THE WORLD'S MOST HISTORIC SPORTING VENUE
by Robin Oakley
For four centuries Newmarket has been the home and the heartbeat of Flat racing in Britain. Earlier, Boadicea is believed to have practised her chariot manoeuvres on the world’s most extensive training grounds where now more than 2,500 horses from 70 yards learn their trade, surrounded by 60 stud farms where the stars of the future are bred.
James I went hawking and coursing across the heath and Charles II staged at Newmarket the first race in Britain with written rules. The dashing monarch rode his own horse to victory in one contest on the heath and regularly exercised there his favourite hunter Old Rowley, after whom the world famous Rowley Mile track has been named. But in those days, without the benefit of the imposing Millennium Grandstand which dominates today’s skyline, Charles and his friends had to watch the racing from the Bushes, one and a half furlongs out.
At Newmarket, with its National Horseracing Museum, its ‘Racing Experience’ visits to the National Stud and to trainers yards and gallops, the horse is king and history is never far away. Close your eyes for a moment and you can summon up the ghosts of the greats battling for supremacy down that same Rowley Mile. The 1971 2,000 Guineas, for example, saw the only clash between two racing heroes, Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef. Before the race, Mill Reef had lost only once, going down to My Swallow by a short head in the Prix Robert Papin. My Swallow and Mill Reef dominated the betting and took each other on down the centre of the course. But a furlong or so out Joe Mercer on Brigadier Gerard, who hadn’t raced since the previous year’s Dewhurst at Newmarket, gave his mount a slap and it was all over. The Dick Hern-trained colt drew level with them and, with a breathtaking display of finishing speed, accelerated away to be three lengths clear at the line. Mill Reef ran in six more races and won them all. Brigadier Gerard, perhaps the greatest British miler ever, contested another 13 races and won 12 of them.
More recently the historic course saw Persian Punch’s finest hour in the 2003 Jockey Club Cup when David Elsworth’s hefty warrior — so much the fighter that he should have had a rear gunner mounted on his massive quarters — was passed two out by three horses, caught a whip stroke from another jockey across his nose and then in a huge gut-busting effort up the final rise reeled in the three ahead of him inch by inch to pip Millenary on the line and win by a short head.
On the Rowley Mile too Oh So Sharp, ridden by American Steve Cauthen, became the first of Henry Cecil’s three 1,000 Guineas winners in four years (along with Sleepytime and Wince) winning the 1,000 Guineas of 1985 by two short heads from Al Bahathri and Bella Colora. Up that same run from the Bushes Petite Etoile and Bosra Sham won their 1,000 Guineas, and Nashwan, Nijinsky, Dancing Brave and Sir Ivor demonstrated their brilliance.
Newmarket isn’t only about history though, it is about rejuvenation and renewal. Fittingly, the first Classics of the year are held on the NatWest Rowley Mile with three-year-old colts and fillies battling it out in a festival atmosphere for the Stan James 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas. It is the defining moment when last year’s promising two-year-old becomes hero or zero.
Last year Aidan O’Brien took both races with Footstepsinthesand and Virginia Waters. Again this year his candidates head the betting. Closest market rival to George Washington, a 1,150,000 guinea purchase who won four races at The Curragh, is Horatio Nelson, a Danehill colt who won at Longchamp on Arc de Triomphe day but who then lost his unbeaten record to Sir Percy at Newmarket in the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs, though some reckoned him unlucky in running that day.
Sir Percy, unbeaten in four runs and unlikely to be seen out before the big race, was bought for 16,000 guineas by his astute trainer and then sold on to Anthony and Victoria Pakenham. Sir Percy will be one of Britain’s best hopes, along with Amadeus Wolf, trained in the North by Kevin Ryan. Sir Michael Stoute, with a good Guineas record, runs City of Troy.
O’Brien’s Rumplestiltskin has been one of the leading fancies for the Stan James 1,000 Guineas. Five victories in six races won her acknowledgment as the best filly in Europe. But Nannina, handled by John Gosden, now a Newmarket trainer, could test her. Many too will be hoping for a change of fortune for Mick Channon. Bint Allayl shattered a shoulder on the gallops and Queen’s Logic went lame just before the race. Silca’s Sister, whom Channon trained to win the Prix Morny at Deauville in August, was taken over by Godolphin. But in Flashy Wings, winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot and an unlucky loser in the Cheveley Park, he may just have the one to give him that first elusive Classic. No victory would send a louder cheer across the Rowley Mile.
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