, with Geoff Lewis aboard, cruised up to the plucky Linden Tree and inside the distance, went on to win by two lengths, in 2 min. 37.14 sec.

Mill Reef then won all his remaining starts, kicking off in the Eclipse Stakes when annihilating the French crack Caro and lowering the Sandown Park course record. Next up, he won Ascot’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, then in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe he broke the Longchamp course record, defeating the popular French filly, Pistol Packer, by three lengths.

Kept in training as a four-year-old, he won the Prix Ganay by a contemptuous 10 lengths and followed up taking the Coronation Cup. Soon after he contracted a virus infection, missing his second Eclipse Stakes. Then. sustaining a swollen hock, he also missed the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup and so the long-awaited rematch with Brigadier Gerard failed to come off.

The tragic run continued when on 30 August, Mill Reef broke his near-foreleg while working at Kingsclere. After a six-hour operation involving the insertion of a steel plate in his leg, followed by six weeks in plaster, he fully recovered and retired to The National Stud in 1973.

In 1977, his problems returned when he contracted contagious equine metritis. As a result, he got only nine mares in foal. Nevertheless, two of the offspring proved exceptional: Fairy Footsteps won the One Thousand Guineas Guineas and Glint of Gold went on to take six Group 1 races.  The following year, when Shirley Heights won the English and Irish Derby’s he became Champion Sire, and then again in 1987, when Reference Point, won the Derby, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the St Leger. In 1988, he sired his fourth Classic winner when Doyoun won the Two Thousand Guineas. Furthermore, the line of three Derby winners – Mill Reef – Shirley Heights – Slip Anchor – not only gave Thoroughbred breeders access to his legacy, but has assured his place in history.

Sadly, Mill Reef was put down on 2 February, 1986, after suffering a severe heart condition and was buried at The National Stud in Newmarket.

The above extract is from The Classics Chart 1776-2020 

For more racing history see Michael’s Books for Sale

 The Classics Chart 1776-2020

(The Thoroughbred Researcher’s Chart)

After two years of research and design, Michael is pleased to release his latest chart.

The Classics Chart 1776-2020 – the male lineage of every Classic winner plus the King George, Arc and Champion Sires, back to the founding fathers.

Printed in three colours on 170 GSM bright white paper, measuring 74 cm x 59 cm or 29″ x 23 “, the chart shows every winner with dates won: colts in Red, fillies in Green and Champion Sires with  asterisks either side of their name.

The Chart encompasses 20 interlocking smaller charts, photo reduced, therefore with the accompanying Pdf file magnifying up to x 10, suitable for research.

See below with an example of Chart 14 Galileo.

Sold as a Limited Edition of 60 copies, numbered & signed together with a Guide to the Chart and a magnifying Pdf file for £60.

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Signorinetta and the boundless laws of sympathy and love

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THE story of Signorinetta is one of true romance. In 1908 she won the Derby at 100-1, two days later she added the Oaks – and then never won again. She was bred, owned and trained by Cavaliere Odoardo Ginistrelli (1833-1920), an eccentric Italian Senator, known as ‘the Chevalier’.

 Signorinetta’s dam Signorina was also bred by Ginistrelli, but after winning 11 races and finishing second in the Oaks she was 10 years at stud before producing her first live foal. Two further barren years followed until, Ginistrelli decided to take into consideration what he called “the boundless laws of sympathy and love”.

Every day the Cesarewitch winner Chaleureux had to pass Signorina’s paddock and every day they greeted each other with a neigh. On a sentimental impulse, Ginistrelli paid the nine-guinea fee for Chaleureux’s services, and the result was Signorinetta.

After five unplaced runs as a two-year old, Signorinetta finally got of the mark by winning the Criterion Nursery Handicap carrying 6st 3lb.

The following year, she ran unplaced in the One Thousand Guineas and the Newmarket Stakes before arriving at Epsom as a 100-1outsider, preferred to only one of the 18 runners in the Derby betting.

The race appeared an open affair, with the American bred Two Thousand Guineas winner, Norman and the unbeaten Mountain Apple sharing favouritism at 11-2. The French horse, Sea Sick, who had crossed the channel after dead-heating for the Prix du Jockey-Club the previous Sunday, was well supported at 7-1. This year an interval of 55 minutes preceded the Derby, during which the jockeys weighed out and the horses preparation was scrutinised by an ever growing audience. In retrospect, it was noted that Signorinetta appeared to be the coolest and calmest of them all.

