sporting legends> istabraq>Arkle>Dawn run

He was bred for the flat, by Sadler's Wells who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas over 1 mile. Istabraq was tried unsuccessfully over a mile and failed to please his handlers and owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Shadwell Racing and a partner in his family's Godolphin Stables.

Istabraq was sold to John Durkan who had been an assistant to John Gosden. He thought that Istabraq could win a Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and would not hear of the contrary. Durkan started training the horse but was diagnosed with leukemia. He suggested that Aidan O'Brien train the horse while he was ill. The agreement was that when Durkan recovered he would again train the horse. Sadly, he never got the chance to do so and died just before Istabraq won the 1998 Irish Champion Hurdle. O'Brien continued to train the horse afterwards. However, Durkan remained in the thoughts of the horse's connections. When riding the horse back after his 1998 Champion Hurdle win, jockey Charlie Swan said 'This one's for John' in an interview with Channel 4's Lesley Graham.

Istabraq was beaten in his hurdling debut, finishing a short head second of ten over two miles. He then won his next three races before taking the 2m5f Royal & Sun Alliance Novice hurdle at Cheltenham with a battling display. He ran one more time that season, beating the Sun Alliance 5th Soldat by 9 lengths at Punchestown.

The next season went like clockwork up to and including Cheltenham, where he confirmed himself the best two mile hurdler around with an astonishing 12L victory. Istabraq was unexpectedly beaten at Aintree in his next race but this was no doubt due to the desperately heavy ground. He did not race again that season.


If the previous season was about fulfiling the promise he had shown by proving himself the best novice, then as the reigning champion hurdler this one was about continuing the domination he had over the 2 mile (3,200 m) hurdling division. The story was exactly the same - he went unbeaten through the season and danced up the Cheltenham hill in March for his second champion hurdle. Could he go on and join the likes of Persian War and See You Then as 3-time winners. There seemed little reason why not although the novice race at Cheltenham that year was won by Hors La Loi III in a time two seconds faster than the champion hurdle. The season was finished off with wins at the Aintree and Punchestown festivals respectively.

The 1999/2000 season would confirm what most of the racing public already knew - that Istabraq was one of the greatest hurdlers of modern times and possibly ever. Apart from being turned over by Limestone Lad (on unsuitably soft ground and over a trip more suited to Limestone), his preparation for Cheltenham went perfectly. On the big day, he cruised around the inside before once again bursting up the hill to win by 4 lengths from Hors La Loi III. Istabraq had recorded an incredible fourth straight win at Cheltenham. He was put away for the season and at only 8 years old there seemed little to stop him becoming the only horse ever to win 4 champion hurdles and confirming himself the greatest ever two mile hurdler.

On his reappearance at Leopardstown the following season, Istabraq looked slightly heavier than usual. Shockingly, he fell for the first time ever when looking tired at the final flight. It was probably a combination of the extra weight and dire ground but nevertheless rumours that the champion may be on his way out were rife. His next run put paid to the speculation as he won comfortably although the winner of the race in which he fell, Moscow Flyer, had this time fallen himself. However it was the fact that this time the mighty triple champion seemed to have regained his invincible aura that eased the worries of his now massive army of fans. His next race was a little like deja vu as he again fell at the final flight, with Moscow Flyer again taking the race. The difference this time was that, unlike on his reappearance, he looked all over the winner before coming to grief. This race proved again that Istabraq was on course for his historic date with desiny at Cheltenham.

Tragedy struck before the 2001 festival, as cases of foot and mouth disease started to appear in Britain. The grave decision was taken to abort the festival. This was the beginning of the end for the great horse. When hot favourite for an unparalled 4th champion hurdle his chance was cruelly taken from him. He did reappear the following season but it seemed that the sands of time had finally caught up with him. He defeated Bust Out by a head in December, but rated 25lb (11.4 kg) superior would have been expected to have a lot more in hand. This was not how it was meant to be.

