Charlie Swan wins legends race on Miami Gator
Some of them were nearly too big for the breeches, and there were a few wisecracks that the racecourse ambulance may be required to provide resuscitation, but a group of yesterday’s heroes helped to breathe life into the first day of Doncaster’s St Leger meeting.
The Fudge and Smudge Leger Legends Classified Stakes brought together jockeys who were the winners of over 20,000 races between them and even if many of them dated back to the days of black-and-white they brought a dash of colour to the card.
The race, which was devised by former trainer Jack Berry to raise money for the Injured Jockeys Fund and Northern Racing School, brought together 16 former riders.
Charlie Swan may have made his name as the champion jump jockey of Ireland and riding the mighty Istabraq to win three Champion Hurdles, but his first winner came on the Flat in 1983 and he had clearly not forgotten the basics of riding a straight mile on the level. He pinged the gates with Miami Gator to lead the main group while across the field Graham Bradley was riding a quiet race on Aflaam, trying to conserve energies – both of his horse and himself. At the other end of the field the indefatigable Graham Thorner was riding for his life on Jackson – trouble was the horse was not as interested – as Miami Gator pulled one-and-three-quarter lengths clear of Legal Legacy, with Aflaam in third.
However having added to the more than a thousand career winners Swan considered switching back from training to riding for about as long as it took to summon up the answer. “Definitely not,” he said, not wasting too much breath as it had become too valuable a commodity after his exertions. “I’d seen Brad heading me probably three-and-a-half out but it’s fairly easy when you’re on the best horse in the race.”
Paul Hanagan has become the jockey for this year, with the championship coming closer with every winner, and he rode a double, on his 30th birthday, the highlight of which was the last-stride victory on Myplacelater, over Wigmore Hall, in the Wilson Field Neurocare Conditions Stakes. It is a sign of the jockey’s burgeoning reputation this season that he picked up the ride on David Elsworth’s filly and the trainer thinks that he might have the next star in the yard with this one. “She’s a decent filly and I’m sure she’ll stay further and I’ll probably put her away now. I think she’ll improve next year.”
Prohibit is a horse who is improving but he will need to be if he is to match the ambitions of his trainer, Robert Cowell. After Prohibit had come with a well-timed run from Jamie Spencer to win the Listed Scarbrough Stakes, his trainer was aiming at the stars with a plan to take on the best in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp next month. “It’s just awesome – I am elated,” he said. “What a horse – and brilliant, sporting owners. He’s a proper horse, five furlongs is definitely his forte, and we’ll probably go for the Abbaye now.”
There were no lofty targets announced for Whisper Louise when she won the opening nursery but that could have been because the trainer had elected to give the meeting a miss. Pam Sly had decided to forego that pleasure in favour of a fishing trip on the river Tay.
What a legend.
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