Sceptre’s story

Sir - Wasn’t it refreshing to see a fascinating piece in last week’s The Irish Field which may have amused many by its inclusion?

I refer, of course, to stipendiary steward Hugh Hynes’ piece on the 1904 running of the Ascot Gold Cup, as recounted in James Joyces’ masterpiece, Ulysses. The race was won by the outsider Throwaway.

Hugh referred to the third-placed horse Sceptre, which had been backed by Blazes Boylan. Sceptre, possibly the greatest racemare in the history of the turf, became the only racehorse to win four British classics outright. Beautifully bred and with conformation to match, she had been bought from the dispersal sale of the Duke Of Westminster’s stud by Bob Sievier for the then stupendous figure of 10,000gns.

Sievier, an adventurer of the turf, was constantly short of money and would often run Sceptre a couple of times a week! For all that she won the 1000 Guineas, closely followed by the 2000 Guineas and the Oaks, she was beaten in the Derby by the Limerick-owned horse Ardpatrick.

The marvellous story of Sceptre, more readable than Ulysses but equally fascinating, is recorded in John Welcome’s page turner Neck or Nothing, still to found on Amazon and in good second-hand book shops. - Yours etc.,

DICKIE POWER

Grange,

Kilmallock,

Co Limerick