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To me one of the most underestimated or under evaluated racehorses is Golden Fleece,who was the son of the legendary Nijinksy.He did not emulate his superstar father by winning the triple crown,but a setback cut his career short from acheiving possible wins in the Irish Derby,King George and Arc.There could hardly have been a horse better bred with his dam Exotic Treat ,out of the immortal Vaguely Noble.
Arguably even the likes of Mill Reef or Nijinsky did not surpass the electrifying acceleration or conviction displayed by Golden Fleece in the Epsom Derby and possibly also in his earlier wins.At about last place at the turn Golden Fleece displayed an unbelievable or unprecedented turn of foot reminiscent of lightning coming in no mans land or an energy coming from outer space .Very rarely has any Derby winner left it’s opponent so high ad dry or with such disdain after looking literally dead and buried.Golden Fleece literally winning in manner of a waltz,by three long-looking lengths Above all he ran the fastest Derby since Mahmoud’s triumph in 1936 Mahmoud after 50 years.His margin was not as staggering as those of Shergar and Troy but his timing was considerably quicker and turn of foot more electrifying.
Golden Fleece in his career vanquished class colts like Assert in the Nijinsky stakes at Leapordstown ,who won the Irish Derby,French Derby and Benson and Hedges gold cup.Prince of Wales Stakes and Japan cup winner Stanerra was trounced by Golden Fleece in the Ballymoss stakes at the Curragh.In the Derby he defeated British and Irish St.Leger winner ,Touching Wood.
Pat Eddery still mantained that Golden Fleece was the best horse he had ever ridden even above El gran Senor,Grundy and Dancing Brave.Trainer Vincent O’Brien bracketed Golden Fleece with Nijinsky and Sir Ivor.Strangely timeform rated it only 133 which I totally disagree with.Personally my personal handicapping mark would be around 138 ,missing 140 because he could not prove himself against the older stalwarts.If he had a full career he had the talent to even emulate if not surpass his immortal father,Nijisnky.I can’t express how much I wish we could have seen this star have a full racing career.A lotus was simply prevented from crystallizing or a famous monument from being erected.
“If he had a full career” is the key as far as I’m concerned. I believe that soundness is a critical criterium for judging “greatness”. Dozens of horses every year might have achieved “greatness” if they had been fit enough to run but we’ve never heard of any of them because they weren’t. Golden Fleece may have been a great Derby winner and we can’t really say any more than that. 4 races? Too few to tell. His risk averse owner and untimely death mean that he has no legacy other than being a good winner of a not necessarily top-class Derby, regardless of what Pat Eddery thought. It isn’t a conclusion that brings me any joy as I thought he was a champion when he won his Derby
Left a fine impression at the time – I remember Tony Stafford writing in The Racehorse who twelve months earlier had announced that Shergar was the best horse he had ever seen, now suddenly having a change of heart by saying Golden Fleece was now the best he’d ever seen. However, what I would say before getting too carried away is to imagine if the likes of Erhaab and Motivator had never run again after their Derby successes – we’d no doubt be speculating whether we’d been deprived of seeing two possible greats of the turf.
I always found it to be a very strange coincidence that both Golden Fleece (Flat) and Golden Cygnet (Jumps) are two golden horses that would’ve ruled supreme if their careers weren’t cut short. Both were potential superstars.
Shame that the TV coverage never quite captured Golden Fleece’s staggering burst of speed; don’t think the track suited him either. Definitely could have been one of the greats
One of my favourite Derby winners and, like everyone on this thread, how I wish he’d stayed sound for another year or so after his Epsom exploits.
I was watching from near the winning post on the inside of the track that day and, 38 years on, I still remember when Eddery pulled him wide to set him alight he looked half as broad again as his rivals. A fabulous physical specimen with an extraordinary turn of foot – definitely one in the “what might have been” bracket.Everyone loves one horse.
flatcapgamble… How are we going to deal with this from a mental heath perspective ?
Tortoise…If it feels good do it – but slowly !
@broadsword Deeply appreciate.Very well summarised.You voice my heart.
@befair Could not agree with you more.very well expressed.
Thinking about Derby winners I stumbled over this thread yesterday.
I can go back to 1973ish, and I wonder if there has been a better racehorse since Golden Fleece. Yes, he didn’t have longevity, but a number of horses in the great category probably didn’t run more than 8-10 times, and several tailed off towards the end of their careers. Golden Fleece only raced four times, but he was visually brilliant on every start, and he wasn’t toying with rubbish. How many horses come from as far back in a Derby, and win as easily as he did. I can’t think of any. Contrast that with Sea The Stars who produced a wonderful sequence, but to the eye didn’t produce a single brilliant performance.
So hugely sad that he couldn’t go on, but I am in agreement with the original sentiment that this horse should be right up there with the very best.
If he was around this year after winning Derby trials in that style he would be about 1/3, rather than 3/1. How generous the bookmakers were in the old days.
Golden Fleece was around just as my interest in flat racing really ignited,however in assessing him one must remember that he ran at a time when Derby winners were invariably rushed off to stud much quicker than nowadays.My first Timeform flat annual dates from 1979 and one thing I’ve noticed is that rarely does a Derby winner actually register his best performance winning the race since it comes so early in a racehorses career.Moreover its hard to say the 1982 Derby contained a vintage crop of memorable 3yo’s so although open to speculation Timeform are fair in their opinion of him.
good luck to allHave there been that many vintage editions of the Derby? The 1971 2,000 Guineas is often quoted as a standout, but you don’t hear similar for the Derby. Golden Fleece trounced Assert twice, and that horse went on to record a unique sequence of Group 1 wins, including two Classics. It’s hard to believe that Timeform rated him better than Golden Fleece.
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