Down Memory Lane (Part 9). Sagaro- Recollections Of A Great Stayer | Horse Racing

When, in 1975, Lester Piggott donned the chocolate and white hooped silks of well-known owner, Gerry Oldham, he’d already won five Ascot Gold Cups on Zarathustra, Gladness, Pandofell, Twilight Alley, and Fighting Charlie.
Traditionally, the two and a half mile race was the blue riband of the Royal Ascot card and a prize coveted by all trainers. Very often, it attracted Classic winners from previous seasons and was far removed from the relatively mediocre status it now carries.
When Lester mounted Francois Boutin’s four year old, Sagaro, he had already won on the colt the year before as a three year old, beating Dick Hern’s top three year old, Bustino, over 12 furlongs in the Grand Prix De Paris at Longchamp.
His main rivals were Prix Du Cadran winner, Le Bavard- who had beaten him on soft ground in the Prix Du Cadran- and Irish St Leger winner, Mistigri.
A furlong from home, Lester unleashed the colt and burst clear for an emphatic four lengths success- showing the fantastic acceleration that was to be the hallmark of his career.
The following year (1976) Sagaro smoothly disposed of future Goodwood Stakes and Doncaster Cup winner, Sea Anchor, as well as Northumberland Plate winner, Crash Course.
However, his 1977 triumph was arguably his finest of all. Not only was he taking on St Leger winner, Bruni, but also Angel Penna’s redoubtable stayer, Buckskin, whom Henry Cecil would later train to win a host of top Cup Races.
Although Buckskin had beaten Sagaro twice prior to Ascot, Boutin had a knack for preparing him for the stayer’s showpiece, and the horse always seemed to need the sun on his back and good, fast ground.
The race itself was a revelation and certainly one of the greatest performances by a stayer in the event’s illustrious history.
Buckskin tried to make all but, taking the lead a furlong out, Sagaro cantered home on a tight rein by five lengths. Moreover, he broke the six furlongs course record for that final portion of the race. Though not electronically timed, it was a staggering achievement by a phenomenal stayer with an electric turn of foot.
His owner said he would never come back for another tilt- and that he might run over a middle distance. In fact, that never happened and he retired to stud- but with no success.
The quality and acceleration that Sagaro possessed makes one wonder how he would have fared in say the Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe.
Few post-war Ascot Gold Cup winners have tried, but those bold enough have certainly done themselves justice- and dispelled the myth that top class stayers just don’t have the speed.
In recent times, Fame And Glory won the Gold Cup – following two attempts at The Arc, but the only two horses (I can remember) which went to The Arc after winning the Ascot crown were Levmoss and Westerner.
How ironic that Levmoss started at 80/1 when winning at Longchamp, even though he had beaten the odds on favourite, Park Top, over 1 mile 5 furlongs at Newbury previously.
Likewise Westerner ran a great race and, though outpointed by Hurricane Run, beat the rest of the field with comparative ease.
Alas, the days of “the great stayers” are long gone. Although Aidan O’Brien and Godolphin target the race, it’s seen as an unwanted marathon by the majority of trainers; and is a shadow of its former self.
The Ascot Stakes and Queen Alexandra Handicaps are caricatures of their former glories, and the fields assembled just don’t belong at the Royal Meeting any longer.
All that’s left are memories- albeit great ones.
Share your memories with us. Which stayers do you remember?

 

It's a shame like you said Tam that these races are somewhat losing their iconic status slowly but surely with only the odd 'big' yard targeting good horses for it. Hopefully it will make a resurgance again, sooner rather than later. Good write and good read. Unfortunately i am not old enough to offer memories of great stayers, just more recent ones but i enjoy reading your fond memories of these good animals.

 

Hi, SaveTheHumans. Yeah, it's a shame. I used to love the staying races and especially the big handicaps - with great weight carrying performances by horses such as Trelawny, Grey Of Falloden, John Cherry, etc.

 

Brings back some memories Tam. I remember backing Zarathustra when, as a young lad, I went to Ascot with my dad. Another stayer I recall but never see any mention of was a horse called By Thunder. Any recollections of that one?

 

From memory, I think By Thunder won The Ebor in heavy ground- but I don't know anything else about him, Ron.
If you remember Zarathustra, then you've probably had more old age pension than I have- I was only 9 years old when he won.
You probably remember Methuselah as well, Ron, eh?

 

Tamerlo as ever a great thread. The stayer who I remember apart from the ones you mention is Le Moss, who did the stayer's triple crown twice. He was Levmoss's full brother. You say Sagaro beat Bustino in the Grand Prix de Paris which is absolutely correct. I worry about the distance though. I think it was 15&1/2furlongs and not 12f although Wikipedia agrees with you. They have put it back to 12f after having at 10f for many years. The 1974 Grand Prix de Paris was run on soft ground that suited Sagaro but not Bustino, he went better on firm. But no mistake Sagaro was a star. I think he was a reasonable stallion as well.
The other horse you omitted is Ardross who ran 2nd to Le Moss in all the 1980 Cup Races but did the triple crown the next year AND finished second in the Arc.
Thanks for the memories.

 

When I was a youngster I used to read a book from 1954 called Great Racehorses by Clive Graham. In it it featured By Thunder who as you say won the Ebor of 1954. I reckon from the picture that he was owned but not bred by Lionel B Holiday. He was by Nearco, whom Holiday worshipped. If Holiday had bred him his name would have started with an N.
He also won the Yorkshire Cup and was second in the Hardwicke.
Jakie Astor who bred Trelawny, bought By Thunder's sister who he named Warning. She was the dam of Persian War and the grand-dam of Remand (of whom we've spoken before): Hern always referred to him as the unluckiest horse I ever trained.
I went to Middleham about 5 uears ago and bought a copy of that Clive Graham book!!

