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I’m thinking it’s the Police Force because I know that Sir Michael’s father was a Police Chief in Barbados and that Policeman won the 1980 French Derby. Building on that, Suroor’s Godolphin runners are mentioned as ‘the boys in blue’ just like the police force and I’m guessing that a someone in the force at the time owned a Royal Ascot winner in the 80’s although I have no idea what horse or what race.
You must be correct with your answer there, Charles Olney, although I believe Saeed Bin Suroor was an actual serving policeman in UAE before he became a racehorse trainer.
Like you, I can’t remember any details of the Royal Ascot winner in the 1980’s either but something right at the back of my mind tells me there was a winner back then with police connections.
Tim wasn’t quite specific enough so the prize goes to Charles with additional credit to Jimsun.
Policeman won the 1980 Prix du Jockey Club at 54/1 under Willie Carson. This really wasn’t a great renewal. Sir Michael Stoute’s father was famously Chief of Police for Barbados, and was also the owner of his son’s first winner (Sandal at Newmarket in 1972). Saeed bin Suroor was a policeman in Dubai before taking up training. He is quoted as saying he never got the opportunity to arrest anyone, what with Dubai being practically a crime free zone at that time.
The 1983 Queen Alexandra Stakes was won by Sandalay, owned by Gordon Sumner aka Sting, famously a member of the Police for many years.
Thank you very much Seasider, for the teaser story.
Love these q’s and a’s.
Didn’t know Stoutes police heritage or Gordon Sumner aka Sting.
Happy Valentines day, all around
Best Wishes
SilkKS – the crossover between racehorse ownership and singers & actors is greater than one might think.
As there is no question up here right now, here’s one example.
The vocalist of a successful British group, popular from 1970 until they disbanded in the mid 1980s, had a winner at the Cheltenham Festival in the 1980s. The group had a total of fourteen top ten hits (including re-issues) one of which reached No 1 on the British charts.
Name the singer. And the horse.
A Happy Valentine’s Day to you.
So You Win Again, raymo.
Gainsay won what is now the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase in 1987, ridden by Ben de Haan, trained by Jenny Pitman and owned by Hot Chocolate frontman Errol Brown.
Sadly, Errol died last year aged 71. Pitman has some nice things to say about him.
I’m not a great question master but I’ll have a whack.
What’s Winnie-The-Pooh’s connection to a leading sire in North America during the 40’s?
A strenuous connection but get-able.
Have no idea about the latest question but going back to the Police related question, wasn’t Paul Nicholls’ Father in the force also?
Well done again raymo, regarding Gansay and Errol Brown. I do remember Do Be Brief from my stint at the Queen of Aintrees yard.
CharlesO, would that be Bull Lea’s sire Bull Dog by Teddy?Best Wishes
SilkThere was a stallion called Christopher Robin who was by Phalaris and from the line of Pretty Polly. Did he go to the USA?
Doubtless Charles will be along soon to elaborate upon his question and the responses to it. In the meantime:
Who had his first ever ride under Rules aged 31 in a 2m flat race in 1981 (finishing 2nd) and his second ride later the same week in a hunter chase (finishing 4th).
Seven minutes. What took you so long VTC?
Well done. If you have a question to hand that would be great.
Right time right place for once seasider lol.
I’d much prefer to answer them, but here’s one just now, but hopefully Charles will be back soon.
When was the last year that amateur riders won 4 races on one day at The Festival, including the first 3 races?
It would appear that Prince Charles had no chance of winning on his debut. I wish I’d watched the gallop described below:
DEREK THOMPSON was a keen amateur rider but success came his way only once, although it was a memorable occasion in a 2m charity Flat race at Plumpton in March 1980.
“I was sponsored by Bob Dean – you know at the cinema, Pearl & Dean adverts – I asked him while I was working at the Horse of the Year show and he backed me with the necessary pounds 200.
“Then I had to find a horse to ride, so I rang a lot of trainers and owners but no-one had anything for me. I phoned Nicky Henderson and he said he had something that had run twice on the Flat but was pretty useless, a horse called Classified, who actually went on to finish third in the 1986 Grand National behind West Tip.
“I went down to the yard to ride it out, and the week before the race we had a Sunday morning gallop, just me, Nicky and Steve Smith Eccles. I won that gallop by 30-odd lengths.
“I thought I was going to get told off by Nicky for doing too much, the young amateur making a balls-up. But Steve said ‘Tommo, what the hell is that? The horse I’m riding won a handicap hurdle at Newbury last week carrying top weight, and you’ve just annihilated us giving us 2st’.
“Classified was a good thing at Plumpton. Prince Charles was 13-8 favourite on Long Wharf, but we beat him into second place.
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