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As you’ll probably gather, my list has a bit of an international feel, and although I’ve followed racing for many years, most of these are pretty much modern day. I’ve done a Top 10, and apologies if I blabber on a bit:
REGISTANA – A living legend. The greatest horse I’ve ever seen. Won 16 on the trot in Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, including 2 Velka Pardubickas. I still maintain that she would have won the Sporting Index Chase at Cheltenham if Peter Gehm hadn’t gone the wrong way.
FIEPES SHUFFLE – Won have won the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown if he hadn’t fallen at the last. Even so, Christian let him go for the Champion Hurdle, but he didn’t do himself justice at all. I’ve always been a fan of the horse, and now I’m involved with the stable, it’s even better. He’s had injury niggles, but makes his comeback at St. Moritz tomorrow. We’ll wait and see what happens tomorrow, but if I can get my way, he’ll be running in England soon!
DESERT ORCHID – As I type this, a large photo of Dessie hangs in my living room. A horse that even non-racing fans took a shine to. Although most mention his Cheltenham victory, I remember his superb win in the Irish National in 1990 as something very special.
McDYNAMO – How many horses win FIVE Grand Nationals? But he did – the Breeders Cup Grand National at Far Hills in the USA.He’s 12 now though, and I think he might be on the verge of retirement.
THE FELLOW – I was at Cheltenham in 1991 for the Gold Cup, and actually though he had beaten Garrison Savannah, but it was only to be a matter of time before he soared to greatness. My only regret is that I never saw any of his wins in France.
SIBERION – Germanys answer to Dessie! A beautiful grey horse who files off in front and runs his opponents ragged. Christian trained him for a few years, where the Italian Champion Hurdle was among his many victories. Now with Tony Martin in Ireland – he’s got himself a superstar!
MID DANCER – Another prolific winner. Remember watching in disbelief as he flopped in the Queen Mother the other year, but almost unbeatable in his native France.
HELMAC – Yes, sorry about this, he’s another one of Christians!! I’m getting too biased!! Anyway, he’s practically unbeatable in the unique spectacle of the lake races in Germany, and can jump about anything.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE – OK I admit it, I was crying my eyes out when he fell at the end of the Sporting Index in November. I videod the race, and watching it even now, there’s a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat! Just absolutely wonderful that he got up, and now has a happy retirement.
ROYAL MOUGINS – Actually bred by Jeff Pearce at Newmarket, but a real star in central Europe. Trained in the Czech Republic, but actually beat Siberion in the 2005 Italian Champion Hurdles. Has switched to novice chasing this year, and looks fantastic. If he runs in England – beware!
Actually, I could go on….but I don’t want to upset anyone, so I’ll shut up now!!!
Darren – AngloGerman
My all time favourite was Rooster Booster. Some other horses i have been fond of are Venn Ottery, Maximise, Lacdoudal, Detroit City, Monkerhostin, Fair Along, Dessie, Grey Abbey, Inglis Drever, Rhinestone Cowboy Spot the difference. Now you can tell im quite young!!!!! None of these (except dessie) will ever be remembered as superstars but all appealed to me!
As you’ll probably gather, my list has a bit of an international feel, and although I’ve followed racing for many years, most of these are pretty much modern day. I’ve done a Top 10, and apologies if I blabber on a bit:
REGISTANA – A living legend. The greatest horse I’ve ever seen. Won 16 on the trot in Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, including 2 Velka Pardubickas. I still maintain that she would have won the Sporting Index Chase at Cheltenham if Peter Gehm hadn’t gone the wrong way.
FIEPES SHUFFLE – Won have won the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown if he hadn’t fallen at the last. Even so, Christian let him go for the Champion Hurdle, but he didn’t do himself justice at all. I’ve always been a fan of the horse, and now I’m involved with the stable, it’s even better. He’s had injury niggles, but makes his comeback at St. Moritz tomorrow. We’ll wait and see what happens tomorrow, but if I can get my way, he’ll be running in England soon!
DESERT ORCHID – As I type this, a large photo of Dessie hangs in my living room. A horse that even non-racing fans took a shine to. Although most mention his Cheltenham victory, I remember his superb win in the Irish National in 1990 as something very special.
McDYNAMO – How many horses win FIVE Grand Nationals? But he did – the Breeders Cup Grand National at Far Hills in the USA.He’s 12 now though, and I think he might be on the verge of retirement.
THE FELLOW – I was at Cheltenham in 1991 for the Gold Cup, and actually though he had beaten Garrison Savannah, but it was only to be a matter of time before he soared to greatness. My only regret is that I never saw any of his wins in France.
SIBERION – Germanys answer to Dessie! A beautiful grey horse who files off in front and runs his opponents ragged. Christian trained him for a few years, where the Italian Champion Hurdle was among his many victories. Now with Tony Martin in Ireland – he’s got himself a superstar!
MID DANCER – Another prolific winner. Remember watching in disbelief as he flopped in the Queen Mother the other year, but almost unbeatable in his native France.
HELMAC – Yes, sorry about this, he’s another one of Christians!! I’m getting too biased!! Anyway, he’s practically unbeatable in the unique spectacle of the lake races in Germany, and can jump about anything.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE – OK I admit it, I was crying my eyes out when he fell at the end of the Sporting Index in November. I videod the race, and watching it even now, there’s a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat! Just absolutely wonderful that he got up, and now has a happy retirement.
ROYAL MOUGINS – Actually bred by Jeff Pearce at Newmarket, but a real star in central Europe. Trained in the Czech Republic, but actually beat Siberion in the 2005 Italian Champion Hurdles. Has switched to novice chasing this year, and looks fantastic. If he runs in England – beware!
Actually, I could go on….but I don’t want to upset anyone, so I’ll shut up now!!!