However, down at the start an element of chaos took over – the tapes were broken many times and a few runners charged off after ducking under the tapes. Eventually after a 21-minute delay, the field got under way and on settling down were led by Mercutio, setting a strong pace from Orphah, Norman and further back, Sea Sick, Moet and White Eagle. At the top of the hill, Mountain Apple surged through to take up the running, leading into the straight from Sir Archibald and White Eagle. Approaching the two-furlong pole, Signorinetta, having made steady progress, came to challenge and with Billy Bullock aboard, ran on to win by two lengths from Primer and Llangwm.

After the weigh-in, King Edward VII sent for Ginistrelli, who still wearing his battered Panama hat, was taken by the King and presented to the cheering crowd. It was a memorable occasion for all present and one that inevitably added to the romance of the Derby.

Signorinetta wins from Premier and Llangwm

Two days later, Signorinetta, returned for the Oaks, now 3-1 second favourite behind the 6-4 Rhodora, winner of the One Thousand Guineas. Ten others completed the field.

During the race an incident near the mile post caused French Partridge to fall and Rhodora, trying to jump over her also fell. From there, Signorinetta, handily placed to avoid the carnage, went on to win by three-quarters of a length.

Signorinetta contested three more races, including the St Leger, but failed to reach a place in any and was retired to stud at the end of the year. In all she had seven live foals, the best being The Winter King, winner of the Lowther Stakes and sire of the Grand Prix de Paris winner Barnveldt. She had no produce after 1921 and died in 1928.

Billy Bullock (1885-1963), who won both the Derby and Oaks on Signorinetta, was born in Morpeth in Northumberland. Both his brother and his grandfather were trainers and his uncle, Ralph Bullock, rode Kettledrum to victory in the 1861 Derby. Memorably for Bullock, after his Classic double for Ginistrelli, he received only the basic riding fee, accompanied by a cigar and a glass of wine. After the First World War, Bullock rode in Denmark, where he was Champion Jockey from 1924 to 1927. In 1933, he rode Leonard, off 7st 9lb, to win the Northumberland Plate for Captain Elsey and continued to ride work for him to the age of 74.

Sam Chifney – Villain or Hero

Sam Chifney (1753-1807), at his peak, was the greatest jockey seen on the Turf up to that time. He was the first jockey to introduce riding tactics and became famous for his late ‘Chifney rush’.

Chifney rode four winners of the Oaks – Ceres (1782), Maid of the Oaks (1783), Tag (1789) and Hippolyta (1790) and the Derby winner Skyscraper (1789), pictured below, with Sam aboard. Note the horse’s clipped ears, which was the fashion at the time.

Born in Northwold, Norfolk, around 1753, Sam Chifney became an apprentice in Foxe’s stable, Newmarket from 1770.  There he gained a reputation for exercising control over the more difficult horses in the yard. The Druid describes Chifney in Post and Paddock, as, “He was about 5ft 5in in height, weighed  about 9st 5lb, in the winter months, and could ride, if required for a great race, 7st 12lb to the last. With the exception of Frank Buckle, perhaps no man was so exactly built for his profession.”

Chifney was a dandy in appearance; curls framed his face from under his jockey’s cap and he wore bunches of ribbons on the tops of his riding boots. Whilst there was never any doubt about his ability in the saddle, or his self confidence: “In 1773 I could ride horses in a better manner in a race to beat others than any person ever known in my time”, and in 1775, “I could train horses for running better than any person I ever yet saw”, nevertheless, his race riding was sometimes open to suspicion.

On Thursday, 20th October, 1791 at Newmarket, in what was to become known as “The Escape Scandal”, Chifney rode the 6-y-o Escape, for the Prince of Wales (later King George IV).

Escape (pictured below), by Highflyer out of a Squirrel mare, was at the time thought by Chifney, “Much the best horse in England”. Even so, with 8 st 4 lb, over the Ditch-in Course (2 miles), and starting at odds of 1-2, he finished last of four to Mr Dawson’s Coriander.

The next day, against similar opposition, Escape, carried 8 st 13 lb, over an extended 4 miles (Beacon Course),  and completely reversed the form to win at odds of 5-1. There followed, accusations that Chifney had pulled Escape the first time to get better odds the next day. Some, even suggesting that the Prince was in on the plan. One rumour that flourished, however, was, that two rouges of the ring, fearing the follow up money for Escape, had seen to it that he was over fed on the morning of the race.

As the runners cantered to the start of the Beacon Course, the activity in the ring resembled bees round a honeypot. Those convinced of the previous “Chifney pull”, clamouring to get on, while those who believed the “well fed” rumour were happy to lay Escape at all prices up to 5-1. All of which flew in the face of the Prince’s belief in Chifney when making a hefty wager and, the popular belief that Escape would be all out to win. As it turned out the adage “Why believe a rumour when the truth is staring you in the face”, won the day.

