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This year the racing world commemorates 25 years since the spectacular triumphs of the legendary Lammtarra.His place or ranking amongst the all-time great racehorses is a debatable point but none can deny that the son of Nijinsky out of Snow bride was one of the gutsiest racehorses ever . The achievements of the Sheik Mohammad owned colt trained by Seed Bin Suroor at Goldolphin in 1995,compare with those of any up there,literally writing a saga.
I can hardly name a racehorse coming back so spectacularly like Lammtarra who ressurected like a phoenix from the ashes .It was remarkable that he won the Derby making no seasonal debut.It was the equivalent of a cricketer playing in a test match missing an entire first class season. He captured the Blue Riband delivering one of the greatest finishing bursts ever displayed at Epsom,after virtually looking dad and buried at the bend.It was reminiscent of a character making his appearance at the very climax of an epic novel or Hollywood film giving the plot a 360 degree twist. Being six lengths in the arrears he literally came out of the oblivion to win going away from Tamure ,as though anew life was infused into the colt.In many ways it was a virtual repeat of Sir Ivor’s Derby win in 1968.What was also remarkable was that he set a record time of 2 min.32.21 secs eclipsing his father Nijinsky 2nd’s record timing by 1.53 secs.In my personal view it ranks amongst the top 6 Epsom Derby victories ever in the history of the race.Lammtarra had vanquished some of the classiest colts like 2000 Guineas winner PenneKmap and Irish 2000 Guineas winner Spectrum.
Subsequently in the King George 6th Diamond Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Lammtarra revealed the courgae of a soldier confronting or battling the fiercest enemy .His winning margins were not impressive but against the best of opponents he displayed tenacity or never say die attitude few racehorses ever did.He held off a protracted challenge by Pentire in the King George facing an uphill battle all the way down the straight.In The Arc he snatched the lead off the pace two furlongs out to resist the challenge of Freedom Cry having 3/4 of a length to spare. at the finish.Amongst those he vanquished at Longchamp was the dual KIng George superstar Swain.
No horse even won the Epsom Derby.King George and Arc since Mill Reef.Lammtarra had above all avenged the defeat of his immortal father ,Nijinsky who was robbed of victory because of being a victim of ringworm and faulty riding by jockey Lestor Piggot.Lammtarra did not posess the sheer class of his father but in termso f courgae or temperament surpassed him.
Lamtarra was given a timeform rank of around 134,which arguably did not do justice to his true merit.In the view of many experts he was right up there with the very best.Robin Oakley places him at 11th place in his ranking of the greatest British racehorses overall and fifth best on the flat.his is an exaggeration as he certainly was not the equal of a Sea Bird,Nijinksy or Mill Reef or even Dancing Brave.He could be bracketed with the likes of Reference Point,Nashwan,Troy,Grundy etc.Late Julian Wilson chose Lammtarra amongst his 100 best racehorses,which is noteworthy.Franki Dettory rated him as ‘possibly’ the best horse he had ever ridden.Personally I would choose Golden Fleece as the best son of Nijinsky,even ahead of Lammtarra. Lammtarra stands in contention with Reference Point as the best Epsom Derby winner out of a former derby winner or best King George winner out of a former King George winner.Personally I would place Lamtarra amongst the great flat racehorses of all time,handicapping him around the mark of 137-138.
One thing is beyond doubt that 25 years ago one of the most illustrious characters in the history of horse racing strode on the turf ,who gave the sport its ultimate thrills.Ironically it coincided with a tragedy with his former trainer Alex Scott who nurtured him as a youngster,assassinated by a disgruntled employee. It was one of sport’s greatest prophecys that Scott laid a 1000 pund bet that his ward would win the Epsom Derby before he even set foot on the racing track!
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