On the day, Istabraq took his chance at making history. However his jockey was never happy with him and before the race had even took shape he was pulled up. Charlie Swan said he was never happy with him and he was later found to have pulled muscles in his back. Despite this, and the huge sums of money that were placed on him that day, the Cheltenham crowd still gave him a standing ovation as he bowed out. The great horse had finally reached the end of his epic journey. The race itself was won by Hors La Loi III but the unlucky Valiramix was simply cruising 3f out before fatally falling after clipping hooves.



Sire
Sadler's Wells

Dam
Damsire Secretariat

Sex Gelding
Foaled 1992
Country Ireland

Colour Bay
Breeder Shadwell Estate Co.

Owners Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
John P. McManus

Trainer Aidan O'Brien


Record 40: 25-7-0

Earnings £1,053,385

Major Racing Wins

Champion Hurdle (1998, 1999, 2000)
Irish Champion Hurdle (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)
Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1996)
Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (1996)
Deloitte Novice Hurdle (1997)
Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle (1997)
Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle (1997)
Hatton's Grace Hurdle (1997, 1998)
December Festival Hurdle (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)
Aintree Hurdle (1999)
Punchestown Champion Hurdle (1999)
John James McManus Memorial Hurdle (1997, 1998, 1999)

Another cracker Hibby and many memories.

Robert, how about

Persian War
Comedy of Errors
Bula
Night Nurse
Dawn Run
Pendil
etc etc etc

Arkle!

Cockle Strand

Arkle (19 April 1957 - 31 May 1970) A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, his grandsire was the unbeaten (in 14 races) flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath by Mrs. Mary Alison Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin. Owned by Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, Arkle was trained by Tom Dreaper at Greenogue, Kilsallaghan in County Dublin, Ireland and ridden during his steeplechasing career by Pat Taaffe. Arkle became the first racehorse in Britain to capture public attention outside racing circles.

Arkle is regarded as the greatest steeplechaser of all time. At 212 his Timeform rating is the highest ever awarded to a steeplechaser. Only Flyingbolt, who was also trained by Tom Dreaper, had a rating anywhere near his at 210. The third highest is Mill House on 191. Despite his career being cut short by injury he still won three Cheltenham Gold Cups, the Blue Riband of steeplechasing, and a host of other top prizes.

His first victory at Cheltenham was in the Broadway Chase and it gave the first inkling of what was to come as he won by a breathtaking twenty lengths. Mill House beat Arkle (and gave him 5lbs) when they first met in the 1963 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury with Arkle slipping a few fences out and finishing third.

However, in the 1964 Cheltenham Gold Cup Arkle avenged that defeat by beating Mill House (who had won the race the previous year) by five lengths to claim his first Gold Cup (and, starting at odds of 7/4, the last time he was not to start favourite for a race). Such was the superiority of these two horses that only two other horses were entered.

The racing authorities in Ireland took the unprecedented step in the Irish Grand National of devising two weight systems — one to be used when Arkle was running and one when he wasn't. Arkle won the 1964 race by only one length but he carried two and half stones more than his rivals.

The following year's Gold Cup saw Arkle totally dominant over Mill House as he crushed him by twenty lengths at odds of 3/10. In the 1966 renewal he was the shortest priced favourite in history to win the Gold cup starting at odds of 1/10. He won the race very easily by thirty lengths despite a shocking mistake early in the race where he ploughed through a fence. However, it did not stop his momentum nor did he ever look like falling. Arkle had a strange quirk in that he crossed his forelegs when jumping a fence. He went through the season 1965/66 unbeaten in five races at the absolute peak of his powers.

Arkle won 27 of his 35 starts and won at distances from 1m 6f up to 3m 5f. Legendary racing commentator Peter O'Sullevan has called Arkle a freak of nature — something unlikely to be seen again.

