1986

WELL before the curtain lifted on racing at 2.15 pm at the Curragh on Saturday last, a drama was unfolding as the fancied Sonic Lady was found to be minus a passport.

The stewards, using Rule 20, I was informed, decided that the filly could run provided a facsimile of the passport, plus a sworn affidavit duly notarised by a peace commissioner, was received by 2.30 pm. The required documentation was transmitted to the Turf Club, accepted by the stewards, and the way was paved for Sonic Lady to run out a convincing winner of the Goffs Irish 1000 Guineas.

Moving easily throughout, Sonic Lady joined the leader, Asteroid Field, coming to the two-furlong pole and, after a brief tussle, Walter Swinburn sent her away. Inside the last furlong Lake Champlain came out of the blue to snatch second place from Asteroid Field, thereby denying Sheikh Mohammed a famous one-two.

A $500,000 yearling, Sonic Lady was the most expensive purchase in the race, but this success must make the original outlay a good investment. Winning trainer Michael Stoute was not present for comment, but Walter Swinburn said “she gave her true running today, and that was all that was necessary.”

Welsh Fantasy

The stewards were also in action after Welsh Fantasy beat Hello Ernani, Pacific Drift and Northern Date in the Group 2 Windfields Farm Gallinule Stakes. Less than a length covered the quartet, and it seemed to most that the winner had caused interference to Pacific Drift inside the last furlong. The stewards eventually decided otherwise.

A furlong and a half out Welsh Fantasy headed Northern Date, but the latter came back and Pat Shanahan had to get at his mount who lasted out by a neck, half a length and a neck. Con Collins trains the winner for Mrs Jim Mullion.

The Royal Ascot-bound Polonia showed herself to be a class above the opposition in the Maginn TV Two-Year-Old Stakes, with a five-length and three-length win over Fairway Lady and Harry Quin.

[Sonic Lady was champion filly in Europe in 1986. Her eight wins also included the Group 1 Sussex Stakes and Group 1 Prix du Moulin. She bred three stakes winners, and her descendants include Group 1 winner Deirdre, Japanese Derby winner Logi Universe and Derby hope High Definition.

Welsh Fantasy did not win again but at stud she bred seven winners from eight foals.

The Jim Bolger-trained Polonia won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at two, ran second in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, and at three was successful in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp]

Ten-minute ovation for O’Brien

1961

A RECORD attendance at Limerick Junction on Thursday evening gave Vincent O’Brien a tremendous ovation after Mister Moss, his first runner since his re-instatement, had come out on top in a photo-finish to the Maiden Plate.

Ridden by Garnet Bougoure, this Co Tipperary-owned and trained colt came with a strong run in the straight to get up and beat a former inmate of Ballydoyle, Archipelago, by a head. The judge was called up but there was no doubt that Mister Moss had won, and wild cheering broke out across the enclosure as it became evident that Vincent was back on the winning trail.

When O’Brien appeared in the winners’ enclosure he received a wonderful reception, which he acknowledged by removing his hat and greeting his jubilant wife, Jacqueline. The cheers and applause lasted for about 10 minutes, and each time it died down it was renewed by admirers of this great trainer.

Bougoure, who rode Mister Moss, had a second success during the evening, steering West Bank to a narrow victory in the Golden Handicap, run over a mile and six furlongs. Another jockey to record a double was Johnny Rafferty on Irish Diamond II in the Junction Handicap Hurdle, and Old Mull in the Knocklong Maiden Hurdle.

Willie O’Grady, who trains Old Mull, had another success when Champagne Charlie gained a thrilling victory in the July Maiden Plate. A great deal of credit for the success of this four-year-old was due to the brilliant riding of Mr J.R. Cox.

Wylie and Johnson push the boat out

2006

TRADE at Doncaster’s Spring Sale hit a high on Thursday when no less than three lots, all offered consecutively, broke through the 200,000gns barrier, and aggregated an amazing 780,000gns. The fourth day’s highpoint came when the Irish-bred five-year-old Tidal Bay, still a maiden, sold to Howard Johnson on behalf of Graham Wylie for 300,000gns (approximately €460,000).

Bred by John Dorgan in Fermoy, the son of Flemensfirth was sold as a foal by his breeder for £5,800 to George Charlton, for whom he raced twice. He was runner-up on both occasions, including in the Grade 2 John Smith’s Champion National Hunt Flat Race in April. Tidal Bay’s grandam is an unraced half-sister to the Grade 1 winning chaser Buck Rogers, and to the dam of the Grade 1 winning hurdler Brewster.

[Tidal Bay’s subsequent career saw him win seven times over hurdles and eight times over fences. His Grade 1 wins were gained in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at Cheltenham, the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown and the John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree. He amassed earnings of in excess of £800,000]

Massive crowd at Kilbeggan

1981

IN view of the fact that last Monday’s evening meeting had to be cleared by a 6am inspection, the ground was surprisingly good for the first Kilbeggan fixture of the year. In the region of 6,000 people attended the meeting, a figure many more plush racecourses must envy.

A fine cover has been added to the stand since we last raced at the Loughnagore course. On the track itself a new larch running rail has been placed around the nine-furlong circuit, while further improvements include the construction of 18 new stables, still to be completed.

Fences may be just what the often frustrating Greasepaint wants. The Michael Cunningham-trained six-year-old made his debut over fences in the Midland Novice Chase and won convincingly by six lengths.

[A bumper and hurdle winner, Greasepaint went on to win seven more chases, highlights including the Grade 2 Troytown Chase at Navan and the Kim Muir Memorial Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He was second twice in the Grand National at Aintree and also runner-up in the Galway Plate]