When eventually summoned before the Stewards of the Jockey Club, Chifney claimed that Escape, untried for two weeks, needed the first race ‘to clear his pipes’ for the next day. He therefore, had no bet on him the first time, but 20 guineas the next day. Ironically, it is likely that Chifney’s account of the proceedings, would now be accepted by present day stewards. Nevertheless, at that time, the Stewards refused to accept his explanation and treated the case as yet another example of the jockey’s dishonesty. Sir Charles Bunbury, who may well have suffered as a result of the first race, then informed the Prince of Wales that if he continued to engage Chifney, no gentleman would start against him. Soon after, rather than make Chifney a scapegoat, the Prince gave up racing and sold his horses. Even so, he continued to pay Chifney’s £200 annuity, telling him: “You have been a good and honest servant to me.”

In 1795, Chifney published his autobiography Genius Genuine, in which he describes his reasons for his slack rein method of riding: “The phrase at Newmarket is, that you should pull your horse to ease him in running. When horses are in their great distress in running, they cannot bear that visible manner of pulling as looked for by many of the sportsmen; he should be enticed to ease himself an inch a time, as his situation will allow. This should be done as if you had a silken rein as fine as hair, and that you were afraid of breaking it. This is a true way a horse should be held fast in running.”

Samuel Chifney married the daughter of Newmarket trainer, Frank Smallman; they had two sons, William, who owned and trained the great Priam to win the Derby in 1830 and Samuel, who rode nine Classic winners, including the Derby winners Sam(1818) and Sailor (1820). They also had four daughters, one of whom married a Mr Weatherby of Newmarket and another, the Newmarket trainer Butler, to become the mother of the Triple Crown winning jockey, Frank Butler (West Australian 1853).

Chifney left Newmarket for London in 1800. Six years later, pursued by creditors, he sold the Prince’s annuity for £1,260.

Nevertheless, having invented and patented a bit for horses, he proposed, “If the Jockey Club will be pleased to give me 200 guineas, I will make them a bridle as I believe never was, and I believe never can be, excelled, for their light weights to hold horses from running away.” The Jockey Club, under the Presidency of Sir Charles Bunbury refused and sadly, going alone he became indebted to the saddler, Latchford, for £350. Thereafter, history has been kind to Chifney, for the bit named after him is still in use today.

Imprisioned for many years as a debtor in Fleet Prison, when released, he moved to a humble dwelling in Fleet Lane opposite the prison, where he died on 8 January 1807, aged 52.

Escape, went on to win 11 races and became a prominent sire. As a footnote: when an unruly yearling, kicking out in his box, he got his foot wedged between the boards. Bravely his groom released him uninjured, giving rise to his name Escape.

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

Lord Derby & Sir Charles Bunbury

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 Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (1752-1834), on becoming of age, bought a country house, at Woodmansterne, near Epsom, called ‘The Oaks’, from his uncle by marriage, General John Burgoyne. For the Epsom May Meeting in 1778, Lord Derby, a steward, invited a party of friends to his house, where it was proposed that the following year, a single race over one and a half miles for three-year-old fillies would add some spice to the meeting. The race was named after Lord Derby’s house and appropriately, won by his filly, Bridget. The event was considered a great success and as a result, another new race was proposed, this for both colts and fillies, to be run over a mile the following year – but what to call it – “The Bunbury” or “The Derby” – they tossed a coin and, “Heads it is, so it’s The Derby –  The Derby Stakes.”

Although now best known for his connection with the race, in his lifetime he was celebrated as the champion cockfighter of all England – then the National sport, breeding and fighting with his own strain of game cocks known as the Knowsley Breed.

In 1774, Edward Stanley married Lady Elizabeth Hamilton. It was not, however, a lasting relationship. At a summer house party in 1777, a cricket match took place between two local teams, during which the Duke of Dorset gave an impressive display. A second game followed, where in the interval Lady Elizabeth took her lady guests on to the field to meet the players – two years later, Lady Elizabeth, now a mother of three, absconded abroad with her cricketing hero. In the scandal that followed, Lord Derby refused to divorce her, eventually taking solace in the company of Elizabeth Farren, a famous actress playing the part of Lady Teazle in Sheridan’s popular play, The School for Scandal.  In 1797, soon after the death of Lady Elizabeth, Lord Derby married Elizabeth Farren. Smitten, he named two of his mare Papillon’s produce Lady Teazle and Sir Peter Teazle, after characters in the play. The success of the Teazle’s on the stage was matched by their success on the turf – Lady Teazle was second in the Oaks and Sir Peter Teazle won the Derby on his first racecourse appearance.

