2005

JUST before the off of the 84th Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere there was a marked increase in the wind and driving rain. It appeared to herald, and set the stage for, Hurricane Run who is one of the finest winners of Europe’s richest race for many years.

It was an extraordinary afternoon and the outright winners were Coolmore, Kieren Fallon and Aidan O’Brien who lifted the Group 1 events for juveniles. For André Fabre it was a record sixth victory in the race and one unlikely to be beaten for some considerable time.

Given an exquisite ride by Fallon, Hurricane Run came storming home in the final furlong to beat Westerner by two lengths, with last year’s winner Bago third. Shirocco filled fourth ahead of the Vodafone Derby winner Motivator and Shawanda, who sadly was found to be lame after the race, having slipped on the final turn.

It was a first Arc victory for Fallon who also picked up the Prix Marcel Boussac on Rumplestiltskin and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) on Horatio Nelson for O’Brien. The third leg of the treble was landed by Hurricane Run who Coolmore had acquired before the colt ran in the Budweiser Irish Derby.

What an investment he has been and Hurricane Run has followed in the footsteps of his sire Montjeu who took the Arc back in 1999, and on that occasion the Michael Tabor colours were carried by Michael Kinane.

It was the first time since stalls were used in 1964 that the number six had been successful in the Arc, and Hurricane Run has now won six of his seven races. After his only defeat Tabor, John Magnier and Derrick Smith purchased the colt from Dietrich von Boettinger for an undisclosed sum.

André Fabre already has his 19th trainers’ title in the bag and he would not compare Hurricane Run with his other Arc winners, Trempolino, Subotica, Carnegie, Peintre Celebre and Sagamix. He just commented: “They are not cars and so cannot be compared as they all have different personalities.

“I don’t rate my friends or my horses.”

Fallon, who received a smacking kiss on his way back into the paddock, said: “Hurricane Run is incredible and one of the most powerful horses I’ve ever ridden, with an exceptional ability to accelerate.

“Today everybody told me I rode a perfect race, but I can assure you that the horse deserves the credit. He is the complete athlete, can run on any ground and has a terrific career ahead of him.

“By winning the Arc he has shown he is the best horse in Europe and I would love to ride him in the Breeders’ Cup. I am delighted that he stays in training next year.”

This fantastic news was announced by Michael Tabor. He said: “We want the public to enjoy this horse as well as us. This is just about as good as it gets and it’s amazing to have had both his sire and him winning the Arc in my colours.

“If you don’t get excited on a day like this you might as well not own racehorses.”

[The colt did not run in that year’s Breeders’ Cup. At four he won the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and his placed efforts included finishing third in the Arc. Only once out of the first three in 14 starts, his eight victories and five places earned his owners £2,447,602. At stud he sired Group 1 winners Ectot and Magic Hurricane]

Walsh appointed new Horse Board chairman

2010

IT was confirmed this week that Joe Walsh TD has been appointed as the new chairman of the Irish Horse Board.

The former Minister for Agriculture and Food was appointed to the board at the end of last month by the current Minister, Mary Coughlan TD. At a meeting of the board on Wednesday it was confirmed that he would take over the role from Michael Osborne, who retired due to ill health.

Another new appointment is that of Kate Horgan who replaces Michael Duignan as vice-chairman. In June she was appointed as a director on the board representing Region 3 (Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Limerick). She previously held the position for the period 1994 to 2003.

Horgan has been involved in the equestrian industry for many years and is also chairman of the Irish Master of Foxhounds Association. Speaking this week she said: “Joe Walsh set up the Irish Horse Board and was instrumental in introducing Horse Racing Ireland. I am honoured to accept the role as vice-chairman.”

Kinane surpasses Swinburn’s record

1985

WALLY Swinburn’s record of 101 winners in a season was surpassed by Michael Kinane on Saturday last when the latter partnered Gaily Gaily to success in the Group 3 C.L. Weld Park Stakes. Considering that the race was sponsored by winning trainer Dermot Weld and Gaily Gaily carried the Firestone colours, it would have been difficult to locate a more appropriate time or place to surpass the old figure.

On returning to the winners’ enclosure Kinane was accorded a rousing reception, followed with three cheers, by which time the jockey was all smiles, if somewhat red in the face. Weld said afterwards: “I thought she might be going off, but I put visors on in a gallop and she went very well, so I left them on today. She’s finished for the season and will be a Guineas candidate next year.”

Only two counted in the betting for the Tap On Wood Stakes, Fioravanti and Nashamaa, and they had the closing stages between them. Just inside the final furlong Christy Roche forged Fioravanti to the front and kept up his work to beat Nashamaa by three-parts of a length. The winner is a possible runner in the Dewhurst Stakes, but as his owner, Sheikh Mohammed, also has the leading British-trained juvenile Sure Blade, David O’Brien has to do some consulting before a definite decision is made, Either way, the trainer is satisfied that Fioravanti will be a good three-year-old.

[Gaily Gaily, by Cure The Blues, became a leading racemare in the USA where her victories included the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Handicap as a five-year-old. Fioravanti, a son of Northern Dancer, won a few more minor races in Ireland and the USA, while Nashamaa, a son of Ahonoora and Balidaress, was runner-up in the Group 1 BBA (Ireland) Goffs National Stakes and won the Group 3 Hennessy Ballymacoy Stakes at Leopardstown as a four-year-old]

Fine juveniles target the National Produce Stakes

1935

AS fine a group of a dozen runners as those which contested the National Produce Stakes (6f, 63yds) probably would not be seen in any other parade ring in any other country. The Produce Stakes is our richest race for juveniles.

A duel ensued between Carmavey and Grangemore and the former always had the upper hand in it. She won by half a length, all out. Carmavey is owned by Sir Thomas Dixon and is a fine, scopey daughter of Hakem out of Essexlough, by Essexford out of Carnlough.

Essexlough is one of the mares at Mr T.H. Griffin’s stud at Loughbrown, Curragh. Hakem is also at that stud. Mr Griffin bred Carmavey and, on Philip Behan’s recommendation, Sir Thomas Dixon bought her in foalhood.