P U Z Z L E CORNER GUESS WHO?
Can you remember the name of this much missed ‘sprint king’ who took success twice in the Coolmore Nunthorpe?
WHO AM I?
Can you identify the horse, owner, trainer or jockey who has enjoyed past success in today’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes from the clues provided? 1. I was born in 1977 by the sire of star miler Kris, out of an unraced mare. My half-brother was a fair miler so, when I was a year old, I was sold for 10,000 guineas and moved to Beckhampton where the boss was Mr Jeremy Tree. He decided to give me my first race at Newbury when I was two, but I injured my hip before halfway and finished a long way behind the leader. 2. Mr Tree and my owner Miss Monica Sheriffe decided that I should be sold and I was all set to go to the Newmarket Autumn Sales as Lot 320 when, at the last minute, they had a change of heart and kept me. I rewarded that decision in 1980 with two important wins. Although Moorestyle always beat me when we met, I won the Temple Stakes under Brian Rouse and, more importantly, the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York ridden by Pat Eddery. I also finished second in the Prix de L’Abbaye at Longchamp. 3. In 1981, I had an even better season and became the first horse since Right Boy to win the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes two years in a row. I also started favourite for the Prix de l’Abbaye, but was second again, beaten by Marwell in a photo. However, 1983 was my best ever season. I was champion sprinter and though Pat Eddery injured his hand and couldn’t ride me at York, Steve Cauthen deputised as I emulated Tag End by winning the Nunthorpe for a third time. I ended the season with a well-deserved win in the Prix de l’Abbaye.
YORK’S RACING CHALLENGE 1. Photo finishes have become common place in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Battaash’s romp last year excepted!), but can you name the first and second finishers from both 2017 and 2018, when the winning distance was just a nose on both occasions. Bonus points for naming the jockeys.
2. The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack boasts an illustrious roll of honour. Subsequent Group 1 winners litter the record books, but can you name the recently retired superstar who took the race in 2016 ahead of multiple successes at Royal Ascot? Do you remember the famous double he completed in July 2019? 3. Battaash’s brilliant victory in last year’s Coolmore Nunthorpe broke a track record that stood for almost 30-years, do you remember which crack sprinter held the old mark, who trained him and who was in the saddle back in 1990? Clue - he carried identical silks. If you know both old and new record times, that would be impressive... 4. The Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup has become a staple for the top stayers in Europe over the past few years, with Stradivarius becoming just the third horse to win the race in consecutive years - can you name the other two and the years in which they were successful? For extra credit, which three horses have won the race twice, but NOT in consecutive years? 5. Can you name some of this afternoon’s runners from the clues below? A – Darth Vader would be one of these. B – Motto of the Herefordshire-based regiment. C – We’ll be seeing a few more of these weather-wise as we head towards Winter! D – Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln & Roosevelt, immortalised in stone. E – Ronald, recently appointed manager of a Spanish football club he also played for.
Answers to today’s puzzles can be found here. 14
