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Sweet Nightingale was a speedy two year old by Swing Easy out of Cabaret.
She was purchased for just 1,000 guineas and proved to be a real bargain.
She was part of a superb set of sprinters trained at the yard in the mid-1970s. Pennina, Scattered Scarlet, and Partridge Brook were just a few to mention.
Success came as a combination of two factors. Firstly, it needed a good eye and judgement to pick her out at the sales, as she was from the first crop of Swing Easy and there was little to go on in terms of the stallion. Secondly it was the year the all-weather gallop was first put in. "What a job that was shovelling sawdust out of them trailers. I think we had over 80 winners that season. Great Times," remembers Brian Bivens who rode work on the gallop every day.
Sweet Nightingale's made her debut at Teesside Park, where she finished third.
Her first victory came in the Carberry Plate at Edinburgh on 21st April 1975, ridden by Eddie Hide. She went on to win four times as a two year old. Her biggest win was the Group 3 Seaton Delaval Stakes at Newcastle in 1975 ridden by Bruce Raymond, beating Red God by two lengths at odds of 9-1. It was a controversial renewal of the race as the favourite, African Winner, was blinkered first time and he bolted to post. The racecourse vet withdrew him having ruled that he had used up too much energy, and in the event Sweet Nightingale romped away with the race.
Later in the season she was second in the Lowther Stakes at York.
Returning as a three year old Sweet Nightingale failed to make the frame in her first four outings. However, she would win what would prove to be her final race on 28th July 1976 at Goodwood. Partnered by Joe Mercer she won the Singleton 3-yo Handicap at odds of 9-1. She would retire to the paddocks having won 5 of her 15 races.
The picture shows her after winning the Singleton 3-yo Handicap at Goodwood ridden by Joe Mercer.
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