Sir Thomas Charles Bunbury (1740-1821), was the son of a vicar at Great Barton, near Newmarket. He was elected a Whig MP for Mildenhall, Suffolk, at the age of 21 and became a strong opponent of the slave trade. He was the first outstanding member of the Jockey Club and became a senior Steward at the age of 28, thereafter taking the role of ‘perpetual president’. However, like the Earl of Derby, he too was subject to a scandal. After his marriage to the notorious Lady Sarah Lennox in 1762, she had an affair with Lord William Gordon, giving birth to his daughter. The couple eloped taking the child with them, but when Lord William abandoned her, Sir Charles refused to take her back.

Thereafter, he gave more time to Parliament and the Turf, and although losing the legendary coin toss to name the race, Sir Charles had the pleasure of owning the first Derby winner – Diomed. He also owned Eleanor (1801), the first filly to win both the Derby and the Oaks, and Smolensko (1813), the first horse to win both the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby. Famously, he also bred Highflyer (b.c. 1774), by Herod ex Rachel by Blank, who was never beaten on the racecourse and the Champion Sire 13 times. It was during his reign at the Jockey Club that the five Classic races were formed, a pattern, that in time, would be replicated around the world. Without doubt, on the Turf, Sir Charles was the most influential man of his age.

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

ST. SIMON – Has there been a better horse?

       ST. SIMON (b.c.1881) by Galopin ex St. Angela by King Tom

Bred by Prince Gustavus Batthyany

Won 9 races incl. Epsom Gold Cup (walk-over), Ascot Gold Cup, Newcastle Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup.

Champion Sire in G.B. & Ire. (nine times): 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1900, 1901.

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NO ONE will ever know just how good a racehorse St Simon was, although Mathew Dawson, trainer of the winners of 28 Classic races affirmed “I have trained only one good horse in my life – St Simon.”

His owner/breeder Prince Gustavus Batthyany, however, thought so little of the colt early on, that he took him out of the Guineas – his only Classic entry.

It was true, St Simon’s dam St Angela, had won only a modest Newmarket maiden from eight starts and, at the time of St Simon’s birth, when 16, she had apparently foaled nothing of note. But, ironically, when St Angela was first put to Galopin two years previous, she produced Angelica, the future dam of Orme, a dual Eclipse winner and Champion Sire.

Sadly, but more to the point, Prince Batthyany died of a heart attack before St Simon raced, so his would be Classic nominations under the Rules of Racing would automatically have become void.

Purchased by the Duke of Portland for 1,600 guineas at the Prince’s dispersal sale, St Simon won all his nine races – four as a juvenile, including two Nurseries, giving lumps of weight to the runners-up, and five as a three-year-old, including 20-length victories in both the Ascot Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup.

Which brings us back to “Just how good was he?”

In a poll of leading Turf personalities taken around two years after St Simon’s final race, he was voted fourth best ‘Horse of the Century’, behind Gladiateur, Isonomy and West Australian.

At stud, St Simon was Champion Sire nine times within the period 1890 to 1901. He sired the winners of 17 Classic races, including the Royal Derby winners Persimmon (1896) and Diamond Jubilee (Triple Crown 1900). In total, he got the winners of 571 races worth £553,157. Later, he became the six-time Champion Sire of Broodmares: 1903-1907 inclusive and again in 1916.

A bay colt of 16.1 hands, St Simon measured 8 1⁄2 inches below the knee and 6 feet 3 inches round the girth.

Stud-master at Welbeck Abbey Stud, John Huby, said of him: “I always thought there was something superior, both in his action and his contour, to anything I had noticed in any other horse. His shoulder was a study. So obliquely placed that it appeared to extend far into his back.. so placed, there is little wonder that he showed such marvellous liberty of action.”

The contemporary writer Mr Sydenham Dixon commented: “If both Turf and Stud career be taken into account, the only horse I can find to compare with St Simon is Eclipse, who like St Simon, won every race without being asked to do his best, and the stud careers of both may be said to have been of equal brilliance.”

St Simon died on 2 April, 1908, aged 27 years. The Bloodstock Breeders Review described his final minutes:

“He was returning from exercise just as sprightly and handsome as ever that morning, and so far as appearances went, might have lived for years. When, within 20 yards of his stable door, as he was passing over a soft sandy patch of ground, he suddenly dropped, and in less than 20 seconds his heart ceased to beat.”

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To see further details of Michael’s Classics Chart 1776-2020 go to BOOKS FOR SALE in the top menu.

See below the two lineage charts of St Simon taken from The Classics Chart 1776-2020..

Colts are in Red, fillies in Green. Classic winners with date of victory in CAPS.

Key to races won: 2000 Guineas (2); 1000 Guineas (1);  Derby  (D); Oaks (O); St Leger (L); King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (K); Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (A); while stars either side indicate Champion Sire.

