1986

AFTER some coyness, it is now confirmed that Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai has bought the famous Kildangan Stud, Monasterevin, from Roderic More O’Ferrall. It will be managed by Michael Osborne, former manager of the Irish National Stud.

The reason for the delay in admitting the acquisition was due to the fact that the deal with CBA Estates as agents could have fallen through in the closing stages of negotiation. The final dotted line is likely to be signed next week, but the takeover has been completed.

Michael Osborne, and the Sheikh’s stud and racing managers, Robert Acton and Anthony Stroud, flew back from Dubai this week after final meetings.

Kildangan represents yet another major development of the Sheikh’s bloodstock empire that is already the biggest in the world. It represents his partiality towards Europe and is a most welcome decision to invest significantly in this country.

He already owns Woodpark Stud, Dunboyne, managed by Simon Walford.

His headquarters in England are at the Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket, the home of Shareef Dancer, syndicated for $40 million after winning the Irish Sweeps Derby. He also owns two other studs in England, Aston Upthorpe and Rutland Studs, while his stallion team includes Touching Wood, Dunbeath, Head For Heights at the Ardenode Stud, Ballymore Eustace, and Miller’s Mate in France.

There will be great delight in the return of Michael Osborne. After his brilliant managership of Tully for 12 years when he built up the semi-state company from obscurity to a showpiece for the country’s bloodstock industry, he was strangled by red tape and went to North Ridge Farm, Kentucky, owned by Franklin Groves.

After three years in the United States, he returns to the most powerful worldwide concern in the private sector of the industry. Kildangan Stud’s ownership moving to Middle East interests is an historic and important landmark.

Founded in the early thirties, it has been built up by Roderic More O’Ferrall to be one of the most respected and successful studs in the country. One of its original foundation mares, Straight Sequence, cost only 130 guineas, and yet the stud went on to breed 10 classic winners, including such stars as Abermaid, Darius and, more recently, the brilliant Katies. It also houses the veteran stallion Bold Lad.

One of Michael Osborne’s primary policies will be to build up the numbers of highly-rated stallions at Kildangan.

Death of sporting owner Lord Bicester

1956

BY the death of Lord Bicester at the age of 88 on Friday of last week, the sport of racing in Ireland and England under National Hunt rules has lost one of its greater and most popular supporters.

His colours of black, with gold sleeves, were first carried to success in a chase in England in 1928, but it was not until the early years of the last war that they became familiar to Irish racegoers. From then, nearly all the famous steeplechasers he owned were bred, schooled and first raced in Ireland and were trained by T.W. Dreaper.

Lord Bicester’s great ambition was to win the Grand National, but, although he was represented in it many noted chasers on 17 occasions, he was doomed to disappointment, the nearest he came to winning being in 1949 when Roimond finished second to Russian Hero.

He won nearly every other chase of importance across the Channel, and among the best horses who carried his colours were Solver Fame, Finnure, Roimond, Bluff King and Royal Approach. Solver Fame altogether won 26 races to the value of £15,000, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1951.

Golden Miller shock

1936

THERE is, indeed, a story to tell this week.

It is a sad story so far as it concerns Golden Miller, and the lapse of the cut and dried favourite at Newbury has had an effect on the Grand National like the hurling of a rock into a placid pool.

Everything had gone well with Miss Paget’s horse this winter. He had won at Newbury at the close of the old year in the most exemplary style. He had to miss a few races since on account of abandonments, and during the frost had to be sent to work on the sands at Minehead.

Owen Anthony said that he was in need of a strong gallop when he took him to Newbury to run on Wednesday, but the public, who had rolled up in their thousands, would not be stalled off him, and he was an even-money chance.

All seemed to be going well with Golden Miller who, although he was lying well behind the leaders, was on the bit until he came to the fifth-last fence. There Golden Miller ‘jinked’ and almost went into the left wing of the fence. The next moment G. Wilson was on the floor, and the favourite was making his way back to the paddocks, riderless. Then, of course, began the inevitable inquest.

The bookmakers, acting as coroners, pronounced an instantaneous verdict by knocking Golden Miller out to 100/8 for the Grand National, at which rate of odds there were no backers to be found. A little later they shortened him to 10/1 which, I think, anyone can now have for the asking.

If we keep in our minds what Golden Miller did twice at Liverpool last March, and note well that it was a plain fence at which he refused, then one has to admit that the lapse was a serious one, and there is presumptive evidence that Golden Miller in these days has developed certain inhibitions which were not associated with him in his greatest days.

His jockey was reticent and would offer no explanation. The fact that he was tiring, through being short of work, in the heavy going, and under his big weight, is a possible solution, but that does not excuse everything. His next engagement is in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

After noting the eliminations from the race last week, it seemed that race was a moral certainty for him. I suppose he will run, as there is no object in not running him, and it may be as well to find out the best, or the worst, in him.

But he certainly will not be the blazing favourite there that he would have been has he given a normal display at Newbury.

Reynoldstown is now the favourite for the Grand National. He was out at Birmingham on Tuesday, and in a sparkling race, run throughout at a cracking pace, he was beaten a length and a half by the seven-year-old Avenger, who was making a splendid comeback after being absent from a racecourse since last June.

[Golden Miller went on to run in, and win, the Gold Cup, stretching his record to five consecutive victories in the race. He had won the Grand National in 1934.

A field of 35 lined-up for the 1936 Grand National and the 10/1 shot Reynoldstown, ridden by Fulke Walwyn and owned and trained by Major Noel Furlong, won by a dozen lengths. Golden Miller, the 5/1 second favourite, fell at the eighth, partnered by Evan Williams. The race favourite was Fred Rimell’s mount Avenger, but he sadly fell at the 17th fence and had to be euthanized]