Darren – AngloGerman
No space for Karasi, Zabenz, Hirapour, Or Noir De Somoza – all legendary international jumpers
Tony Martin appears to be playing his usual tricks with Siberion, remember he had a hurdler that I think ran in the German Derby last year or the year before – he did the same thing with that the 3 maiden hurdles and hten handicap, the jockey fell off when challenging at the last
No space for Karasi, Zabenz, Hirapour, Or Noir De Somoza – all legendary international jumpers
Honestly – I actually had 14 horses written down – and one of them was Karasi!! His third Nakayama Grand Jump victory was fantastic – it’s another ‘lump in the throat’ moment.
If I could write down many more, I would – I could have gone for Or Noir De Somoza, but I have always thought that Mid Dancer was the best of the Mulryan/Chaille-Chaille team.
Darren – AngloGerman
also surrounded by photos of Dessie; tried to read one of my books about him the other night but had to stop as couldn’t stop blubbing….
diamond edge, combs ditch,sea pigeon
when i was a lad diamond edge was the last leg of my first ever yankee a 10p yankee about 30 quid to collect i thought i was a millionaire.
combs ditch was a character he needed the oxygen mask after the race, he won me a few quid and i loved his style of racing.
sea pigeon was a great horse.No space for Karasi, Zabenz, Hirapour, Or Noir De Somoza – all legendary international jumpers
Honestly – I actually had 14 horses written down – and one of them was Karasi!! His third Nakayama Grand Jump victory was fantastic – it’s another ‘lump in the throat’ moment.
If I could write down many more, I would – I could have gone for Or Noir De Somoza, but I have always thought that Mid Dancer was the best of the Mulryan/Chaille-Chaille team.
Darren – AngloGerman
I like ONDS and wonder if he’d be one of the ones that Mulryan would transfer over? Mentioned in the press he’ll be sending some of his better horses over to England/Ireland to campaign at the big races this side of the channel.
Also I’m hoping you can help me out Darren, I saw a Mulryan/Chaille-Chaille horse win a hurdle race (think it was a Juvenile one) in about August/September of last year, the only other things I can remember is that he won by roughly a hurdle and the ground was heavy/soft and the track was right-handed, been trying to keep an eye out for him and searched the big jumps meeting at Auteuil in November – well the cards anyway but to no avail. His name possibly began with Z if you have any idea who it could be? – sorry I have no more details than that
Martin
Also I’m hoping you can help me out Darren, I saw a Mulryan/Chaille-Chaille horse win a hurdle race (think it was a Juvenile one) in about August/September of last year, the only other things I can remember is that he won by roughly a hurdle and the ground was heavy/soft and the track was right-handed, been trying to keep an eye out for him and searched the big jumps meeting at Auteuil in November – well the cards anyway but to no avail. His name possibly began with Z if you have any idea who it could be? – sorry I have no more details than that
Martin
(scratches head for approximately 45 minutes)…..
Well Martin, there are only two Mulryan/Chaille-Chaille horses I can think of that begin with Z. One is Zaiyad, who’s run in England a few times, and I don’t think it’s him as he does most of his French racing at Auteuil, which is left handed. However, there is a horse called Zarkali, who, if memory serves correct, won a hurdle race at Clairefontaine, which is a right handed course, round about July or August last year. The only horse I remember winning by almost a hurdle is Shekira, but I think she did all of her winning at Auteuil and Enghien (also left handed).
If the horse is Zarkali, well, he’s predominantly a chaser, and I think his last run was the Grand Steeplechase d’Enghien in October/November time.
Darren – AngloGerman
Moscow Flyer
Spotthedifference
Kauto Star
Desert Orchidvery hard to pick one i could go on and on but prob Limestone Lad for me very sad that he was never seen at his best at the festival but rarely ran a poor race and won so many…
Gembridge Jupiter,
Ah, the wonderful Gembridge Jupiter
A 2m 6f Stratford specialist. May have won a Grade 1 there if there was one!could go on for a week.
Please do. Fascinating list
KAUTO STAR
BEST MATE
SEE MORE BUSINESS
MOSCOW FLYER
ONE MAN
VIKING FLAGSHIP
MARTHAS SONBeing a Northern Monkey, I really love those trained up here, One Man would definitely be right up near the top of my list, not just for his obvious class and brilliant jumping, but for his vunerability. Never forget him cruising 2 out behind Mr Mulligan (who i was actually on) and thinking he was gonna do it only for him to belly flop over the last and finish out on his feet. Also there the day he passed away at Aintree, again I’d successfully taken him on, but cried when the screens went up around him.
Another favourite of mine was the great Jodami, he was just an old fashioned grinding galloper, a real man’s man of a horse. And also loved Peter Beaumont’s other great chaser the massive Young Kenny, what a shame he never won a National because he was made for those fences and for carrying huge weights. And one last one, trained by my all time favourite trainer and a good friend of my grandad was Forgive and Forget. Was only a small kid when he won his Gold Cup, but still remember going to Norton Grange the day he came back and can still see everybody cheering and clapping him into the yard.Have a soft spot for those who try the hardest and out battle their rivals, Desert Orchid and Persian Punch etc. Their trainer went to school with my mum (got a photo of him when about 7 years old) and as a child lived not 100yrds away from where I now sit.
Anyone know if there has been a biography of David Elsworth?
Value Is EverythingHave a soft spot for those who try the hardest and out battle their rivals, Desert Orchid and Persian Punch etc. Their trainer went to school with my mum (got a photo of him when about 7 years old) and as a child lived not 100yrds away from where I now sit.
Anyone know if there has been a biography of David Elsworth?
It won’t be written by Bill Turner that’s for sure?
A 2m 6f Stratford specialist. May have won a Grade 1 there if there was one!
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