Grand Memories
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SPORTING POST • Thursday 6 aPRIL 2017 1 Thursday 6 april 2017 FAIRVIEW turf Friday Best Roving Banker: r4 - (5) Seattle Swing (14/1) GREYVILLE poly Friday Best Roving Banker: r8 – (7) Astroman (4/1) KENilwORTH Saturday Best Roving Banker: r5 – (3) Junta (4/1) TURFFONTEIN Saturday Best Roving Banker: r6 – (2) Ribovar (16/10) GREYVILLE turf Sunday Best Roving Banker: Grand National 2010 | Roy Lindsay r2 – (1) Sir Frenchie (16/10) Grand Memories Saturday 1 April Kenilworth - race 6 Sporting Post Best Handicapped Icon King on arrival at his new home in Compton was reluc- WON 20/1 50 Years Since Foinavon tant to eat. Kempton introduced him to Susie, a It is now 50 years since 100/1 outsider Foinavon single-minded white nanny goat whose passion negotiated the pile-up at the 23rd fence to storm was eating and it was hoped her enthusiasm would into the record books. That typically unpredicta- encourage Foinavon to do likewise. The plan worked ble moment is stamped indelibly on the mind of and the pair became inseparable, with Susie accom- anyone who saw it. panying the horse everywhere, including a trip to Foinavon was foaled in Limerick in 1958 and Buckingham Palace. named after a Scottish mountain in Sutherland by Prior to the 1967 National, Foinavon was quoted his third owner, anne duchess of Westminster, who at 500/1, with tipsters unanimous in proclaiming also owned the mighty arkle. he won three minor him a total no-hoper since he had failed to win on chases in Ireland, but all too often was a faller. In his last 26 outings - that losing run stretching back to October, 1965, Berkshire trainer John Kempton paid February, 1965 in Ireland. £2100 for him at doncaster Sales. On the day of the race, neither Foinavon’s owner Foinavon was something of a “character” and nor his trainer chose to come to aintree. Three Our Best Adverts Aren't Written - They Are Running! HIGHLANDS Saturday 29 April Gr3 Winter Guineas 1600m Sweet Chestnut S. (L) 1400m Sunday 21 May Gr3 Winter Classic 1800m Stormsvlei Mile (L) 1600m Saturday 24 June Gr3 Winter Derby 2400m Winter Oaks (L) 2200m Tel: Mike Sharkey 082 372 2682 • www.highlandsfarmstud.co.za SPORTING POST • Thursday 6 aPRIL 2017 2 GRAND NATIONAL GR3 BYERLEY TURK jockeys had already declined the ride before John Buckingham was entrusted to steer the horse around Red – One Way aintree’s awesome fences. he had only ridden Foin- avon once before and had never taken part in the Grand National himself. Or Another It is now part of aintree folklore that a loose horse Gr3 Byerley Turk - Greyville ran across the smallest fence, the 23rd, bringing the field to a standstill. Foinavon, far behind, was the only Cape visitors have a top-class record in the Gr3 one to successfully negotiate the melee and became Byerley Turk, run over 1400m on the Greyville Fixing the winning post. a winner whose story perfectly epitomises the spirit turf on Sunday. History shows that it may well be of the Grand National: ‘anything can happen, and folly backing against Cape hotshots, headed this frequently does’. he finished 15 lengths clear of the second. The 23rd fence (also time by Copper Force, but there is plenty to like the seventh on the first circuit) is now called Foinavon. about local hope Red Chesnut Road. The Byerley Turk is for 3yo’s, with two-time 40 Years On From Red Rum’s Treble winners (or less) less carry 54 kg, with an addition- Known as ‘The Saviour of Aintree’, Red Rum became one of the most popular al 2 kg for each additional win. Gr1 winners get an racehorses of the 20th century, known to everyone, whether interested in extra 3kg, Gr2 winners 2kg, and Gr3 wins 1kg. racing or not. Red Chesnut Road is the officially highest rated Bred to be a sprinter, he was foaled in 1965 in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and galloper in the race and is well in with on 57kg. he sold for 400 guineas as a yearling. he made his racecourse debut at aintree on showed highclass promise at 2, but had an eight the Thursday before Foinavon’s win in 1967, dead-heating for first in a five-fur- month break due to an injury sustained in his box. long sprint. he has run two good races since his return to the Subsequently showing only modest promise and after a long losing run and track, and looks ready to strike it hot again. foot problems, he was sold at doncaster Sales in 1972 for 6000 guineas to Copper Force won 2 from 5 before flying up second-hand car dealer and part- late to chase William