BAHRAM’S TRIPLE CROWN

Bahram’s Derby victory in 1935 entitled him to become “Derby Winner of the Decade”, however, the stories surrounding his Triple Crown victories have largely been forgotten. This brief account, therefore, aims to bring to life the achievement of one of the greatest horses of the 20^th century.

Trained by Frank Butters at Newmarket, Bahram is only the second horse to win the Triple Crown and remain unbeaten – Ormonde being the first in 1886. He was also the second of five Derby winners owned by the Aga Khan III, who, at the time, said he would never sell his Triple Crown winner, but he did, and despite criticism from British breeders, he also sold the other four – Blenheim, Mahmoud, My Love and Tulyar.

A handsome, well proportioned, bay colt of 16.2 hands, with a 69 inch girth, Bahram, had an impressive pedigree – his sire, Blandford was to be Champion Sire three times, siring four Derby winners in seven years, while his dam, Friar’s Daughter, had previously produced Dastur (by Solario), second in each leg of the 1932 Triple Crown and winner of the Irish Derby.

Bahram’s first race was the National Breeders’ Produce Stakes at Sandown, for which his stable companion Theft was preferred. The pair dominated the finish, Bahram winning by a neck at odds of 20-1. He then ran up victories in the Rous Memorial Stakes at Goodwood, the Gimcrack Stakes at York, the Boscawen (Post) Stakes and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, starting odds-on each time.

At the end of the season he was the top-rated two-year-old in the Free Handicap with 9st 7lb, one pound higher than Hairan and Theft – all three colts were owned by the Aga Khan.

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THE TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS

Wednesday, 1 May 1935  Two Thousand Guineas Stakes  Newmarket
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3-year-olds, colts and fillies.

Rowley Mile.

1 Bahram               9st 0lb F Fox               7-2

2 Theft                    9st 0lb G Richards      11-2

3 Sea Bequest         9st 0lb E Smith         100-7

Won by 1½ lengths, 2 lengths. 16 ran.

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After receiving a slight setback, Bahram made his reappearance in the Two Thousand Guineas, where questions of  his fitness caused him to drift in the betting from 5-2 to 7-2. This in the face of strong support for Lord Derby’s Richmond Stakes winner Bobsleigh, whose impressive home gallops sent his price from 100-30 to 7-4 favourite.

Entering the Dip, Theft held a narrow lead from Bahram, with Sea Bequest, Apollo and Bobsleigh close behind. On meeting the rising ground, Bahram quickly took the measure of Theft and went away to beat him by one and a half lengths with Sea Bequest a further two lengths away third.

THE DERBY

Wednesday, 5 June 1935     Derby Stakes    Epsom Downs

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3-year-olds, colts and fillies.

1 mile 4 furlongs 5 yards.

1 Bahram                    9st 0lb F Fox      5-4 Fav

2 Robin Goodfellow     9st 0lb T Weston   50-1

3 Field Trial                   9st 0lb R Dick         9-1

Won by 2 lengths, ½ length. 16 ran.

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BAHRAM walking along Epsom High Street to the Derby.

After heavy rain in the morning, the sun came out to restore the going to good. Sixteen runners went to post, with Bahram clear favourite at 5-4. The Aga Khan, also ran both Theft, and the second favourite, Hairan. All in vein, however, as it was to be Bahram’s day.

Approaching the top of the hill, First Son took them along from Pry, Sea Bequest and Field Trial. Behind them, Theft, ridden by Harry Wragg, was well placed on the rails, however, Freddie Fox on Bahram was trapped in a pocket behind him. Feeling the frustration, Fox shouted to Wragg, on the Aga’s third string, to pull over; Wragg duly obliged and Bahram shot through the gap.

Descending to Tattenham Corner, Field Trial forged ahead of First Son and Pry, with Bahram in pursuit. The order was maintained into the straight, but by the two-furlong marker, Fox had Bahram poised just behind Field Trial, and letting him go at the distance, gained a comfortable two-length victory from the running-on Robin Goodfellow.

In the post-race press interviews, Harry Wragg, on Theft, said, “I had a lovely position going up the hill. I had intended to go along just behind the leaders and not wait as so many people thought I would do. Before we reached the top of the hill I heard somebody shout; I had to glance over my shoulder and found that it was Freddie Fox trying to squeeze through. There was not room for him to do so, but when I realized it was Bahram, and I was also riding for the Aga Khan, I gave way and he was able to take a position which might have been mine”.

After the race Wragg was cautioned by the stewards regarding his riding of Theft. They drew his attention to Rule 139, which stated: ”Every horse that runs in a race shall be run on its merit, whether his owner runs another horse in the race or not”. Wragg was then warned that any repetition of his ride would be severely dealt with.

Two weeks later, Bahram went to Ascot, winning the St James’s Palace Stakes – five went to post and starting at 1-8, he beat Portfolio and Rosecrag by one length and four lengths.

