Category: Horses

Which were the top five Derby winners, according to Timeform?

Which were the top five Derby winners, according to Timeform? Timeform ratings first appeared in ‘Racehorses of 1947’, published in 1948, and ever since have provided a matter-of-fact means of comparing racehorses from different generations. Of course, it can be argued that ratings of any description, Timeform or otherwise, are simply a matter of opinion, but the findings make for interesting reading all the same.

According to Timeform, Sea-Bird (145), who won the Derby on his only start in Britain, in 1965, remains the second highest-rated Flat horse since World War II, behind only Frankel (147). Trained in France by Etienne Pollett and ridden by Australian jockey Pat Glennon, Sea-Bird justified favouritism at Epsom in effortless fashion, beating subsequent Irish Derby winner Meadow Court by two lengths, despite being heavily eased in the closing stages.

The 1971 Derby winner Mill Reef (141) was beaten by Brigadier Gerard in the 2,000 Guineas, but proved himself the outstanding middle-distance horse of his generation by also winning the Coral-Eclipse, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Trained by Ian Badling and ridden by Geoff Lewis, Mill Reef travelled enthusiastically at Epsom and could be called the winner some way from home; at the line, he had two lengths to spare over Linden Tree.

Shergar (140) and Sea The Stars (140) share third place on the all-time list, according to Timeform. In 1981, Shergar, trained by Michael Stoute and ridden by Walter Swinburn, was sent off the shortest-priced Derby favourite since Sir Ivor in 1968. He turned Tattenham Corner still firmly on the bridle and stretched clear to win, eased down, by a record ten lengths. In 2009, Sea The Stars – who never won any race by more than 2½ lengths – was more workmanlike in his comfortable, 1¾-length defeat of Fame And Glory in the Derby. Nonetheless, he was described, quite rightly, as ‘one of the greats’ by winning jockey Mick Kinane immediately afterwards.

Likewise, Reference Point (139) and Generous (139) share fifth place. Trained by Henry Cecil and ridden by Steve Cauthen, Reference Point was sent off 6/4 favourite for the 1987 Derby and made most of the running, eventually coming home 1½ lengths ahead of Most Welcome in a course record time. Four years later, Generous, trained by Paul Cole and ridden by Alan Munro, was only fifth choice in the betting market, at 9/1, but was always travelling strongly and stormed clear to win by five lengths and seven from Marju and Star Of Gdansk.

 

What does wind surgery on a racehorse involve?

Since January 19, 2018, racehorse trainers in Britain have been required to declare when any horse in their yard, which has previously raced, has undergone any form of wind surgery. For the sake of simplicity, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) does not require the type of wind surgery to be made public, so any horse having its first or second run since a procedure to improve the function of its upper airway is denoted by the small letter ‘w’ next to its name on the racecard.

Wind surgery can be a confusing subject to anyone other than a qualified veterinary surgeon, but the BHA rule is specifically intended to cover epiglottic surgery, tie back, tie forward and hobdaying operations and soft palate cautery. Epiglottic surgery may be required to correct a condition known as epiglottic entrapment, when structures in the larynx, or voice box, become abnormal and create breathing difficulties. Likewise, a hobday, or tie back, procedure involves removing the left vocal cord, or permanently suturing it, to prevent obstruction of the airway.

A tie forward procedure, on the other hand, pulls the larynx upwards and forwards, so that it prevents displacement of the soft tissue at the back of the mouth, a.k.a. the ‘soft palate’; soft palate cautery, as the name suggests, involves burning the surface of the tissue to stiffen it, so that it does not become unstable during strenuous exercise.

Which horse was Sheikh Mohammed’s first British Classic winner?

Of course, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai, has owned numerous British Classic winners. They have either borne his own maroon and white silks, which were first registered in 1977, or the royal blue silks of Godolphin, which began its international operation in 1994. The first of them was, in fact, Oh So Sharp who, in 1985, just came out best in a three-way photograph with Al Bahathri and Bella Colora in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, winning by a short head and the same. For the record, the first British Classic winner in Godolphin colours was Balanchine who, in 1994, won the Oaks at Epsom, having previously been beaten the minimum margin in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Trained by Henry, later Sir Henry, Cecil and ridden throughout her 3-year-old campaign by Steve Cauthen, Oh So Sharp went on to find further fame by completing the Fillies’ Triple Crown. Sent off 6/4 favourite for the Oaks, she won easily, by six lengths. Two defeats, by Petoski in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and by Commanche Run in what is now the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, followed, but Oh So Sharp was still sent off 8/11 favourite for the St. Leger at Doncaster in September. She could never quite shake off the attentions of her stable companion Lanfranco or Phardante, but won by three-quarters of a length and a head to preserve her place in history.

How many times did Battaash win the Nunthorpe Stakes?

Owned, latterly, by Shadwell Estate Company Ltd., following the death of founder, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, in March, 2021, and trained by Charles Hills, Battaash was described by Timeform as ‘one of the best five-furlong sprinters of all time’. He was retired, as a 7-year-old, after attempting, unsuccessfully, to win the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood for the fifth consecutive year in July, 2021.

All told, Battaash won 13 of his 23 starts, including four at the highest, Group 1 level, and earned £1.47 million in winning prize money alone. The son of Dark Angel, a leading sire of sprinters, first rode to prominence in his 3-year-old campaign, in 2017, at the end of which he won his first Group 1 race, the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.

As far as the Nunthorpe Stakes was concerned, Battaash ran in the York showpiece four times, famously finishing a well-held fourth on his first two attempts, in 2017 and 2018. However, in 2019, Battaash silenced his doubters by quickening clear to win the Nunthorpe Stakes by 3¾ lengths and, in so doing, beat the previous track record set by Dayjur in 1990. In 2020, Battaash was sent off at odds-on to defend his title; rain-softened ground, driving rain and gusting, 40mph winds put paid to any hopes of lowering the course record again, but he nonetheless battled to a one-length victory over 22/1 chance Que Amoro.

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