2011

TOP European sprinter Overdose returned to his best form on the Berlin turf last Sunday when he smashed the track record at Hoppegarten racecourse on his return to action for the first time since he lost his unbeaten record at Baden-Baden last August.

Sent off a 1/2 shot in a specially framed five-furlong conditions event, the Hungarian sprinter, ridden by Andreas Suborics, made all, going clear of lesser rivals by halfway before coming home six lengths clear of Shot To Nothing, with the rest strung out behind.

The six-year-old son of Starborough clocked 57.1 seconds for the five furlongs. A trip to Britain for the Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock on May 21st, followed by Royal Ascot, is now on the cards after this victory, Overdose’s 15th in 16 career starts. He also ‘won’ the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye in 2008, although the race was later voided.

Overdose had lost his unbeaten record in controversial circumstances last year at Baden-Baden, where he gave trouble at the stalls. He was again difficult at Hoppegarten, sweating and playing up. “He was nervous, but I was never really worries,” reported the Austrian-born, German champion jockey Suborics.

He added: “He also did not start as quickly as usual, but once he found his rhythm he strode out really well. All I had to do was to push him out, and I was able to ease him on the final stages. He had plenty left in the tank.”

[Affectionately known as the Budapest Bullet, Overdose was bought for just 2,000gns. A fun purchase, his career was affected by a severe bout of laminitis. In spite of this, and being trained in Hungary, he was one of the best sprinters of his generation.

He ran three more times, beaten four lengths when seventh to Sole Power in the Group 2 Temple Stakes, just a length and a half behind Prohibit when fourth in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes, and he rounded off his 19-race career with victory in a Group 3 sprint in Italy. He suffered a career-ending injury at Meydan in early 2012.

Overdose spent two years at stud before succumbing to colic in July 2015. He only sired 30 known foals and they included Cirfandli, last year’s Horse of the Year in Hungary]

Graffin not giving up the day job – yet

1986

THERE aren’t many true amateurs about at the moment, but, if you ever need an example of one, Paddy would be your man.

The civil servant, who works as an unemployment clerk in a social security office in the North, has to save up his holidays and work flexitime so that he can go racing, and cannot always get the time off, even if he is offered a good ride.

Fortunately, on Monday he was able to make the winning trip to Punchestown to team up with Tudor Season in the Jack, Peter and Paul Doyle Hurdle. Graffin rides out every morning for his neighbour Ian Ferguson, and then puts on his pinstripe suit for a day at the office. Sometimes he also rides out during his lunch hour.

“Riding makes the job more tolerable”, he said, “but actually I do enjoy my job, and I need the security of it because I have a family to support.” The 24-year-old rider struck up his association with Ferguson about 10 years ago when the Ballymena trainer had just started off with a permit. Graffin added: “He’s been very good to me and put me the right way.”

[Now one of Irish racing’s most respected officials, Paddy Graffin acts as a starter and clerk of the course. He shared the point-to-point riders’ championship with Enda Bolger and John Berry in 1990, and was the northern region champion on a number of occasions.

Having spent almost two decades in the civil service, being promoted to work at Stormont, he has now spent a similar amount of time with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, formerly the Turf Club]

Good racing at Baldoyle

1961

THERE were some smart, winning performances at Baldoyle on Saturday.

Missa, in the colours of her breeder Mrs Anne Biddle of Palmerstown Stud, made a most impressive debut in the Beginners’ Plate to become the first of Milesian’s stock to gain a winning bracket.

The joint-favourite and ridden by Liam Ward, Missa won by four lengths from Jetaway [owned by Bert Kerr and ridden by George McGrath], with the other joint-favourite, Paramythia [owned by Frank More O’Ferrall and ridden by Ron Hutchinson], a length and a quarter away in third.

Missa was in front after a furlong and had no difficulty in holding on to her advantage. The filly is trained by Tommy Shaw.

The brothers Martin and Denis Quirke had a most successful afternoon, each sending out a winner. Both were well-known jockeys before turning to the training side of the game, Martin being one of our leading flat jockeys for many years. Denis rode under National Hunt rules, mostly in England and on the continent.

In the Lambay Plate, the three-year-old Ringside, whom Martin Quirke trains for Mr Dermot O’Connor, was ridden to victory by Paddy Powell.

It was Denis Quirke’s turn in the Portmarnock Handicap, the 20/1 chance Rhino, ridden by apprentice Martin Cournane, scoring by half a length from a pair of dead-heaters.

Gleniry proved far too good for his rivals in the Balbriggan Hurdle. The seven-year-old, who had previously scored over the course, was again ridden by T.P. Burns and won easily.

In the ‘bumpers’ event, Rise And Shine, from the Paddy Sleator stables, was backed from 3/1 down to 6/4 and, thanks to the strong riding of Mr Francis Flood, the gamble was landed, the five-year-old getting the better of Greek Foil [Mr J.R. Bryce-Smith] by a neck.

[Missa went on to win again at two and once the following season. She was third in the Maher Nursery at the Phoenix Park, a blacktype race. At Palmerstown Stud she bred five winners from seven foals, the best being the blacktype winners, and later sires, Hymn (Aureole) and Mississippi (Linacre). Hymn was placed in the Irish St Leger]