The Anonymous Widower

Are You Watching Cyril?

Vague Shot is a horse I own and he goes by the nickname of Cyril.  He is known for winning the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in 1987 under top weight in heavy going. He did have the advantage of carrying the best jockey, who ever rode for C or myself, Steve Cauthen. Sadly, we didn’t own the horse at that time and only acquired him later in the year.

A few years later he ran in the first race at Royal Ascot, the Queen Anne Stakes. He wasn’t expected to do well, but we did have a good day out.

I do remember that day, that he was saddled by Julie, Sir Henry Cecil‘s first wife. C commented her on her amazing jacket and Julie said that she’d got it for a few pounds in an Oxfam shop. C approved, especially as it was so good.

Incidentally, Vague Shot is now 29 and happily turned out in a field at the stud I still own and am trying to sell.

This year’s race incidentally was a procession, won by the best horse in the world, Frankel, who is trained by Sir Henry Cecil.

I used to think that Brigadier Gerard was the best horse, I’ve seen either in real life or on television. He now must be rated the best horse, I’ve only seen in black and white. I can still hear Peter O’Sullevan calling out “Here comes the Brigadier!” on the television commentary. Some years ago, I had the pleasure of talking to Joe Mercer, who rode Brigadier Gerard in his races, at a time when I think Xaar was being touted as the greatest. Joe still thought in his heart then that Brigadier was the best.  If he still favours the Brigadier, it will be because of this incident.

 The Sunday prior to the Brigadier’s third race of the season (at Royal Ascot) Mercer flew to France in a small plane with three others. Soon after take-off the plane crashed and luckily Mercer was thrown clear. He rushed back to the plane and pulled out the trainer Bill Marshall. He could not get the pilot out of the wreckage and gave up trying just before the plane went exploded. Unsurprisingly Mercer was shaken up and there was talk that he would not take the ride on the Brigadier on the first day of Royal Ascot. After taking a day off Mercer declared himself fit to ride on the Tuesday of Royal Ascot and he lined up on Brigadier Gerard for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. As it was the Brigadier gave one of his most stunning displays beating a field which included the future Irish Derby winner, Steel Pulse, effortlessly. Unlike other runs Mercer reported that the horse did not pull as much as usual. However Mercer felt unwell after the race and did not ride again at the meeting or for the next week.

Joe Mercer was reported at the time to have said something like, the horse did it all himself. There’s a video of it here on YouTube.

June 19, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | Sport | Horse Racing