yesterday’s hero
Graham Buddry looks at the amazing finale to the wonderful career of the great Sprinter Sacre
Graham Buddry remembers the wonderful Sprinter Sacre
Film and television sometimes have defining moments; the rare events that take a given moment into immortality, raises hairs on the back of your neck, can bring tears of incredulity to your eyes and live in your heart and mind forever.
In the final scene of Butch Cassidy
and The Sundance Kid a shot-up Paul Newman and Robert Redford run out all guns blazing as the picture is frozen while the soundtrack reveals a hundred guns firing at our heroes.
Take the cricketing saga Bodyline. The imperious Don Bradman comes in to bat, Harold Larwood begins his run up then the captain, Douglas Jardine, steps forward and claps his hands. The fielders change to the close in positions, Larwood steams in again, pitches the ball short and Bradman is out.
Then there is Zulu. Who can forget the three lines of red coated soldiers facing the overwhelming hordes of Zulu warriors in a last stand only inches from death as the officers shouted: “Front rank, fire! Reload. Middle rank, fire! Reload. Rear rank, fire! Reload,” continuously until the day was won.
Horse racing has one of those amazingly defining, magical sequences too, and that was the 3 minutes 48.9 seconds of a Wednesday afternoon on March 26, 2016 at Cheltenham. Alone it was something extra special but due to the insightful genius of an unknown behind-thescenes member of the Channel 4 racing team, this moment became an iconic moment never seen or heard before which would indelibly touch anyone with a love for racing.
Three years earlier Sprinter Sacre was an equine god, unbeatable, invincible, winning the Champion Chase with consummate ease as part of a ten-race winning streak where the opposition weren’t just beaten but pulverised. In December 2013 the racing world was in shock after Sprinter Sacre was pulled up during the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton and found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat. There was doubt he would ever return, let alone be able to race with the zest and verve of old. The Desert Orchid was won convincingly by the recent Tingle Creek winner, Sire De Grugy who, at the height of his powers, went on to claim the Champion Chase and a second Celebration Chase.
After extensive investigations the gelding eventually returned to the track just over a year later but his old, commanding dominance appeared to have deserted him… he was beatable, mortal after all. Dodging Bullets easily took his measure in the Clarence House and then added his own name to the Champion Chase roll of honour in March with reigning champion, Sire De Grugy, placed while Sprinter Sacre was pulled up, a dim light of former years.
Sprinter Sacre tried once more that season in the Celebration Chase at Sandown and was trounced by Special Tiara. Some claimed that second place here, as at Ascot, was a reasonable result but this was Sprinter Sacre, a horse of such immeasurable talent and ability that anything other than effortless victory was not good enough.
Trainer Nicky Henderson was in a dilemma. Should he call it a day and remember how good Sprinter Sacre once was or try one last time? The new season dawned and Henderson was convinced his superstar was at last coming back to near his best so he would have a final attempt to see if the fire was rekindled. On November 15, 2015 Sprinter Sacre lined up at Cheltenham for the Schloer Chase. It wasn’t the strongest field ever assembled and Sprinter Sacre was receiving weight from all bar one of the other runners but it was now over two and a half years since his last victory and this was make or break time.
Sprinter Sacre tracked the leaders until four out when he took the lead. The crowds at Cheltenham didn’t know whether to cheer or simply hold their collective breath. That breath was soon expelled as a growing cheer and then a roar of sheer delight as he bounded further and further clear to eventually cross the line a tired but convincing 14-length victor. The Champion, we all hoped, was back.
The race in which he had pulled up two years earlier was next on the agenda, the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park on 27 December. Sire De Grugy would again be the main opposition and a much tougher nut to crack. In his most recent race he
had beaten Special Tiara in the Tingle Creek with Somersby beaten into fourth place by almost exactly the same distance that he had finished second behind Sprinter Sacre at Cheltenham.
This recent form line clearly said there was little to choose between the duo and that is what happened in a brilliant race. Sprinter Sacre tracked Sire De Grugy every inch of the way and, as they turned into the home straight, they had forged their way to the head of affairs, yet Sire De Grugy still held sway. At three out and again at two out Sprinter Sacre drew level only for Sire De Grugy, tough in the extreme, to pull slightly ahead again. Approaching the final fence Sire De Grugy still held a small advantage but was meeting the fence wrong while Sprinter Sacre met it flat out on a good stride. Although they landed side by side Sprinter Sacre had flown the last while Sire De Grugy was awkward and lost momentum. This was the defining moment and the length victory of Sprinter Sacre was down to this one instant. Somersby finished the same distance back in fourth as he had been behind them in earlier races.
There was no doubt that Sprinter Sacre had had a hard race but Henderson insisted it had done him good and would come on for it. As his next race was the Champion Chase it was hoped he was right.
Dodging Bullets was the reigning champion having taken the prize in 2015 after earlier successes in the Tingle Creek and Clarence House. His only run since then had been a pipeopening second place in the Game Spirit Chase the previous month with his season geared solely to defence of his title. With Sire De Grugy also in the field we had the last three winners of the race going to post as well as Somersby, runner up in the last two renewals. To add further strength to an already strong field there was Special Tiara, who would claim the crown in 2017.
Despite this incredible array of talent a different horse would be sent off an odds on favourite. This was the Mullins trained Irish hotpot, Un De Sceaux. Sixteen races had brought 14 victories and two falls when leading and well in command of his race. One of these was a facile victory in the 2015 Arkle hot on the heels of success in the Irish Arkle. Most recently he met Sire De Grugy in the Clarence House around four weeks after his close encounter with Sprinter Sacre at Kempton. Here Sire De Grugy had no answer to the superior majesty of Un De Sceaux who cruised home in front
never in the slightest danger of defeat. With little on recent form to split Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, the Irish horse looked invincible.
All was now set for one of the most monumental clashes the Cheltenham Festival had ever seen and an unexpected piece of television brilliance. In the build up to the race Channel 4 Racing highlighted the task ahead of Sprinter Sacre and how he had risen to the challenge in the Schloer Chase to the soundtrack of The Impossible Dream. The first four lines alone summed up what lay ahead; To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go
At flag fall Special Tiara led at his usual fast pace with Un De Sceaux tracking his every move while Sprinter Sacre sat in third as they thundered around Prestbury Park, jumping fence after fence with barely a pause.
At four out the “Unbeatable Foe”, Un De Sceaux, jumped to the front and slowly started to pull away.
The top of the hill and he was going well as Special Tiara started to drop back while Sprinter Sacre was suddenly rousted along. Three out and the leader took it well while Sprinter Sacre responded to the urgings and moved into second place despite an awkward jump.
Un De Sceaux was still galloping strongly but Sprinter Sacre had been roused, his huge stride devouring the ground as he closed fast on the leader and unbelievably sailed effortlessly past as they swept round the turn towards the penultimate fence. A huge cheer rose from the stands. Sprinter Sacre had two lengths on Un De Sceaux going into the fence and three in front when they landed. Down towards the last, another perfect leap and Sprinter Sacre powered clear up the hill to eternal glory. Commentator Simon Holt’s voice broke as he called the winner home: “The impossible dream is coming true.”
The final page was turned five weeks later in the Celebration Chase at Sandown Park. Dodging Bullets and Sire De Grugy had no answers in third and fourth while Un De Sceaux took second place, smashed into the ground and pulverised by 15 easy lengths as Sprinter Sacre confirmed he was still the best we had ever seen.
With so many great races and such an enduring story Sprinter Sacre became a legend but his second Champion Chase success, overplayed by The Impossible Dream reaches immortality and I dare anyone watching it not to have to wipe away tears by the time he passes the post.