 

Good morning, Bustino. You may well be right about the distance of the Grand Prix De Paris. I have managed to find out that it was originally a two mile race- and amended to 12 furlongs in 2005.
However, there had been several changes in distance "in between," so Sagaro may well have been favoured by a longer, 'in-between trip.' Either way, both were tremendous horses.
Talking of Trelawny, Bustino, I was friendly many years ago with a chap called Gordon Mercer. His grandad was Syd Mercer who trained Trelawny at Lambourn before George Todd acquired him.
Gordon and I went to Warwick races(Flat) one August and he presented the trophy for The Syd Mercer Handicap. I think it's still run.
Syd Mercer must have been a decent trainer (National Hunt also) - he won the Kim Muir with Menzies in 1952 and the Broadway Novices(now RSA) with Glen Fire in 1949. What else he won I don't know, but Gordon said he specialised in treating horses through their eyes. Having done a bit of research, it seems he was the first equine iridologist ie, treating degenerative and other conditions through scanning the iris. I hope I'm not teaching you how to suck eggs but, if not, the link below may be of interest.

http://www.equineiridology.eu/iridology.php

 

Tamerlo, A good morning to you and sorry for not replying earlier but have been busy, too busy. Fascinating read thank you and even more interesting that you knew the family. I am certain that he had other skills. In Hislop's book on the Brigadier I'm sure Hern got Syd Mercer in to charm away some warts BG had on his mouth as a 2yo. Apparently he had this ability to just make warts disappear. One thing I'd love to know is why Syd mercer trained Trelawny and why Astor sold him. Trelawny ran 30 times between 1959 and 1963 winning 11 races. Have no idea if he ran as a 2yo in 1958 but he didn't win if he did. Also don't know if he ran after '63. Can someone help?

However I am a bit more certain on By Thunder. He ran 18 times as a 2yo/3yo/4yo and won 6 races from 6f to 16f. As I said he was Group 2/3 standard.

Going back to Sagaro it is to his credit that he beat Buckskin at Ascot, who must have been his near equal. Other than at Ascot Buckskin always had the beating of Sagaro. I reread some Timeform stuff and they said that Buckskin's performances in the Doncaster Cup and Jockey Club Cup of 1978 were always his best performances. He simply slaughtered his fields. Cecil and Buckskin were made for each other and it was one of the saddest things I've seen when he didn't win the '79 Gold Cup.

Interestingly enough they rated Ardross as the best of them, maybe swayed by the Arc 2nd. Was Ardross trained by Cecil a better horse than Le Moss (obviously trained by Cecil)?? On known form when he wasn't trained by Cecil he must come out as a 1lb behind Le Moss.

 

Bustino, good morning. Re. Syd Mercer's family, it was only Gordon I knew. He lived 200 yards from me in Nuneaton, and we went for 2 or 3 years to the quiz at our local pub. Then he moved down south and I lost touch.
Re. Trelawny, of course he ran over hurdles until the mid sixties (probably '66) winning at the Festival and at Liverpool as well-I think. I've tried to find out more about him, but past information is difficult. It seems Syd Mercer acquired Trelawny by taking over Windsor House Stables,Lambourn, from Tom Rimell in 1959.
Re. Sagaro, Ascot and good ground obviously suited him. Le Moss, Ardross, and Buckskin were all great stayers-the latter virtually unbeatable on heavy ground. Also I remember Fighting Charlie's tremendous Ascot Gold Cup win, but I don't remember much about Gladness- but she must have been quite a mare.

 

Yes I know he ran over hurdles. I heard a story that people were saying he should be put over fences and Biddlecome took him up to the training fences. Apparently he jumped like a stag, but Biddlecome came back and said 'no he can't do that as well' and he was retired. They loved him so much.
He didn't win after '63 on the flat but in '64 I think he was expected to deliver the Queen Alexandria Stakes for the third time but the race was not run because of Royal Ascot being waterlogged.

 

Brown Jack, winner of Queen Alexandra Stakes, erm, 6-times was it (1929-34)?

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I read the book on Brown Jack, goodness knows where it's gone now. I think they still run the BJ Stakes at the July meeting and it used to be over the same distance as the QA, but shortened now. He must have been some horse? Most racegoers at that meeting now probably think it's named after something to eat.

 

Thanks OddDog (must admit when I saw you had replied I thought you were picking up on the BJ: why would I think that?). Some really good stuff. I'd forgotten Wernher owned him. Lady Zia Wernher owned Charlottown and they were generally lucky owners, but Gordon Smyth said they were the most miserable people he ever had the misfortune to meet.

Brown Jack must have been something special and must have just loved racing.

 

Brown Jack is one of just a handful of racehorses who have had a public house, or ‘boozer’ to use common parlance, named after him. And do you know what I’ve been in the said hostelry. It's very close to where he used to be stabled in Wroughton in Wiltshire.

 

Brown Jack must have been a tremendous horse to win the Champion Hurdle as a four year old- let alone the rest of his Flat exploits.
Thanks for the links, Oddy.

 

.......if we go back to Brown Jack, you have to rewind a little to a truly genuine star amongst stayers: that horse is Alycidon. Not only did he achieve the staying triple crown but he won top races from 8f upwards (17 starts: 11 wins and 6 places). His one slip up appears to have been his second in the Leger. And unlike most of the staying colts mentioned here he was Champion sire once and would have been a second time if the nobblers hadn't got hold of his son Alcide. Foaled in 1945 there must be a few coffin dodgers on here who ran at the same time as him, even if it was only in the park.

 

"Coffin dodgers".........