While the year saw no dominant champion emerge in the Northern Hemisphere, a number of runners put up memorable performances both locally and overseas.
Here are my personal top ten performances of 2014, writes Sarah Whitelaw:
Summer Cup
Louis The King wins Summer Cup
Bargain buy Louis The King became a Gauteng favourite last season when he won the SASCOC Crown Triple Crown. Despite a few setbacks since his Triple Crown heroics, Louis’ popularity remained obvious when he scored a courageous win in the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup over stable mate Killua Castle. In an era when top races are all too often dominated by expensive purchases, the story of Louis The King provided proof that acquiring a remarkable thoroughbred, and folk hero, without breaking the bank remains a possibility.
Investec Derby
Australia wins the Investec Derby
In contrast, the royally bred Australia is not something ordinary buyers could hope to ever afford and he never looked like becoming a fan favourite. However, the colt was something for pedigree pundits to drool over –as a Derby winning son of a Derby winner (Galileo) and Oaks winner (Ouija Board), Australia truly lived up to the old racing cliché – “Breed The Best To The Best – and hope for the best”.
Inevitably the colt was rushed off to stud at the end of his 3yo career – and one can only wonder quite how good Australia really was. His win in the Investec Derby (when defeating subsequent St Leger hero Kingston Hill), meant Australia was the first colt by a Derby winner out of an Oaks winner to prevail in the Epsom classic since Lammtarra in 1995.
Green Point Stakes
Legislate winning the Green Point Stakes
While Legislate’s “win” in the 2014 Vodacom Durban July remains a topic of hot debate, his victory in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes had to be seen to be believed. The handsome son of Dynasty (whose offspring dominated major South African features in 2014), simply pulverized his opponents to make a sparkling 4yo debut. Following the colt’s three and a half length romp, his jockey Richard Fourie was quick to label him as by far the best he has ridden.
While the form of the Green Point has taken something of a knock, Legislate could hardly have won any easier and he looks a hard horse to beat in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Gr1 J&B Met.
Champions Mile
Variety Club sweeps into the lead in the 2014 Hong Kong Champions Mile
The mighty Variety Club, a dual Horse Of The Year in South Africa, stamped himself as a truly world class performer with a magnificent performance in the 2014 Champions Mile. The handsome son of Var made history when he became the first foreign raider to win the Champions Mile, romping home to a fourth length win in the Sha Tin showpiece. The form of the race was franked in no uncertain fashion when both the second (Able Friend) and third (Dan Excel) went on to subsequent Grade 1 success while the unplaced horses included Gordon Lord Byron – whose subsequent runs included a win in the Group 2 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes and a pair of seconds in Group 1 races.
Sadly, the Champions Mile was Variety Club’s final appearance on the racetrack, and racing fans can but wonder what might have been.
Arc de Triomphe
2014 Arc winner, Treve
After losing her first three outings in 2014, 2013 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Treve was allowed to start an 11-1 shot for the same race this year. However, the 4yo daughter of Motivator made a mockery of odds and easily dispatched some of Europe’s top performers to win her second Arc by two lengths. Runner up Flintshire went on to run second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf before landing the Hong Kong Vase, Treve, just the seventh horse to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe twice, de stays in training in 2015, where she will bid for a unique treble in the Arc.
Sussex Stakes
Kingman – Cartier Horse of the Year 2014
Kingman, Europe’s star miler this season, put up a smooth performance to win Goodwood’s show piece race. The brilliant Invincible Spirit colt, described by trainer John Gosden as “the best colt I have trained”, had a turn of foot which quickly put his rivals to bed, and Kingman duly showed it off to his advantage in the Sussex Stakes, which saw him conquer the star older miler Toronado. While comparisons to Frankel seem a little over the top, there is no doubt that Kingman, a winner of seven of his eight outings, was an exceptional talent in his own right, and a worthy Cartier Horse Of The Year in 2014.
Shadwell Turf Mile
Following a bout of colic, North America’s dual Horse of The Year Wise Dan made a stunning return to the racetrack picking up to further graded races including the Gr1 Shadwell Turf Mile. The remarkable son of Wiseman’s Ferry, who has already six Eclipse Awards to his credit, ended 2014 with an unbeaten campaign, having won all four of his outings this year.
Sadly, Wise Dan was scratched from the 2014 Breeders Cup Mile, which he was bidding to win for a third time. However, the popular 8yo gelding will be aimed at the race in 2015.
Cape Fillies Guineas
Majmu wins Cape Fillies Guineas
Majmu became the centre of a bizarre amount of controversy after being named South Africa’s Equus Champion 2YO Filly. Any criticism of the Redoute’s Choice filly’s claims to the championship swiftly became mute following her magnificent success in the Gr1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas, when defeat never looked on the cards for Majmu. The only blight on the charismatic grey’s success was the sad late scratching of talented filly Cold As Ice. Be that as it may, though it is hard to see a South African filly finishing in front of Majmu this season – and there should be few critics should Majmu score a repeat Equus success this season.
German Derby
A race which had to be seen to be believed with Sea The Moon romping home to score by 11 lengths from subsequent Group 1 winner Lucky Lion. Sadly the colt, who hails from the first crop of the magnificent champion Sea The Stars, made just one more start before injury forced his retirement. He will stand at Lanwades Stud in 2015, but his romp in the 2014 Deutsches Derby will linger long in the memory.
Garden Province Stakes
Beach Beauty wins the Graden Province twice
One of South Africa’s most popular champions of recent years, the diminutive Beach Beauty, enjoyed the perfect send off when she recorded her second consecutive win in this race in July. The daughter of sire sensation Dynasty retired to stud with the magnificent race record of 17 wins to her credit and over R5.3 million in stakes. As tough as she was brilliant, Beach Beauty endeared herself to racing enthusiasts with her consistency and heart – and is not a mare her many fans will soon forget.
Beach Beauty is currently safely in foal to Drakenstein Stud’s former Cartier Champion Duke Of Marmalade, whose Investec Derby winning half brother Ruler Of The World, is himself embarking on his first season at stud in 2015.