Besides winning three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups (1964, 1965, 1966) and the 1965 King George VI Chase Arkle triumphed in a number of important handicap chases including the 1964 Irish Grand National (under 12-0), the 1964 and 1965 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cups (both times under 12-7), the 1965 Gallagher Gold Cup (conceding 16lbs to Mill House and breaking the course record by 17 seconds), and the 1965 Whitbread Gold Cup (under 12-7). In the 1966 Hennessy he only failed by half a length to give Stalbridge Colonist 35lbs. The scale of the task Arkle faced is shown by the winner coming second and third in the two following Cheltenham Gold Cups, while in third place was the future 1969 Gold Cup winner, What A Myth.

In December 1966 Arkle raced in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park but struck the guard rail with a hoof when jumping the open ditch, which resulted in a fractured pedal bone; despite this he completed the race and finished second. He was in plaster for 4 months and though he made a good enough recovery to go back into training he never ran again. He was retired and ridden as a hack by his owner and then succumbed to what has been variously described as advanced arthritis, or possibly brucellosis, and was put down at the early age of 13.

Arkle became a national legend in Ireland. His strength was jokingly claimed to come from drinking Guinness twice a day. At one point the slogan Arkle for President was written on a wall in Dublin. Often referred to simply as "Himself", the story goes that he received items of fan mail addressed to 'Himself, Ireland'. Former Nottinghamshire and England cricketer Derek Randall, known for his exceptional pace while fielding, was nicknamed 'Arkle'.

The government owned Irish National Stud, at Tully, Kildare, Co. Kildare, Ireland has the skeleton of Arkle on display in its museum.



Sire Archive
Grandsire Nearco
Dam Bright Cherry
Damsire Knight of the Garter
Sex Gelding
Foaled 1957
Country Ireland
Colour Bay
Breeder Mary Baker at Ballymacoll Stud
Owner Anne, Duchess of Westminster
Trainer Tom Dreaper

Record 35: 27-2-3

Earnings £95,000

Major Racing Wins
Cheltenham Gold Cup (1964, 1965, 1966)
King George VI Chase (1965)
Irish Grand National (1964)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (1964,1965)
Leopardstown Chase (1964, 1965, 1966)
Whitbread Gold Cup (1965)
Gallagher Gold Cup (1965)
Punchestown Gold Cup (1963)
Powers Gold Cup (1963

DAWN RUN



Dawn Run (Deep Run - Twilight Slave) was the most successful racemare in the history of National Hunt racing. She won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham racing festival in 1984 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup over fences at the festival in 1986. Dawn Run was the only racehorse ever to have completed the Champion Hurdle - Gold Cup double. She was one of only two mares who have managed to win the Champion Hurdle, and of only four who have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. She was also the only horse ever to complete the English, Irish and French Champion Hurdle treble.



A daughter of the highly successful National Hunt sire Deep Run, Dawn Run was bought for 5,800 guineas and trained by Paddy Mullins in Ireland. She started her career at the age of four, running in flat races at provincial courses. Remarkably, she was ridden in her first three races by her 62 year old owner Charmian Hill. After winning on her third and fourth and fifth starts she set out on her hurdling career and progressed through the ranks to become champion novice hurdler in Britain and Ireland in her first season, 1982-83. In her second season she won 8 of her 9 races including the English Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown Racecourse, both over two miles, and the French Champion Hurdle (Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil) at Auteuil over three miles, becoming the first horse ever to complete the treble. Her other big victories that season included the Christmas Hurdle (2 miles) at Kempton, In which she beat the reigning Champion Hurdler Gaye Brief by a neck after a thrilling duel up the home stretch, the Sandemans Hurdle at Aintree Racecourse (2.5 miles), which she won in a canter by fifteen lengths, and the Prix La Barka in Auteuil.

