Horses

Run over six furlongs and open to horses aged three years and upwards, the Stewards’ Cup is the betting highlight of the fifth and final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, a.k.a. ‘Glorious Goodwood’, staged annually in late July or early August. With a maximum field of 28, the Stewards’ Cup is invariably a well-contested betting heat, as was the intention of Lord George Bentick – an influential figure who was, among other things, an inveterate gambler – when he conceived the race, in its current guise, in 1839. Indeed, the popularity of the Stewards’ Cup is such that, nowadays, a consolation race, the Stewards’ Sprint Handicap, is staged earlier on the card for horses balloted out of the main event.

Since the turn of the millenium, three three-year-olds have won the Stewards’ Cup and, interestingly, all three started favourite. Magical Memory, trained by Charles Hills and ridden by Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori, in 2015, was the first of his age group to win the ultra-competitive sprint handicap since Danetime, who also started favourite, in 1997. The son of Zebedee, from the family of Invincible Spirit, won by three-quarters of a length, eased down, at Goodwood and continued his improvement when a close third, beaten a short-head and three-quarters of a length, in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock on his final start of the season.

In 2016, another improving three-year-old, the filly Dancing Star, trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by David Probert, followed suit, at least at Goodwood, where she ran on well to win by 1¼ lengths, although she was subsequently well beaten at Haydock. Finally, in 2019, Khaadem, also trained by Charles Hills, but ridden by Jim Crowley, quickened clear for an easy, 2¾-length win in the Stewards’ Cup, but finished last in the Sprint Cup, when co-favourite, and down the field in the British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

Acknowledged as one of the greatest thoroughbreds to have raced. A sparkling trio: Frankel, wonder horse, Sir Henry Cecil, trainer, and Tom Queally, jockey.

Exceptions to the rule.

Frankel’s racing career started at Newmarket on the 13^th August 2010 and ended with his retirement from Flat racing on the 20^th October 2012. In total, he achieved stardom winning 14 races without defeat.

Personally, I never saw Frankel in the flesh, and it is one of my horse racing regrets. This son of Galileo, out of the mare Kind, won total prize money a fraction short of £3M.

A total of 14 successes. His best performance, a matter of opinion. However, I do have a personal favourite.

Can you guess which race?

The Quipco 2000 Guineas. Racing at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. The 30^th April 2011, a truly remarkable day for horse racing fans who questioned what they were seeing. A spectacular performance. It sounds ridiculous but nothing prepares you for a race like that. It sticks in the mind. It stays in the mind. A race to be treasured. It does to this day. What a race. Watch in wonder. Enjoy a spectacle that simply doesn’t happen.

It happened.

Frankel was priced ½ favourite to win a first prize of £198,695.

It really wasn’t about money. Frankel was fighting for his reputation as a wonder horse. You can’t imagine the pressure of those who planned his every move with precision. Sir Henry Cecil, who struggled with terminal illness, cancer. Queally questioned and knocked with every ride. Some willing him to lose. The pressure. Just think of the emotions they felt. Almost touching the clouds, fingertips stretching upwards. At that time, we didn’t know the future. We couldn’t bask in the sunshine or glory.

Not yet.

I remember that day, being excited. Five previous performances had gone to plan but there was a mix of excitement and fear. Today could lead to defeat. We could only take one race at a time. We didn’t know the future. No one did. Only time would tell its story.

So why did this race stand out from all the rest?

Frankel didn’t just lead but stormed clear with the cheers of a crowd. A chasing pack, like baying dogs, it was a surreal experience. In fact, by halfway Frankel looked to be leading by fifteen or more lengths. It seemed impossible. A Classic race. I thought I was watching a maiden race on a sunny day at Great Yarmouth. This wasn’t inferior opposition.

It was Frankel.

Simply wonderful.

This was a field of quality horses. The best of the best. Horses with big reputations. All trying to knock Frankel off his pedestal.

Had Tom Queally gone too fast?

As the race progressed the lead diminished but to no great extent.

Frankel crossed the line six lengths clear of the second, Dubawi Gold, trained by Richard Hannon. Third, Native Khan. These horses are detailed because they are important to this story.

The Racing Post comments said: ‘Soon led and clear, at least 10 lengths clear halfway, ridden just over 1f out, idling but kept on final furlong, ridden out, unchallenged, impressive.’

I have watched thousands of horse races but that race was different from all others. It was a mix of excitement, absurdity and reverence. It was a sight that only a superstar horse could produce.

It was an extraordinary performance.

Frankel.

Exceptional.

Perhaps it was a once in a lifetime event. Over 12 years have passed since that day and I am still waiting..

.

Something tells me I will be waiting for a very long time.

For reader unfamiliar with the name, Art Power is a six-year-old gelding owned by King Power Racing and trained by Tim Easterby in Great Habton, North Yorkshire. A son of Dark Angel, a leading sire of sprinters, Art Power has been campaigned exclusively over five and six furlongs and, all told, has won eight of his 27 races since making his debut at Newcastle in September, 2019.

On British soil, Art Power has reserved his best form for Ascot, where he was an impressive winner of the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap in June, 2020, and not beaten far in either the Group 1 British Champion Sprint Stakes the following October or the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes the following summer. However, while the popular grey has amassed around £470,000 in prize money in Britain, a little over half that amount has come from placed, rather than winning, efforts and he has yet to win a Listed or Pattern race.

On the opposite side of the Irish Sea, though, Art Power has proved nothing short of a revelation. He made his Irish debut, as a three-year-old, in the Group 3 Lacken Stakes, over six furlongs, at Naas in July, 2020, justifying odds-on favouritism by winning comfortably under hands and heels riding. Eight defeats later, including six at Group 1 level, Art Power returned to Ireland for the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes, again over six furlongs, at the Curragh in September, 2021; again he won easily, at odds-on. He won the same race, in similar fashion, in 2022 and in 2023, so far, has made two more successful visits to the Co. Kildare venue, winning the Group 2 Greenland Stakes,over six furlongs, and the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes, over five, by wide margins to take his record in the Emerald Isle to 5-5.

Reflecting on his most recent victory, winning jockey David Allan said of Art Power, ‘He just livens up coming here and down at the start I could feel him coming to life.’