 |
| 2012 - The Year of Frankel |
From the fantastic Frankel on the flat to the monstrous Sprinter Sacre over fences 2012 saw the legacies of some of the best horses in many a year cemented as well as the emergence of a new battalion of potential superstars to take us forward in to 2013.
Here, month by month, we’ll look back at the year that was 2012 and the lows and many highs it brought with it as the sport of kings once again captured the heart and the mind over twelve incredible months.
January
2012 began with Oscar Whisky winning at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day to add further fuel to the fire of speculation that he may be the one to give Big Buck’s a race in the World Hurdle at the festival in March.
A few days in to the month the roof blew off the stand at Epsom, something that would also metaphorically happen on Derby day in June as well.
Frankel was officially named the greatest horse in world when the annual world thoroughbred rankings were announced.
The whip debate that clouded much of the tail end of 2011 reared its ugly head again as ridiculous bans are thrown around, and a masterful ride by Will Kennedy to win the Lanzarote on Swincombe Flame is judged to have breached the rules resulting in him losing his prize money. New BHA chief Paul Bittar as a result has a rough first week in the job, but ultimately looks good in the role, although his impact through the year is arguably a little less than was originally hoped.
In the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, Somersby finally wins the big one going one better than 2011 to hold off Finians Rainbow.
Down under the mighty Black Caviar wins her 17th straight race on her seasonal reappearance at Moonee Valley, stoking excitement for a potential Royal Ascot appearance. While our own winning machine Big Buck’s wins the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham to make it 15 straight wins.
In Ireland, Champion hurdler Hurricane Fly is unstoppable on his reappearance in the Irish equivalent, brushing aside his rivals with ease and erasing any doubt about his well-being after lengthy absence.
February
February sees us lose our first big Saturday cards of the season as the big freeze takes hold of the country. There’s no such problem in Ireland though as Sizing Europe destroys Big Zeb in the Tied Cottage Chase.
Staying in Ireland, the Irish Hennessy goes to Willie Mullins’ Quel Espirit, but the win only serves to show lack of talent in the Irish 3m division heading towards Cheltenham.
The rearranged Betfair-sponsored Newbury card sees Sprinter Sacre continue to showcase his incredible talent, Long Run narrowly win the newly-named Denman Chase to prep for the Gold Cup and Zarkandar battle on to win the Betfair Hurdle.
Riverside Theatre returns from a year long lay off to win the Ascot Chase ahead of a tilt at the Ryanair at the festival.
In Ireland, hype-horse Minsk flops on his much-anticipated debut over hurdles and is subsequently pulled from Cheltenham.
Whilst in the US, Kentucky Derby contender Union Rags puts up a dominant performance in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream to stake his claim for the big race.
March
March of course means Cheltenham and the festival as always provided four days of the greatest entertainment on turf.
Day one’s highlights include Sprinter Sacre turning in another dominant performance to land the Arkle, Hurricane Fly being turned over in the Champion Hurdle by Rock On Ruby and Overturn after being set a ferocious gallop.
The Hunt Ball success story continues as he adds a Cheltenham win to his ever expanding CV and Quevega once again turning the Mares’ race into a precession.
On Wednesday, Grands Crus flops spectacularly in the RSA as Bobs Worth lands the novice 3m event. While Finians Rainbow beats Sizing Europe in a highly controversial finish to the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Day three saw Big Buck’s utterly brilliant as he landed a fourth straight World Hurdle, while Barry Geraghty gave Riverside Theatre one of the rides, not only of the festival, but also the season as he got the Nicky Henderson horse home in front when he looked beaten in the Ryanair.
Gold Cup day saw the much hyped Kauto–Long Run V battle turn in to somewhat of a farce as Kauto Star pulled up early in the race and Synchronised outstayed the remainder of the field up the hill to land what will surely be remembered as one of the weakest Gold Cups in years.
The flat season returns with New Approach colt Dawn Approach getting off to good start in Ireland and Brae Hill winning the Lincoln for Marwan Koukash up at Doncaster.
April
Another month, another win as the brilliant Big Buck’s wins yet again at the Grand National meeting at Aintree. Paul Nicholls also takes the big one as Neptune Collonges wins yet another controversial Grand National which sadly takes the life of Gold Cup winner Synchronised and the popular According To Pete, prompting more calls for the race to be seriously reviewed.
A Stateside holiday meant I missed most of April but in my absence my old favourite Merigo got up at Ayr yet again to land his second Scottish National, while the awesome Black Caviar made it a perfect 20 out of 20 in Australia.
