2006
IT may have been several years in the making, but it was well worth the wait for the inaugural Tattersalls International Horse Trials.
Tattersalls Ireland chairman Edmond Mahony stated that when the property was purchased in 1986 it was always the intention to develop it, not only into a leading sales complex, but also an equestrian facility that would cater for numerous events throughout the year.
Already home to annual one-day events, as well as the Ward Union horse show and a variety of other activities, it was only a matter of time before director George Mernagh’s dream of a three-day event would eventually be realised.
Preparation
Months and months of preparation saw the team at Tattersalls work tirelessly to ensure that every detail had been taken care of, even down to the smallest floral decoration at fences.
By the trot-up on Wednesday, only the weather had failed to oblige, with the expected warm spell over the weekend being keenly anticipated.
Tommy Brennan and Hugh Lochore built a fine cross-country track and there were almost 200 entries to take it on, with the one-star course emerging as the most popular with 90 entries.
The permanent stables at Tattersalls are some of the best around, and some riders, arriving on Tuesday, said that they were better than those they had at home!
Edmond Mahony, who was forced to miss the action on Saturday while he attended the Vodafone Derby at Epsom, received an overwhelming reception on Sunday from eventing enthusiasts and riders.
Best event
“It is one of the best events I’ve attended in years,” Irish international rider Austin O’Connor said, with his sentiments being echoed by British rider Pippa Funnell. She was full of praise on Sunday afternoon as she collected her award for placing fourth in the two-star on Kif d’Estruval.
Funnell made the journey with just one horse, but saw it as a super test for her French-bred.
“It was so well organised,” she said. “Not only will it now become an influential event on the Irish calendar, but also on the international FEI calendar as well.”
This was hugely complimentary from the Grand Slam winner who has competed at all the major venues in the world, and has the pick of them with her truly impressive string of horses. Mahony, like Mernagh, was delighted with the positive response, and extremely grateful to all those who made it possible.
No doubt the petitions will soon be pouring in for a 2007 renewal.
Wind blows them away at Epsom
1981
BLUE Wind’s winning distance of seven lengths in the Oaks at Epsom last Saturday suggests she must have won as easily as Shergar in the Derby three days previously.
It was a fine display by a really tough filly. A fortnight earlier Blue Wind, like all the runners in the Irish 1000 Guineas, had an exceptionally hard race when she was beaten a whisker by Arctique Royale in the worst conditions seen at the Curragh for many years.
Lester Piggott’s victory on Blue Wind was his 25th in classic races, a figure that leaves him only two short of Frank Buckle’s record of 27. Lester gave his usual immaculate display on Blue Wind but, no doubt, Wally Swinburn would have won just as easily on the filly.
Loyalty is a rapidly dispensable commodity in modern racing. On Wednesday the Aga Khan had shown commendable faith in young Walter Swinburn’s skills on Shergar, and duly gained his just reward. Dermot Weld and Bertram Firestone chose instead to displace the stable jockey on Blue Wind, though both were remarkable coy about their reasons for doing so.
Press conference
As he gave an impromptu press conference in the winners’ enclosure at Epsom, Weld was asked why he had replaced Swinburn. “No comment,” he replied evasively. “I would like to say that Wally rode an excellent race on Blue Wind in the Irish 1000 Guineas,” he added. Quite so. In that case, why book Piggott? “No comment,” repeated Weld.
Weld might have expected a more genial approach from the assembled racing journalists on the occasion of his first classic win. He has become an immensely successful trainer in the few years since he first held a licence, and no doubt would agree that he has been considerably helped by the loyalty, skill and huge experience of his stable jockey, Wally Swinburn.
[A daughter of Irish National Stud stallion Lord Gayle, Blue Wind was bred by Betty Laidlaw and sold as a yearling for 5,600gns. She was trained at two by Paddy Prendergast and won twice, moving afterwards to join Dermot Weld at Rosewell House. After her Epsom win she went to the Curragh where, with Wally Swinburn in the saddle, she added the Irish Guinness Oaks to her total of five career successes]
Harvest Star reaps
a classic success
1936
WHEN a winner of an important race in Ireland is allowed to start at the outside price of 100/8, no further proof of the chance of that horse being unfancied is necessary.
In the light of this, Harvest Star’s victory on Wednesday in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh must have represented a small tragedy to backers. Mr W Barnett’s filly also won well, the official verdict being by four lengths from the odds-on favourite Grangemore, who in turn beat the English-trained Eastway by a neck.
As Grangemore had not run previously this season, and as Harvest Star’s only other outing was when running over six furlongs at the Curragh April meeting, backers had very little to go on, the market being their only help. That guide suggested that the winner’s chance was an outside one.
Fortunate
What a fortunate man Mr Barnett has been in his turf ventures, being the owner of Athford and breeder and owner of Trigo (sire of Harvest Star), Harinero and Primero. Why, on Thursday his colt Chirgwin, another of Trigo’s stock, won the valuable Newbury Cup.
Irish Oaks
Harvest Star is entered in the Irish Oaks, and what is going to beat her on Wednesday’s form? She is trained by Mr J T Rogers who saddled the winner of the race last year in the late Mr R J Duggan’s Smokeless.
A year ago Mr Rogers swept the board in the Irish classics, thereby establishing an Irish record.
He cannot equal the feat this time, seeing that the Irish 2000 Guineas was won by Hocus Pocus, trained by P Behan. However, with Battle Song and Manifold, and now with Harvest Star, the strength of the Crotanstown stable in future classics can be appreciated.
[Harvest Star was one of six runners in the Irish Oaks but she was out of luck, finishing behind the English-trained winner Silversol, with Grangemore and Eastway finishing second and third. Later that season Harvest Star beat two opponents to land the Royal Whip at the Curragh]