Tam's mention of him in his article about frequency of races, prompted me to go surfing. Although I was a punter in these times, I wasn't really aware of some of these facts. Like - "6 wins in 7 weeks" ......... Enjoy STALBRIDGE COLONIST by Tony Ward Stalbridge Colonist, a grey by Colonist II, was foaled in 1959 at the Stalbridge Stud in Dorset. Bred by Harry Dufosee, he was owned by Reg Blundell, chairman of Plymouth Argyle and trained by Ken Cundell. He started his career over hurdles, winning four moderate races over a two and a half year period. Sparkling Sequence He won first time out over fences in November 1965 and managed two more wins before the end of the year. During a seven week period between February and April 1966 he ran up a sparkling sequence of six wins. In the summer, after a hectic campaign, he was sent to France and finished second in the Prix des Drags at Auteuil, beaten only half a length by the French Grand National winner, Cacao. Swamp fever restrictions in France meant a delay to his return to these shores and he only arrived back a week before his first race of the 1966-67 season. Arkle Beaten Not surprisingly after his excursions, he made no show but amazingly was to be turned out for the Hennessy just a week later. Only six contested the race but what a field!. The mighty Arkle under a welter burden of 12-7, dual Grand National runner-up Freddie and subsequent Gold Cup winner What A Myth. Jumping with his usual brilliance Arkle set a strong gallop and took up the running at the second fence. Turning for home, Arkleâs jump at the second last was matched only by Stalbridge Colonist, the only horse who could go with him. Ridden by Stan Mellor, he landed running at the last and under a strong drive held on by half a length at the line from the game and battling Arkle. The 25-1 outsider of six was getting 35lbs from Arkle and joined the illustrious list of Mill House, Happy Spring, Dormant, Flying Wild and Buona Notte in beating the great horse over fences. The form was given a solid boost a month later when Stalbridge Colonist went down by only half a length to Woodland Venture in the Gold Cup with What A myth again in third place. The Little Grey With The Mighty Heart In 1967, a Hennessy double was foiled by just a head, giving 20lbs to Rondetto after overcoming massive interference by the fall of Larbawn on the second circuit. What A Myth was again in third. In 1969, his final glory came in the Mildmay Memorial Chase at Sandown. Giving 35lbs to the Red Rondo, he got the better of the bottom weight in the final strides to win by a head, both horses giving everything in a driving finish. Another third place for What A myth. A Sad Decline After winning the Gainsborough Chase at Sandown in 1969 he broke down badly at Towcester. On his owners death he was sold out of Ken Cundellâs yard and sent to join Martin Tate. Sadly his injury had taken itâs toll and he never recovered his form. He moved on to Josh Giffords yard and ran his last race at Southwell in 1971 finishing a distance fourth in a moderate affair. His indignity was complete when he was entered in Ascotâs sales as a prospect for the Point-To-Point field. Kindness Again Fortunately, he was spared by his breeder Harry Dufosee who bought the old horse for 650 guineas and allowed him to retire in peace. In 1976 Harry, who died later that year, gave the horse to a devoted fan, Barbara Bowen who lived near the Somerset Stalbridge Stud. He moved to Barbaraâs farmhouse and had a happy retirement before he died in 1980 at the grand age of 21. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTSCRIPT, from the Racing Post, August 2002 FRANK BOYD, an owner with Willie Mullins and Ian Ferguson- and boss of Killultagh Properties, one of Northern Ireland's leading property developers -is the new owner of the 1966 Hennessy Gold Cup trophY after purchasing the unique item of racing memorabilia at an auction on Wednesday, writes Graham Green. The hammer price of the trophy, won at the time by Stalbridge Colonist after an epic battle with Arkle, was £6,800. Boyd has to pay an addi- tional17 per cent commis- sion following the Dreweatt Neate auction at Donnington, near Newbury. A public relations spokesman for Boyd said later: "The cup will go on display at the Northern Ireland Festival of Racing at Down Royal in November where Mr Boyd's company sponsors the Premier Novice Chase, and he personally has runners at the meeting: The cup was sold by Ron BlindelI, 47, a railway company manager from Hungerford whose father; of the same name, owned the Ken CundelI-trained grey Stalbridge Colonist at the time of his Newbury triumph. Among the under-bidders was the family of the grey's breeder; Harry Dufosee, who learned of the sale in last week's Racing Post. Also sold with the trophy were two photographs of Stalbridge Colonist, one with winning jockey Stan Mellor; and a reel of BBC film and commentary of the race
A slight understatement Ron! I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure that sending a horse to run in France in the mid 60's was a lot less routine than it is now. To have stayed there longer than planned, then run the race that he did just 2 weeks later speaks volumes It also highlights Arkle's brilliance - 2.1/2 stone to the winner and beaten half a length. Further - it highlights the difference in ownerships from then to now as I commented on in my post in Tam's thread. Can you imagine Frankel's owners allowing him to run in handicaps? (Different codes, but both horses legends in their own lifetimes)
You could take that view Ron - which horse performed the best? I prefer to see it as two great performances by two good horses
I'm sure Stalbridge Colonist was the horse ridden by Eddie Harty in the Scottish National when he rode a finish a circuit too early, thought he had won and pulled up - only to see the rest of the field gallop past him onto the final circuit.
Super article Reebok, brings back distant and mostly happy memories! Thank you. (Now going to hibernate until Cheltenham . I just hate January and February, but have my official DVD of the Olympics (5 discs) and am expecting the Frankel DVD in the next few days after pre-ordering it, so won't be so bad!. All the best to all on the forum! ).
I really liked Stalbridge Colonist and his fighting spirit was matched by Stan Mellor's riding. A few dates seem wrong because the Hennessy is in November and the Gold Cup in March so it was almost 5 months later he went down to the year younger Woodland Venture. His running in the Hennessy was repeated in the next years race almost pound for pound with What a Myth. In the '66 Hennesy Stalbridge Colonist carried 10.0 to Arkles' 12.7 and What a Myth's 10.2 and there was 2 lengths between them. In the '67 race Stalbridge Colonist ran off 11.7 and What a Myth 11.5, and there was half a length between them. In the '67 Gold Cup at level weights he was 2 lengths in front of What a Myth. He seemed to run 3 races against What a Myth where there was at most a 2lb range in his performance: that's exceptional consistency and fits very much with the horse. I don't think you can say he wasn't wound up for the Hennessy with that kind of analysis and anyway it was his 4th race of the season. He may have been in France but he's hardly likely to have been in the Smoker's Waiting Room at Dieppe Ferry Terminal all that time! It was Arkles's first race of the season, he, as an older horse, may not have been fully wound up. But for Arkle to be rated 34 or 34.5 lbs better than Stalbridge Colonist is clearly spectacular. It means he's also 34 lbs or so better than What a Myth. You can't crab the form, it's so consistent Fulkes, You are right. In the 1970 Scottish National Harty struggled to count after 1. But Stalbridge was a lovely horse.