May
May begins with Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot justifying the hype and winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and prompting talk of a potential triple crown bid. In the 1000 Guineas, Ballydoyle are also successful but with a much less fancied horse as Homecoming queen blitzes her opponents to storm home a surprise winner.
In the first US classic of the season I’ll Have Another reeled in the front-running Bodemeister in the straight to take the Kentucky Derby, also prompting talk of the Triple Crown being won.
International phenomenon Black Caviar made it 21 wins on the spin and her odds for Royal Ascot plummeted as the UK’s best sprinters failed to fire at York during the Dante meeting.
Our very own international superstar Frankel returned in devastating fashion with a typically dominant win in the Lockinge to take his unbeaten run to 10.
The month ends with I’ll Have Another once again catching Bodemeister late on the line to win Preakness and keep the triple crown dream alive.
June
June begins with Epsom weekend and another classic win for Ballydoyle as they spring another surprise with Was winning The Oaks in a really messy race, even by Epsom standards.
There’s no such bother for Camelot though as Ballydoyle continue to sweep the classics with their new superstar winning the Derby to keep the Triple Crown dream alive this side of the Atlantic as well. While another Ballydoyle inmate also lights up the Downs as St Nicholas Abbey turns in a fantastic performance to win the Coronation Cup.
One Triple Crown dream is soon down the pan though as the great hope in the US I’ll Have Another is forced in to a shock retirement through injury on the eve of the final leg the Belmont. Union Rags duly takes advantage of this absence to land the third and final US classic under a majestic ride from Johnny Velasquez.
One of the flat season showpieces Royal Ascot enjoys a vintage year, getting off to the best possible start with Frankel destroying the Queen Anne field by an astonishing 11 lengths and becoming Timeform’s highest rated horse of all time in the process.
 |
| Dawn Approach snapped through my own lens at Royal Ascot this year |
In the Gold Cup Frankie leads home a Godolphin 1-2 as Colour Vision beats Opinion Poll and Mickael Barzalona in what at the time seemed a telling result but would be even more poignant a few months later.
John Gosden’s great year continued as Fallen For You landed the Coronation Stakes in a 16-1 shock, while the Queen finally got that Royal Ascot winner in the Queen’s Vase with Estimate.
The Black Caviar circus turns into almost just that as she narrowly makes it 22 wins in a heart-stopping Diamond Jubilee, winning by a short head as jockey Luke Nolen inexplicably eases down on her close to the line with the French challengers bearing down behind.
Tragically young jockey Campbell Gillies dies in an accident on holiday and racing joins together in mourning.
Camelot rounds at June as he began with a Derby win, this time on dire ground in the Irish incarnation of the race, he makes hard work of it though with Born To Sea chasing him home in second and getting closer than he really had any right to.
July
From highs to lows for Ballydoyle as July begins with Eclipse-bound So You Think being found lame in his box and subsequently being scratched from the race, retired and sent off for stud duties.
Off the track the BHA and Betfair agree a landmark deal which will see the betting exchange paying £40 million in to the sport.
The John Gosden show continues as Nathaniel holds off Farhh in the Eclipse as part of an astounding across the card treble for Gosden and owner Lady Rothschild which also included the Lancashire Oaks with Nathaniel’s sister Great Heavens.
In the US Game On Dude took the Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park with Chantal Sutherland becoming the first female winner of the race in its 73 year history.
Our lack of a summer reduced Newmarket’s July Festival to farce with unseasonably soft ground across the 3 days, typified by 20/1 Mayson springing a 5l shocker in the July Cup for a first domestic Group 1 for Richard Fahey & Paul Hanagan on ground changed to heavy.
In France, Imperial Monarch made all to land the Grand Prix De Paris on Bastille Day for the O’Briens, Derby second Main Sequence arguably unlucky though, having no luck under Ted Durcan as he twice tried to weave through only to be blocked off by the winner and second horse.
Arc heroine Danedream took the King George at Ascot for Germany by the smallest of margins in a photo after a wonderful duel with defending champ Nathaniel, St. Nicholas Abbey was back in third after having arguably been given too much to do.
Gosden & William Buick gained compensation the very next day though as the progressive Great Heavens took the Irish Oaks with an impressive turn of foot gaining second favouritism for the St. Leger in the process.
Off the track more sad news as it’s announced Hereford & Folkestone are to be closed down by their owners.
August
August began with Frankel making twelve wins from twelve with a facile win in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
While Sadlers Rock outstayed his rivals to land the Goodwood Cup with Gold Cup winner Colour Vision back in third.
