David O’Brien-trained filly is first of her sex to win this classic

HAVING the easy underfoot conditions that she seems to need, Mr Alan Clore’s Triptych wrote her name into the record books as the first filly to win the Airlie/Coolmore Irish 2000 Guineas, and in the process had 15 colts well spread out behind. She thus justified the confidence of the leading European handicappers in rating her the top juvenile to race last year.

Christy Roche had her in the first four throughout, and she led from over a quarter of a mile out to beat Celestial Bounty and Sun Valley by two and a half lengths and the same. The second, drawn on the rails, has anything but a clear passage and eventually finished up on the outside. The ridiculously short-priced favourite, Leading Counsel, ran a remarkably poor race and was never in the hunt. He finished about 13 lengths behind the David O’Brien-trained winner.

Montelimar was at odds-on to make up for recent misfortune in the Tattersalls Rogers Gold Cup, a Group 2 event, in spite of the strength of the opposition. Waited with, he went for his race early in the last quarter of a mile but was immediately tackled on either side by the British challenger Karim and by Elegant Air.

Coming to the furlong pole, Elegant Air slipped on to beat Montelimar and Karim by four lengths and one and a half lengths. Lester Piggott brought the winner on the outside to completely outpace the opposition inside the distance. Elegant Air is trained by Ian Balding for Mr Paul Mellon.

After the fifth race the enclosures seemed almost empty, and pondering this enigma I headed for tea and crumpets courtesy of Tattersalls. On entering the marquee the solution of the missing racegoers was instantly apparent and, unable to locate afternoon tea among the liquid refreshments on offer, I slunk out, minus food and drink, marvelling at the hospitality of sponsors.

1980

Tied Cottage loses out on the Cheltenham Gold Cup

THE inevitable happened in London last Wednesday when, after a six-hour inquiry at Portman Square, Tied Cottage was disqualified from the Cheltenham Gold Cup. As anticipated, the prohibitive substance was theobromine and came from contaminated oats.

Owner Tony Robinson loses the first prize of £36,000, but gallantly said afterwards: “Tied Cottage will be back to Cheltenham next year and he’ll win the Gold Cup.”

Master Smudge, trained by Arthur Barrow, is now the official winner of the Gold Cup, with the veteran Mac Vidi second and Approaching third. Also disqualified was the Mick O’Toole-trained pair Chinrullah and Kilkilwell. The former won the Two Mile Champion Chase, ran in the Gold Cup, and was runner-up in the Welsh Champion Chase, while Kilkilwell was third in the Kim Muir Chase.

As has been the case in Ireland, neither Tied Cottage’s trainer Dan Moore nor Mick O’Toole were fined as it was decided that the prohibited substance had been admitted unknowingly.

1960

Ward lands his first Irish 1000 Guineas with Zenobia

THE Guineas fixtures at the Curragh on Wednesday and Thursday provided two magnificent afternoons’ sport. While the colt’s classic on the first afternoon was won in a canter by Kythnos, the 1000 Guineas on Thursday provided a tremendous four-horse battle for supremacy, Zenobia winning in a photo-finish from Young Empress, Azurine and Lynchris.

The victory of Kythnos provided trainer P.J. Prendergast and jockey Ron Hutchinson with a remarkable double, for only a couple of weeks ago the combination was successful in the English counterpart with Martial.

It was Prendergast’s first win in the Irish 2000 Guineas, while on Thursday Liam Ward registered his first Irish 1000 Guineas victory on Zenobia.

Kythnos, owned in partnership by Mr E.R More O’Ferrall and his brother, Mr F More O’Ferrall, cost only 820gns at the Newmarket Sales, and after his clear-cut win his odds for the Epsom Derby were chipped from 25/1 to 14/1. However, after the race Prendergast said that Kythnos is not a certain starter for the Epsom classic.

Thursday’s Irish 1000 Guineas provided a tremendous finish; Zenobia, owned by Mrs Biddle, trained by ex-jockey Tommy Shaw and ridden by Liam Ward, winning by the shortest of short heads. It was popular Liam Ward’s first Irish 1000 Guineas win and he certainly covered himself in glory, while Ron Hutchinson on the runner-up was also seen at his best.

1985

LESTER Piggott beat John Francome in a close finish to their match at Warwick on Saturday night, but Steve Cauthen proved even more popular among the jump jockeys who watched the proceedings with much interest.

Steve had travelled to the course by helicopter as a standby substitute in case Lester failed to arrive in time from the Curragh. Steve’s first priority was to organise an endless flow of champagne in the weighing room for the jump jockeys. It was a typically generous gesture by the young American who wears his champion’s crown with much dignity, on and off the track.

John Francome kept the customers amused with a series of risqué jokes and, though his much-publicised duel with Lester Piggott was undeniably an advertising gimmick, it attracted over 7,000 paying customers to Warwick, the biggest attendance there for fully 10 years.

1955

CONTINUING his policy of exporting bloodstock to the USA, HH Aga Khan has sold nine yearlings bred at Sheshoon, Co Kildare, to the American millionaire and noted owner, Mr Ralph Lowe, and they have been flown to Texas. The price for them has not been disclosed, but their value has been estimated to be in the region of £100,000. They include a full-brother to Tulyar, and a half-brother (by Palestine) to Noor.

1935

THE class of sport provided at Dundalk never has been better than that in recent years, and such outcome is the result of the energy and enterprise infused into the working of the meeting. Mr W.S. Barber and his fellow directors ever are at pains to ascertain the requirements of owners and to comply with them; whilst Mr T.J. Kelly, manager of the company and clerk of the course at the meeting, carries matters through with characteristic efficiency. The convenience of the public is also another first consideration.

1930

COUNT John McCormack has acquired for £25,000 the Harristown property in Co Kildare. It was owned by the La Touche family.

Count McCormack, who has recently completed a contract with an American film company in the picture Song Of My Heart, is a patron of the turf in Ireland and England, his horses in this country being trained by Mr R More O’Ferrall at Kildangan, Co Kildare, and those in England by Mr R.C. Dawson. Count McCormack has formed a stud farm of valuable mares.