Longsword home in the CTS time taxi driver donald “Ginger” Mile, a false run race decided in a sprint home. McCain, on behalf of Noel Le his official post-race MR of 91 will look weird to Mare. the uninformed - he ran off an 85 in the CTS Mile McCain’s horses were trained but in terms of the South african handicapping on nearby Southport sands and Rules could not be properly penalised for an effort because of his recurring lame- that saw him achieve a 104 in that restricted race. ness Red Rum was sent paddling Janoobi, the fourth finisher there, has since franked in the sea every day. The worked the form by winning the Gauteng Guineas, with MR a miracle and he was hardly ever 103. So to say that Copper Force should be better lame again. than rated is an under-statement. Red Rum - third win by 25 lengths in 1977 | Getty he began winning races (five africa Rising has been rested 16 weeks since chases within seven weeks) and started 9/1 joint favourite for the 1973 Grand being beaten into sixth place in the Cape Guineas, National, beating gallant top-weight Crisp in a thrilling finish, smashing the pre- some 4 lengths off winner William Longsword. vious race-record time by 19 seconds. he was Gr1 placed as a 2yo and if fully fit derives The following year Red Rum and jockey Fletcher triumphed again, carrying respect. My Pal al is one of three alistair Gordon top-weight of 12 stone. In 1975 he again shouldered 12 stone, but was beaten runners. drawn widest of all here, he won his last by l’Escargot. Then in 1976, again with top-weight and this time ridden by Tom- my Stack, he went down to the winner Rag Trade. Back for a fifth consecutive START PA5/PICK SIX4/JACKPOT3 time in 1977, now 12 years old and still carrying topweight, Red Rum and Stack 3:55PM Gr3 BYERLEY TURK (3Yo’S)(TURF) - 1400M thrilled the racing world by winning an unprecedented third Grand National by GREYVILLE 6 SAME TRAINER:(1-7)(3-10-13) 25 lengths. The crowds were back thanks to his performances which had capti- Querari 1 GinGeRBReAd MAn(DC Howells) K De Melo 4 60.0 Gimmethegreenlight 2 GunneR(PM Gadsby) I Sturgeon ....................11 59.0 vated a nation. Captain Al 3 My PAl Al(AD Gordon) S Veale .....................14 58.0 Red Rum retired in 1978 and spent the rest of his life with McCain. he became Pathfork 4 Red CHeSnuT ROAd(R Hill) G Lerena........... 9 57.0 Visionaire 5 AfRiCA RiSinG(SG Tarry) L Hewitson ............. 1 56.0 a huge celebrity, travelling the country opening countless betting shops, super- Warm White Night 6 BuffAlO SOldieR(CS Laird) W Kennedy ...... 3 56.0 markets and garden fetes and even switched on the Blackpool Illuminations. Kahal 7 AMAzOn KinG(DC Howells) C Zackey ...........13 56.0 Each year he returned to aintree to lead the parade before the Grand National. Royal Air Force 8 COPPeR fORCe(J Snaith) A Delpech .............. 2 56.0 Bold Silvano 9 BOldly ReSPectable(BJ Crawford) C Orffer7 56.0 Red Rum died in Cheshire on October 18, 1995, aged 30, and is buried at the Fort Wood 10 MARSHAll That(AD Gordon) C Murray .......10 56.0 winning post on aintree Racecourse, which is still a place of pilgrimage. his Philanthropist 11 Kenny TRix(VH Marshall) M Byleveld ............. 6 56.0 Mambo In Seattle 12 BlinG SWinG(PV Lafferty) A Arries ................. 8 56.0 death made the front pages of all the national newspapers and, in a survey 11 Tiger Ridge 13 SCARRABeAST(AD Gordon) ES Ngwane ......... 5 56.0 years later, he was still voted the best-known horse in Britain. Querari 14 HeAd HOnCHO(A Nel) G v Niekerk................12 56.0 can be purchased here SPORTING POST • Thursday 6 aPRIL 2017 3 Gr3 Byerley Turk GR3 UMZIMKHULU S two starts on polytrack by an aggregate of close on 8 lengths. Six Of One amazon King ran a length Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes - Greyville off subsequent Gr3 Kings Cup runner-up Royal armour A highly competitive dozen of 3yo fillies line up for the Gr3 at level weights at his pe- Umzimkhulu Stakes, over 1400m on the Greyville turf track. nultimate start. he’s drawn The majority won or placed at their last start, so there is form wide. and ratings to rely on. Red Chesnut Road | Gold Circle Gunner won the Gr1 Weights are set at 54kg for up to 2 wins, with an additional Premiers Champion Stakes as a 2yo, but hasn’t yet reproduced 2kg for each further win. On top of that Gr1 winners get 3kg, that kind of form as a 3yo. he comes off a 16 week break since Gr2 winners 2kg and Gr3 winners 1 kg, provided those wins being well beaten in the Cape Guineas.