She turned to steeplechasing the following season, but was injured after winning her first race and was out of action for the rest of the season. She made a successful return the following December by winning the Durkan Brothers Chase at Punchestown by 8 lengths. She followed up by beating the subsequent two mile champion chaser Buck House over two and a half miles at Leopardstown later the same month despite making a bad mistake at the last fence. She was a hot favourite to win that season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, the greatest steeplechase in Europe, despite the fact that no horse had ever completed the Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup double, that she was still virtually a novice over fences, and that the three and a quarter mile trip of the Gold Cup over the stiff Cheltenham course was further than she had ever run before. In January 1986 she was given a prep race at Cheltenham Racecourse which she was expected to win easily. Her usual jockey, Tony Mullins, the son of the trainer, was on board. As usual, she set out to make all the running but her inexperience showed as she made a mistake on the back straight and unshipped her jockey. The commentator Julian Wilson had just spent about 30 seconds effusively praising her performance, i.e. 'cruising, coasting in the lead.', 'it's two years since she's been beaten'. Mullins got back up on her and finished the course, last of the four runners. It was an unsatisfactory preparation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but, despite her inexperience, it was decided to let her take her chance.

Controversially, Mullins was replaced for the Cheltenham Gold Cup by the top jockey of the time, Jonjo O'Neill. On the day Dawn Run started hot favourite. O'Neill set her out in front to make the running as usual, but she was harried throughout the first circuit by Run and Skip. Unsettled by the attention, Dawn Run made a bad mistake at the water jump and lost two lengths and her momentum. She won back the lead at the next fence but made another bad mistake at the last ditch and was clearly under pressure as the field made their way down hill to the third last. At this stage there were only four horses in contention, Dawn Run, Run and Skip, the previous year's Gold Cup winner Forgive ´n Forget, and the brilliant Wayward Lad who had won the King George VI Chase three times, but whose stamina was suspect over the three and a quarter mile trip of the Gold Cup. As she led the field into the straight with just two fences and the uphill finish ahead of them a huge cheer went up from the crowd, but it looked like destiny was about to disappoint them as both Wayward Lad and Forgive ´n Forget swept past the mare. It was now all or nothing for O'Neill as he drove her up to the second last and got such a response that she landed in front. It appeared to be a futile effort, however, as Wayward Lad regained the lead coming to the last fence, pressed by Forgive ´n Forget with Dawn Run struggling in third. A mistake at the last appeared to have put paid to Forgive ´n Forget's chances. About a hundred yards out Wayward Lad began to hang to the left as his stamina started to give out. O'Neill switched Dawn Run to the outside and they raced past Forgive ´n Forget and began to cut into Wayward Lad's lead. Yards from the finish they caught him and passed the post three quarters of a length ahead. They had won in record time. The subsequent celebrations were unlike anything seen at Cheltenham before as hats where thrown in the air and the huge crowd invaded the winners' enclosure to join in the celebrations.

In her next race at Aintree she failed to get past the first fence, but followed up by again beating Buck House in a specially arranged match at the Punchestown festival [1]. The decision was then made by her owner to send her back to France to try and repeat her 1984 win in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle). French jockey Michel Chirol was on board Dawn Run. Sadly, in that race she fell at a hurdle on the back straight, the fifth last, and never got up again. It transpired that she had suffered a broken neck and died instantly.[1] It was a measure of the great affection felt for her that her death was reported on the front page of the following day's Irish Times, and her statue now adorns the parade ring at Cheltenham, opposite the statue of the greatest steeplechaser of all time, Arkle.


Sire Deep Run
Grandsire Pampered King
Dam Twilight Slave
Damsire Artic Slave
Sex Mare
Foaled 1978
Country Ireland
Colour Bay
Breeder County Cork
Owner Charmian Hill
Trainer Paddy Mullins
Record 35: 21-
Earnings

Major Racing Wins
Cheltenham Gold Cup (1986)
English Champion Hurdle (1984)
Irish Champion Hurdle (1984)
French Champion Hurdle (1984)
John Durkan Memorial Chase (1985)
Christmas Hurdle (1983)
Aintree Hurdle (1984)

Brilliant thread guys...I saw Istabraq racing when I was in the UK. Legend!

Blast from the past

Cheers Mark, the Sea Pigeon was magic, but Arkle must have been the best, what a record!

Just for you Dave