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The batch of yearlings I purchased from Tattersalls Sales at Newmarket in October 1985 included a very special horse that was to give me one of the happiest moments in my life. As 1985 drew to a close he was an anonymous chestnut colt but he would become Wiganthorpe, probably the best two-year-old I have ever trained. A striking chestnut with three white socks and a big white face, he cost just 2,000 guineas at the sales after failing his veterinary checks due to a breathing problem. He was foaled in Ireland in 1984, by the top-class sprinter Thatching, who I'd seen win the Duke Of York Stakes in 1979. Wiganthorpe was owned by my daughter, Susan, and named after a nearby hamlet. He had immense speed at home on the gallops. Physically he was as sound a horse as you could find but he was also downright lazy. Wiganthorpe made his debut at Thirsk in the Clifton Stakes on 19th April 1986 and showed very little. He was runner-up twice before penny really dropped at Beverley in June 1986 in the Massey Europower 2-Year-Old Trophy. He’d shown ability at home but to date had been disappointing on the racecourse. Wiganthorpe faced four rivals at Beverley, all of them holding entries in the Windsor Castle Stakes, but there had been a whisper that he was better than the formbook suggested and as word got out he was backed from 25/1 to 18/1. A furlong out Wiganthorpe was last but when Terry asked him to quicken the rank outsider showed incredible acceleration up the hill at Beverley, passing the rest of the field and win by five lengths. In June I ran Wiganthorpe in the Chesters 2-Year-Old Stakes at Newcastle. The word 'ran' is used loosely here as he didn’t need to run at all to secure his victory. To my astonishment he was the only horse declared for the race, worth £2,472, so he collected the prize-money by simply walking over the course. The prizemoney was consolation for a gamble that went awry on my other runner that afternoon when Waterdale finished third. Wiganthorpe had to exert himself a little more when he followed up at Haydock Park and after that he won the three runner Eccleston Stakes at Chester which brought up the four timer, despite him having only actually competed in three races. Phoenix Park, Ireland, was his next race where he’d tackle the Heinz 57 Stakes. This was a big step up in class and he’d be taking on the best two-year-olds in the country in the richest two-year-old race in Europe. He performed well under Terry Lucas finishing a close fourth to the superb filly Minstrella. "This horse will win the Gimcrack. But he wants blinkers," said Terry after dismounting. Saddle in hand he turned and walked away to weigh in, as if he’d just got off a plater after finishing last at Catterick. Terry was a man of few words. He never got excited or exaggerated like most flat jockeys. Any Yorkshire trainer will tell you that winners on the Knavesmire are special, and even more so if you are fortunate enough to train a winner at the famous Ebor meeting held in mid-August. Although I'd trained plenty of York winners over the last 25 years I'd never had a runner in the Gimcrack. However my Uncle Walter had actually won the race back in 1935. The Gimcrack victory of Paul Beg in 1935 had been the pinnacle of his career and in Wiganthorpe I knew that I had a chance to achieve my own ambition. It was the one race above all that I wanted to win. On the first day on the 1986 Ebor meeting I had a fancied horse in the opening race. I booked Willie Carson to ride Jays Special who had hacked up at Haydock a week previously. The horse was heavily backed from double figure odds into 9/2 joint favourite but was beaten half a length and it was a disappointing start to the week. However, our luck was to change and later that afternoon, the eve of the Gimcrack. Late that afternoon I was approached by Robert Sangster. In his usual direct manner he told me straight that he wanted to buy Wiganthorpe. The offer caught me by surprise and I needed to think things through carefully. In particular, what price did I want for the horse. It was clear that should he be successful the following day his value would soar as given his exemplary breeding he would be much sought after as a stallion. Robert wanted to win the Gimcrack and here he saw a great opportunity. I think he wanted it so he could make the speech at the Gimcrack dinner in December above all things. The champagne flowed that evening, all on Robert's account, as he courted me to get the best deal he could. He knew what he spent on champagne would be paid back many times over if he could get a good price. I was patient and played the long game and after two hours of discussions we agreed on a figure. The transaction was sealed with a handshake and Robert now owned a half-share in the horse. But it came with conditions. Firstly, Wiganthorpe would carry the famous Sangster colours just like his sire, Thatching, had done when he had won the Duke Of York Stakes on the Knavesmire in 1979. Secondly, Robert Sangster's retained jockey, Willie Carson, would take the ride. This had repercussions as Terry Lucas had won four times on Wiganthorpe and knew him better than anyone. But I had no choice and my hand was forced. Terry took the news well. He didn't flap or get angry, he just took it. I can think of many a flat jockey who'd have gone berserk at losing a potential Group winning ride the day before the race but not Terry. Terry was the ultimate professional. The following day I awoke at New House Farm with a head that was not too clear as a consequence of Mr Sangster's hospitality the previous evening. At around eleven o’clock Wiganthorpe, unaware of the previous evening’s business, was loaded onto his box at New House Farm for the short journey to York. Accompanying Wiganthorpe was a horse called Pannanich Wells, who would run in the final race of the day. Pannanich Wells was a son of my Champion sprinter Lochnager who had won the Nunthorpe some ten years earlier. The box set off and it was now down to horse and jockey. He was spot on for the race and I could do no more. The next time I saw Wiganthorpe was at the racecourse, and the big shiny chestnut colt had never looked better. The final preparations were made and Wiganthorpe was saddled and, as Terry had advised, a set of blinkers was fitted. An announcement was made over the racecourse loudspeaker system that there would be a colour change as the deal had been done after the racecards for the day had been printed. After circling the parade ring Willie Carson, wearing the famous blue, green and white silks, mounted Wiganthorpe and they went to post. Wiganthorpe took it all in his stride. He ran his heart out and in a thrilling finish Willie Carson drove him home to beat Mansooj by a short head. I'd never heard a roar like it at York. It felt like the roof of the stand had lifted as the crowd cheered home a Yorkshire Gimcrack winner. A contented Robert Sangster shook my hand. He knew he'd done a very smart bit of business and he’d get his money back and plenty more now Wiganthorpe had cemented his destiny as a stallion. We celebrated that evening, although the following morning wasn't so great as I had a terrible headache after several bottles of champagne. Wiganthorpe ran once more as a juvenile in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster where he finished nowhere. He showed little as a three-year-old and never recaptured anything like his juvenile form and he was promptly retired to stud. After several seasons standing in the UK, Wiganthorpe was exported to Australia on 22nd September 1993 and went on to stand as a successful stallion in the southern hemisphere. He died at the age of 23 in November 2007 after spending the best part of two decades covering mares. The proceeds from the sale, or more accurately 'sales', of Wiganthorpe were used to buy a farm where one of my daughters still lives to this day. |
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