THE  ST LEGER

Wednesday, 11 September 1935 St Leger Stakes   Doncaster

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3-year-olds, colts and fillies.

1 mile 6 furlongs 132 yards.

1 Bahram          9st 0lb C Smirke    4-11 Fav

2 Solar Ray         9st 0lb J Sirett          100-6

3 Buckleigh         9st 0lb H Wragg       25-1

Won by 5 lengths, 3 lengths. 8 ran.

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In the St Leger, Charlie Smirke took the ride on Bahram, Fox, having incurred serious head injuries from a fall at Doncaster the day before.

Starting the 4-11 favourite, Smirke gave Bahram his head two furlongs out and cruised to the front from Field Trial, Fairburn and Solar Ray. Field Day faded a furlong out, allowing Solar Ray and Buckleigh to run into the places. Although Bahram’s official winning distance was five lengths, photographs show it was nearer ten.

An exuberant Charlie Smirke said “He could have won with 12 stone and two men on his back!” Meanwhile, Freddie Fox had listened to the race on the radio in a Doncaster nursing home. The Aga Khan, as a sporting gesture, sent both Smirke and Fox £1,000 – worth more than £50,000 today.

In the absence of the Aga, Bahram was led in to a noisy and triumphant reception by a strangely subdued Aly Khan, possibly troubled by the breaking news scandal of his affair with Joan Barbara Guinness. Aly, named in the subsequent divorce, paid the costs, then married Joan soon after.

In 1936, Bahram retired to stud to become the sire of:

TURKHAN b.c.1937, won Irish Derby, Yorkshire St Leger (St Leger Substitute), second in New Derby Stakes.

BIG GAME br.c. 1939, won New Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, sire of QUEENPOT b.f. 1945, won One Thousand Guineas Stakes & AMBIGUITY b.f. 1950, won Oaks Stakes.

MAH IRAN gr.f. 1939, won 5 races and bred MIGOLI gr.c. 1944 by BOIS ROUSSEL, won Eclipse Stakes, Champion Stakes, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, second in Derby Stakes.

PERSIAN GULF b.c. 1940, won Coronation Cup, sire of ZABARA ch.f. 1949, won One Thousand Guineas Stakes & PARTHIA br.c. 1956, won Derby Stakes.

In 1940, the Aga Khan sold Bahram to a syndicate of American breeders for £40,000 and although the sale was deplored by British breeders, he travelled by boat to America in August that year. After a perilous sea voyage, Bahram took time to recover before standing in Maryland at Alfred G. Vanderbilt’s Sagamore Stud the following year – he was not a great success.

In 1946, Bahram was exported to Argentina, where he sired SENEGAL b.c. 1953, twice winner of the Clasico Simon Bolivar over one mile, four furlongs at La Rinconada in Caracus, Venezuela.

Bahram, unbeaten Triple Crown winner, died on 24 January 1956, aged 24.

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        Investec Derby 2020

         SERPENTINE

              9-c (ch.c. 2017)

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Run on Saturday, 4 July, 2020 as the Investec 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. Reopened 28 June 2020 with 17 entries at £10,000. Value to winner £283,550

1^st   SERPENTINE        Emmet McNamara        25-1

2^nd  KHALIFA SAT      Tom Marquand             50-1    5½ lengths

3^rd  AMHRAN NA BHFIANN  William Buick  66-1    ½ length 

Also ran: 4^th Kameko (Oisin Murphy) 5-2 Fav; English King (Frankie Dettori) 100-30; Mogul (Ryan Moore) 7-1; Russian Emperor (Saemie Heffernan)  6-1: Vatican City (Padraig Beggy) 17-2; Gold Maze (David Egan) 150-1; Highland Chief (Ben Curtis) 20-1; Pyledriver (Martin Dwyer) 16-1; Mohican Heights (Andrea Atzeni) 25-1; Mythical (James Doyle) 100-1; Max Vega (Harry Bentley) 33-1; Emissary (Jim Crowley) 40-1; Worthily (Martin Harley) 40-1 (tailed off last, 93 lengths behind the winner).               16 ran. Time: 2 min. 34.43 sec.  

Serpentine clear of Khalifa Sat and Amhran Na Bhfiann

   Commentary: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Derby was run a month later, behind closed doors and, as a one-day Summer Meeting, was run on the same card as the Oaks for the first time.

The Two Thousand Guineas winner, Kameko by Kitten’s Joy, was backed into 5-2 favourite. Strong support also came for the Lingfield Derby Trial winner, English King at 100-30 and three of Aidan O’Brien’s six strong entry: Russian Emperor, Mogul (the choice of Ryan Moore) and Vatican City. Before the race there was much debate on the draw, with English King and Mogul having been allocated the so called “coffin boxes” of 1 and 2.

