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The antidote to the brilliant ‘Horses you’ve wanted to get beaten’ thread.
Which horses are so likable/talented/unlucky that you really want good things to happen to them? I’m not talking about your ante-post tips, just lovable old favourites who deserve nothing but goodwill.
I’d like to put up:
Puffin Billy: He’s had a hard life! Injuries, near death from colic and an awful bone-crunching fall at Ascot – it’s not fair for such an honest horse to go through all of that. Give him a big handicap chase. Owner Tim Syder deserves it after his awful luck this season too.
Somersby: I’ve been a fan ever since he stayed-on for third in the Supreme. It has been a pretty turbulent love affair. He’s not quite quick enough for two miles against anything classy, not a stayer at three miles (though turned for home on the bridle in Kauto’s last King George) and somehow doesn’t win at 2m 4f either!
He’s blown a whole stack of good opportunities by jumping poorly and unseating. Still, I hope he manages to win one more good prize.2 horses spring to mind, who seemed to be part of the furniture at The Cheltenham Festival for years, and never quite hit the target….
Go Ballistic
Royal AuclairNorse Dancer for me. He was my sort of racehorse, campaigned bravely and regularly, and at a variety of trips.
He did get some black type in a Group 3 (beating Johnstons Lucky Story), but hit the crossbar in a few top class Group 1’s over a variety of trips, most notably when looking the winner of Russian Rhythyms Lockinge until the final 150 yards.
It’s likely only my fellow greybeards will remember
Glint Of Gold
; but he was a horse I felt ‘sorry’ for
As a 3yo he was second in Shergar’s Derby and the St Leger; and as a 4yo second in the Coronation Cup and third in the King George (the only time he finished out of the first two)
He did however win a hatful of Group 1s on the continent so sorrow not really justified
Those Mellon horses…fine beasts
I did think Latolomne was a desperately unlucky horse. Having won a fair few races as a novice, he was leading in two Champion Chases (2002 & 2003) when falling at the second-last. However, he never seemed to have things go right for him and since hacking up in a decent Cheltenham handicap in late 2001, Latolomne never won another jumps race, despite running for another four years.
Bizzarely, he did manage to nab a ladies amateur race over a mile and a half on the flat at Ripon.
Mike
I always felt Shirocco Star was unlucky not to win a decent race.
Only beaten a neck by 25/1 shot
Was
in The Oaks, she went on to be second in the Irish Oaks. A head second in a French Group 2 followed and another second was to come in The Champions day Fillies and Mares at Ascot(again Group 2). A third place in the Group 1 Pretty Polly, beaten half a length and a neck was her last really good run and she ended up with just a Newbury maiden win to show for her good efforts in big races and classics.
She earned £314,025 in prize money during her career but somewhat unbelievably only £4399 of that was winning money, and she had a frustrating 7 second places.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
I was hoping Wayward Lad might have won a Gold Cup and he might have without the generous 5lb sex allowance for Dawn Run.
Shirroco Star is a good shout. If you could bet a horse to finish 2nd you could of won a bundle of her.
I don’t know if you could say he deserved to win a big one but I would of loved Premio Loco to have won a group 1. He was third in the Sussex Stakes and Lockinge behind Canford Cliffs and in that Lockinge finished above Dick Turpin who won a French and I believe an Italian Group 1.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
Just So
. Only actually ever won three races in his life, and none worth over nine grand, yet few horses have given me as much pleasure to watch.
What a shame the line frequently came too soon for this indefatigable grinder – usually about a mile too soon, even in a four-miler.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Two bridesmaids spring to mind here.
Firstly, I’ll nominate Youmzain. Third in three consecutive arcs, finishing behind Dylan Thomas, Zarkava and Sea the Stars respectively.
If it hadn’t been for three of the best horses of the modern era, I think we’d be referring to him as one of the greats.
Secondly, a horse who probably hasn’t been campaigned quite as precisely as Youmzain: Red Cadeaux.
Finishing second in 3 Melbourne cups is quite something. The horse is obviously very uncomplicated and travels really well.
He only found St Nic too good at Epsom, and Animal Kingdom proved a bit too quick at Meydan.
He’s never really landed a ‘big one’, unless you’d argue that the HK vase was that, but they’ve seemed to always gear him towards a tilt at the Melbourne Cup. I just hope that they’ll retire him at a sensible time, while he’s still sound.
I know he makes his owners a lot of money but to see him die on the track would be tragic.
I did think Latolomne was a desperately unlucky horse. Having won a fair few races as a novice, he was leading in two Champion Chases (2002 & 2003) when falling at the second-last.
Latalomne is a great shout, was gutted when he fell again the second year.
Would have loved to see him set sail for home, but part of me knows he wouldn’t have got up the hill.
Royal Auclair did win a Cathcart at the festival of course..
Durham Edition from the days when I was first getting interested. Also Fearless Imp.
More recently would love The Giant Bolster to win a Gold Cup and Southwestern to have won a Foxhunters.
Anyone remember Cahervillahow??
Fast finishing third in the Hennessy behind Arctic Call, Withdrawn from a gold cup by accident. Got left at the start in Ritzclub when finishing second to Seagram. Got beaten a nose in Irish National by Omerta, Ran a game second in the void National…
Thats to say nothing of the debacle of the Whitbred which set Anglo-Irish relations back a few months.
Amazed he retired in one piece.
SHL
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