Richard Hughes’ great season continued as he picked up a peach of a spare ride and guided The Fugue to Nassau Stakes glory for John Gosden under one of his trademark Goodwood rides and arguably one of the rides of the season.
And one of my old favourites Hawkeyethenoo finally got a big one after a luckless season, lugging 9st9 to victory in the Stewards’ Cup under the revelatory Graham Lee.
Across the channel Moonlight Cloud produces a devastating performance to win the Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville to gain some sort of atonement for nearly claiming Black Caviar’s sizable scalp back at Royal Ascot.
The Shergar Cup is won by Rest of World team thanks to an inspired Matty Chadwick.
Excelebration boosts the Frankel form – not that it really needed it – by finally getting back to winning ways landing his first Group 1 in a while in France in arguably the most competitive Group 1 of the year.
Hayley Turner becomes the first woman to win the Beverly D Stakes partnering I’m A Dreamer to victory on the Arlington Million undercard in the States.
York’s Ebor festival gets off to an incredible start as Frankel earns quotes for the Arc after destroying the field in the Juddmonte International at his first attempt at the step up to 1m2f on an emotionally charged afternoon.
Joy turns to sadness though as 2013 1000 Guineas favourite Newfangled cracks her pelvis in the Lowther is pulled up after only a couple of furlongs and sadly put down a day later.
The other Aussie mare Ortensia's British summer holiday finally pays off as she lands the Nunthorpe after unleashing a devastating turn of foot to go from last to first under William Buick.
And in what would prove to be his last big win for Godolphin, Frankie Dettori finally won the Ebor aboard Willing Foe to cap another brilliant meeting in a summer full of them.
September
Unsung sprinting hero Society Rock took the Sprint Cup at Haydock while the remarkable Snow Fairy continued her globe-trotting exploits to win the Irish Champion Stakes under Frankie Dettori.
St. Leger day finally arrived and with the Camelot Triple Crown dream making headlines it was inevitably going to end up broken. Outsider Encke under Monsieur Barzalona was the one to cause the upset, stealing first run on Camelot and holding on to thwart the best chance we may have of seeing the Triple Crown won in this lifetime.
Arc trials day at Longchamp saw big wins for Shareta and Moonlight Cloud, but it was Japanese champion Orfevre’s victory on the card that made most headlines, prompting real hope that a Japanese horse could finally win the premier middle distance race in Europe.
October
The race however begins to lose some of its spark as we move in to October though with the field dropping like flies as in the space of four days we lose major contenders Snow Fairy, Danedream and Nathaniel from the race.
Frankie Dettori’s bizarre year continues as he is surprisingly booked for the ride on Camelot in the Arc, somewhat reigniting the flagging interest in the race after the aforementioned non-runners.
The ultra-consistent Cirrus Des Aigles turns the Prix Dollar in to a precession on his return at Arc weekend initiating a school of thought that he could be the one to spoil Frankel’s final run later in the month.
In the US Shanghai Bobby lays claim to being the best two-year-old in training with impressive Champagne Stakes win at Belmont. While on the Arc undercard Richard Hannon’s Olympic Glory cements his position as the second best British and Irish two-year-old in training with a comfortable win in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
The Arc once again throws up a surprise as massive outsider Solemia takes the race and breaks Japanese hearts in the process just beating out the wandering Orfevre as many of the main contenders fail to go on the ground.
On Future Champions Day leading two-year-olds Dawn Approach and Reckless Abandon star both remaining unbeaten. While Aaim to Prosper becomes the first horse to ever win the Cesarewitch twice by coming home in front at the monster price of 66/1.
One week later on Champions Day Ireland dominate as Rite to Passage comes back from a long absence to win the stayers race after a training performance for the ages from Dermot Weld. Weld then made it two out two on the day as mud-loving Sapphire took the Fillies & Mares race.
Maarek then won the sprint race for the Irish before Excelebration stepped out of Frankel’s shadow, at least temporarily, and took the QEII in dominant fashion.
Champions Day was all about one horse though and Frankel was retired unbeaten winning his fourteenth straight race beating Cirrus Des Aigles on the soft ground in spite of falling out of the stalls.
After an odd year, Frankie Dettori finally ended his long association with Godolphin and announced he would be freelance in 2013.
In the last big domestic flat race of the season Aidan O’Brien’s supplemented Kingsbarns took the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster to become clear favourite for the 2013 Derby.