From the stalls, English King swerved left and took a little time to get into the pack. Meantime, Serpentine and Khalifa Sat were quickly into their stride, followed by Highland Chief and the hard pulling Kameko. After half a mile, Serpentine led Khalifa Sat, Amhran Na Bhfiann, Max Vega and Kameko. Travelling down the hill, the order maintained, Serpentine, under Emmet McNamara, quickly built up a lead extending to 12 lengths at Tattenham Corner. Two furlongs out and still 8–10 lengths clear, Serpentine had turned the race into a procession, with none of the fancied runners able to strike a blow. At the post, Khalifa Sat finished 5½ lengths second, with Amhran Na Bhfiann half a length away third, followed in by Kameko, English King and Mogul all running on too late.

Well that was easy – Serpentine

Entering into Derby history, Aidan O’Brien has trained a record 8 Derby winners (2001-2020), with Mrs John (Sue) Magnier and Michael Tabor, owning all 8. Galileo has now sired a record 5 Derby winners, having added a 4^th Oaks winner in Love, earlier that day. By contrast, Emmet McNamara, had not ridden a winner since October and Serpentine had only won his Maiden the previous week.

 Footnote: Due to the Coronavirus, the Derby could not be run as planned on 6 June. Therefore, the original 356 yearling entries were cancelled on 8 April 2020 and entry fees refunded. No fees were taken for the 12 second stage entries.

OWNED by  Mr Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Mr Michael Tabor.

BRED by Coolmore Stud.

TRAINED by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, Co Tipperary.         __________________________________________________________________________________________

The winner, SERPENTINE, has won 2 races (from 4 starts): A 1m2f, Maiden at The Curragh, Investec Derby Stakes.

 The sire, GALILEO (b.c. 1998), won 6 races (from 8 starts) incl. Vodafone Derby Stakes, Budweiser Irish Derby, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. Champion Sire in G.B. & Ireland 11 times: 2008, 2010-2019. Sire of 4 Investec Oaks winners and 5 Investec Derby winners. Also sire of FRANKEL b.c. 2008, won 14 races (unbeaten) incl. Qipco Two Thousand Guineas Stakes.

The dam, REMEMBER WHEN, ch.f. 2007 by Danehill Dancer. Maiden after 6 starts incl, 2^nd in Investec Oaks to Snow Fairy. She has bred 5 winners from 5 runners, all by Galileo, with a 2-y-o and a yearling on the ground. Serpentine is brother to Wedding View (b.f. 2012), Beacon Rock (ch.c 2013), Bound (ch.f. 2014) and Bye Bye Baby (b.f. 2015).           ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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                                     Investec Oaks 2020

                                                LOVE

                                                                 1–k (ch. f. 2017)

Mobiles view landscape

RUN on Saturday, 4 July. 2020, as the Investec 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 £141,775.

1^st   LOVE                    Ryan Moore            11-10 Fav

2^nd  ENNISTYMON     Seamie Heffernan  6-1  9 lengths

3^rd  FRANKLY DARLING  Frankie Dettori  7-4  ¾ length

Also ran: 4^th Queen Daenerys (William Buick) 16-1; Passion (Padraig Beggy) 25-1; Bharani Star (Oisin Murphy) 50-1; Gold Wand (Andrea Atzeni) 22-1; Tiempo Vuela (Martin Harley) 100-1 (tailed off last, 52 lengths behind the winner).

Two furlongs out Love surges ahead

Commentary:  Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Oaks was run a month later and behind closed doors. As a one-day Summer Meeting, the Oaks was run on the same card as the Derby for the first time.

Love an impressive, staying-on winner of the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket, was the 11-10 favourite. Frankly Darling, a 5-length winner of a 10-furlong AW Maiden at Newcastle, on the first day of racing’s resumption, followed up by winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot, beating Ennistymon by 1¾ lengths. Frankly Darling, strongly supported, went to post at 7/4 with Ennistymon at 6-1, and 16-1 bar.

Passion and Tiempo Vuela, stable companions of the first two favourites, set a strong gallop through the early stages, extending a 6-length lead at the mile post to 12 lengths coming down the hill. However, all was about to change three furlongs out, when the pacesetters collapsed, Ennistymon briefly took over, with Love and Bharani Star in close attendance. Approaching the two pole, Love cruised past Ennistymon and, Ryan Moore, straightening her up after a sudden left dink to the rails, went on to win by 9 lengths in a record time. Frankly Darling made some headway to be third with Queen Daenerys forth, 14¾ lengths behind the winner.

