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Some excellent footage from the CH4 video of racing greats featuring, in this case, the great Sea Bird. Also Incudes his final two year old race and his two races prior to his Epsom win. Comments from his trainer, Etienne Pollet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXaWeZLm … re=related
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That’s a brilliant piece, Himself. I’d never seen that Grand Criterium footage before and he was clearly one of the most impressive runners-up you’d ever see.
He was just before my time but my late father was a huge fan and he told me he’d had £30 at 7/4 on Sea-Bird for the 1965 Derby, largely on Timeform’s say-so. It doesn’t sound much now but I think it was the best part of a couple of week’s wages back then.
Did a double-take when I saw the tile of this thread – thought TRF member Colin had gone to a better place! (no not betfair)
Did a double-take when I saw the tile of this thread – thought TRF member Colin had gone to a better place! (no not betfair)
Hence why I have now altered the title of the thread to avoid any ambiguity and confusion
– with, of course, the utmost respect to our respected member who bears the great horse’s name (or is it the other way round ? ) . 
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Nah, Himself, with your admiration of Arkle and mine for Seabird, I feel it is fairly obvious that were are from the same generation and were impressed at a very impressionable age.
Personally, I have never forgiven Arkle for breaking Mill House’s heart.
Colin
Nah, Himself, with your admiration of Arkle and mine for Seabird, I feel it is fairly obvious that were are from the same generation and were impressed at a very impressionable age.
Personally, I have never forgiven Arkle for breaking Mill House’s heart.
Colin
Which begs the question : what exactly is an impressionable age ?
Those are my two all time favourite racehorses – and yes, being the best performers ever (imo) in their respective codes, helped somewhat in coming to that conclusion, though I hold a great big soft spot for Brigadier Gerard and Nijinsky … and Denman, of course.
ps. Maybe one day you’ll come to terms with your Mill House grief and help mend that broken heart by finally forgiving the other and most famous " himself’.
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"Which begs the question : what exactly is an impressionable age ? Laughing"
Obviously a difficult question to answer as it would be likely to be different for each person.
But an example would be, the age Our Lydia was when she went rather overboard in her description of Ouija Board’s defeat of Alexander Goldrun at Goodwood, as possibly the greatest race that’s ever been run?!?!
Only my opinion, of course, and apologies to the Lovely Lydia if she should happen to read this.
Colin
MDeering, I’m not sure your question is worthy of an answer!!!
but in the Racing Post cuttings section he is referred to as Sea-Bird, but there is some evidence on the same site (horse search) that he may well have been Sea Bird 11.My memory isn’t good enough and I’ve given away all my reference books from that dim and distant path, but as I say who gives a feck what his actual name was!
Colin
The great colt’s name was Sea Bird 11 (i.e Sea Bird, the second
).I think it’s the case that racehorses are no longer allowed the number thing along with their name, Roman numerals or otherwise – ala Sebastian V, for example.
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Remarkable video and how true Big Mac’s words were. I remember my friend and I having a debate about which would win: Meadow Court or Gul Pearl. Neither of us even thought about backing the French horse who couldn’t possibly be good enough. That was pretty much the way of it around our village as we had no idea who these Frenchies were.
It’s amazing that we have seen so many great horses in Europe yet only rarely will you hear anyone say they were as good as Seabird.
I find how good flat horses are/were much harder to judge than over the jumps but Sea Bird is the exception……looking back at the 2nd and 3rd in the Arc still gives me goosebumps.
Thanks for the video "H"
That is great footage of a wonderful horse and thanks so much for bringing that to our attention – fascinating to hear Etienne Pollet’s comments on Sea Bird II.
I have often wondered why they did not keep him in training as a 4 year old ?
I have often wondered why they did not keep him in training as a 4 year old ?
The ten trick pony Madonna has the answer to this one
give it to meThere may have been signs of a temperament problem with him – his top class son, Gyr, was described by his trainer as mad.
I have often wondered why they did not keep him in training as a 4 year old ?
Before the 1965 Arc had even been run, John W Gabreath , American owner breeder ( he owned Roberto), struck a deal with Sea Bird’s French owner, Jean Ternynck, whereby for the sum one and half million dollars he would lease Sea Bird to stand at his American stud farm for five years – thus ending his racing career. Among his more familiar progeny, this side of the pond, were Arc winning filly, Allez France, and Derby runner-up ( to Nijinsky), Gyr, and old perennial favourite, Sea Pigeon.
I too, often wonder how he’d have got on as a four old. Just as brilliant, I should imagine. They put the very best European racehorses up against him, and each time he treated them like selling platers. There is no telling how good he really was, as no horse during his three year old career had the ability to extend or test him to his fullest potential. Everything he did during his races seemed effortless to him. That is why, for me – and many others, he stands above all the other middle -distance greats.
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