Jumping returned and For Non Stop destroyed his rivals in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree with a hugely impressive display beginning a trend for second season chasers to be the ones to beat this season.
October ended with sad news though as Paul Nicholls officially announced the retirement of the legendary Kauto Star prompting an outpouring of emotion and reminiscing from the racing world.
November
November kicks off with the Breeders’ Cup and Royal Delta began the weekend in wonderful style winning her second consecutive Ladies Classic under a masterful ride by Mr. Breeders’ Cup Mike Smith.
As one chapter ended another began and a new chasing star emerged for Paul Nicholls as Silviniaco Conti routed the Charlie Hall field up at Wetherby. Meanwhile over at Down Royal Kauto Stone proved a poignant winner of the race his brother won twice winning the JNWine Champion Chase.
Back at Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup, Shanghai Bobby puts in a brave performance to land the Juvenile and cement his position as leading two-year-old in America. St. Nicholas Abbey missed out in the Turf race this time around though as Little Mike sprung somewhat of a surprise to take the spoils.
Wise Dan proved himself one of the best in the world in the Mile with a strong performance beating Excelebration and Fort Larned capped the weekend by wiring the field in the Classic to fend off the stretch challenge of Mucho Macho Man and Mike Smith.
In the race that stops a nation it is a home-based winner as Green Moon lifts the Melbourne Cup, and although the European raiders were largely disappointing it was somewhat of an achievement for the Irish bloodstock industry as the first seven home were all Irish bred.
Frankie Dettori’s up and down year continued as it was shockingly announced he had tested positive for a banned substance on Arc Trials Day back in September and he would have to face a disciplinary hearing with the prospect of a ban looming large.
Back on the track, Al Ferof landed the Paddy Power Gold Cup on desperate ground under a big weight to throw his hat in to the ring to be Paul Nicholls’ next star chaser.
Silviniaco Conti had something to say about that though and took up the mantle left by Kauto Star one week later when landing the Betfair Chase from Long Run for messrs Nicholls and Walsh as a statue of the great Kauto Star is also unveiled at the course.
While Nicky Henderson has a mixed day at Ascot as Champion Chaser Finians Rainbow trails in last of 4 in the Amlin Chase but Oscar Whisky shows his class in the Coral Hurdle.
December
The last month of the year begins in style as Bobs Worth posts a highly impressive performance in landing the Hennessy at Newbury and catapulting himself to Gold Cup favouritism.
On the same card Big Buck’s extended his incredible winning run to 18 with a mere Berkshire stroll landing the Long Distance Hurdle; while up at Newcastle Triumph and Supreme winners clashed with Countrywide Flame running out an impressive Fighting Fifth winner over Cinders And Ashes.
Frankie Dettori receives an unwanted Christmas gift in the shape of a 6 month ban from France Galop for his positive test on Arc Trials day meaning he’ll miss the start of the flat season but will be back for his beloved Royal Ascot.
The next great chasing superstar Sprinter Sacre is utterly dominant as he easily lands the Tingle Creek. While up at Aintree the Twiston-Davies team enjoy a great day as evergreen fourteen-year-old Hello Bud wins the Becher for a second time.
Internationally, Ed Dunlop’s admirable Red Cadeaux made up for being so unlucky in the Melbourne Cup just over a year earlier by landing the Hong Kong Vase.
Off the track though it was handbags at dawn as Paul Nicholls and Clive Smith clashed over Kauto Star’s retirement plans and the great chaser left Nicholls’ yard to try his hand at show-jumping adding a pretty unsavoury footnote to a great career.
Nicholls’ up and down month continued with a fantastic Saturday at Cheltenham which included Zarkandar staying on best to win the International Hurdle.
It was more bad news just days later for Nicholls though as Al Ferof and star hurdler Big Buck’s were ruled out for the season with injury.
The month and the year ended aptly though with a couple of thrilling races to cap a thrilling year. First Long Run outstayed Captain Chris on desperate ground on Boxing Day to just land a thrilling King George and then Tidal Bay rolled back the years to take the Lexus under a masterful Ruby Walsh picking off a non-staying Flemenstar.
Elsewhere over the festive period there were big wins on the Kempton undercard for Darlan who put up an impressive display to go favourite for the Champion Hurdle when winning the Christmas Hurdle and Dynaste who easily won the Feltham to confirm himself the best 3m novice chaser around.
In Ireland the year was punctuated by Hurricane Fly recording an effortless win in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle to remind everyone just how good he is.
2012 truly was a remarkable year for Racing but if possible 2013 looks like being even bigger and better!
No comments:
Post a Comment