Love storms home setting a new record

8 ran. Time: 2 min. 34.06 sec. (New race record)

N.B. Unlike in previous years, no extra yards were added to the distance to protect the ground on the inner rail for the Derby.   

BRED by Coolmore Stud.

OWNED by Mr M. Tabor, Mr D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier.

TRAINED by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, Co. Tipperary.

__________________________________________________________________________________

The winner, LOVE (ch.f), has won 5 races (from 9 starts), incl. Moyglare Stud Stakes, The Curragh, Qicpo One Thousand Guineas, Newmarket, Investec Oaks Stakes, Epsom.

The sire, GALILEO (b.c. 1998), won 6 races (from 8 starts) incl. Vodafone Derby Stakes, Budweiser Irish Derby, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. Champion Sire in G.B. & Ireland 11 times: 2008, 2010-2019. Sire of 4 Investec Oaks winners and 5 Investec Derby winners. Also sire of FRANKEL b.c. 2008, won 14 races (unbeaten) incl. Qipco Two Thousand Guineas Stakes.

The dam, PIKABOO (ch.f. 2003) by Pivotal, ran unplaced in 5 races. She has bred 6 winners from 6 runners, incl. PEACH TREE ch.f. 2016, won 3 races incl. Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Stannera Stakes, Leopardstown.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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31 July 1917 – The latest ever Epsom Derby day

Although, due to the Covid-19 virus, this year’s Derby was put back to 4 July, the latest the great race was run was on 31 July 1917, and this, because of a national emergency.

Despite the First World War still raging, racing in Britain continued, albeit within limitations. However, when the First Spring Meeting at Newmarket, which included both Guineas races, ended on Friday 4 May. The Government then banned all racing in Britain because not only was the war with Germany a bitter struggle, but there was a national food crisis and Parliament had questioned the large quantities of oats required to feed racehorses. The total ban on racing was fought by the Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and on 4 July, the Board of Trade informed the Jockey Club that the Cabinet had agreed that racing could be resumed with a limited fixture list until the end of the season. Racing recommenced on 17 July at Newmarket and the New Derby was run there on the 31 July.

The winner this year, Gay Crusader, was bred and owned by Alfred Cox, who without the benefit of hindsight, raced under the name of ‘Mr Fairie’.

Sired by the Eclipse Stakes and St Leger winner Bayardo, Gay Crusader was the first foal from Gay Laura, a Maiden winner by Beppo, who later bred six winners. 

Gay Crusader with Steve Donoghue up

Trained by Alec Taylor at Manton, Gay Crusader ran twice at Newmarket as a juvenile, running unplaced in the Clearwell Stakes and winning the Criterion Stakes.

The following spring, Gay Crusader reappeared in the Column Produce Stakes, to finish second to his Clearwell conqueror Coq d’Or, this time, beaten only three-quarters of a length whilst conceding 11lb. This considerable improvement led him to the Two Thousand Guineas, for which he started 9-4 favourite, beating his stable-companion, Lord Astor’s Magpie, by a head. Steve Donoghue, champion Jockey of his day, had cleverly kept Gay Crusader so close to Magpie that the latter’s jockey Otto Madden was unable to use his whip hand.

Before the Derby, Lord Astor sold Magpie to go to Australia, leaving Gay Crusader the undisputed Derby favourite. Twelve runners lined up and, after a good start, Invincible led from Dark Legend and Dansellon. After five furlongs Dark Legend took over from Invincible, with Gay Crusader just behind the leaders. Steve Donoghue then quickly moved Gay Crusader into the lead and going on, won comfortably by four lengths from Dansellon, with Dark Legend a further head away third. Diadem, the second favourite, having previously won the One Thousand Guineas, could finish only fifth. However, two days later, she finished second to Sunny Jane in the New Oaks.

Gay Crusader now reigned supreme, and went on to win the September Stakes (St Leger substitute), so becoming the 12th winner of the Triple-Crown. This he followed with the Newmarket Gold Cup (2 1/2 miles), the Champion Stakes, the Lowther Stakes and finally the Limekiln Stakes.

Gay Crusader was kept in training as a four-year-old as his owner wanted to win a second Gold Cup. However, after a superb home trial he developed tendon trouble and was retired to Manton House Stud at a fee of 400 guineas. At this time, Alfred Cox turned down an offer of £100,000 for him, worth £2.6 million today. Without being prodigious, Gay Crusader sired a number of decent horses, including Hot Night (second in the 1927 Derby and St Leger), Hurstwood, third in the Derby and Loika (ch.f. 1926, dam of Djebel, winner of the 1940 English and French Two Thousand Guineas).

Gay Crusadere died on 14 September 1932. Steve Donoghue, who partnered the winners of 14 Classic races, paid Gay Crusader a huge compliment by saying he was the best horse he ever rode.