I started a “hall of fame” section a while back. It has not progressed too far yet but I am working on it! One of the rules I have set myself is that the horse must have retired from racing, mainly so I can include their full career record in the write up. That makes Collier Hill ineligible but he is a certainty for inclusion one day.
Collier Hill is very much an unsung hero but his career record is really quite remarkable. His career had humble beginnings as his first appearance on a racecourse saw him win a bumper at Catterick in March 2002. Rather than a career over the jumps Collier Hill went on to run on the flat and 4 further victories followed in small races at Ayr (twice) , Newcastle and Hamilton. He stepped up on previous efforts when winning the Old Newton Cup at Haydock in 2003 when he beat Waverley, who had won a handicap at Royal Ascot just before, by half a length.
Not unreasonably his connections then sent him over hurdles where he won a maiden at Kelso in quite taking fashion. Some might have thought that his career on the flat was at an end but this was far from being the case as he was shortly to embark on an amazing World tour!
He won twice in 2004 starting with a competitive 12 furlong handicap at Hamiliton in the spring followed by his first success in Group company in the Stockholm Cup, a Group 3 race in the September. This was his first win ridden by Deam McKeown, a partnership that was to flourish from then on.
In the winter of 2005 he was off to Dubai, where he won a valuable handicap at Nad Al Sheba in February. Next stop was Germany where he won a Group 2 race at Cologne on Mayday en route to his first Group 1 success in the Irish St Leger at The Curragh.
How many Group 1 winners have a bumper win at Catterick and a success over hurdles at Kelso on their CV I wonder?
He is 8 years old now and remains in amazing form. Last month he went back to Sweden where he retained his Stockholm Cup crown and yesterday he took the Group 1 Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine in a thrilling finish, prevailing by a “nose.” He is some horse and full credit must go to his trainer Alan Swinbank.
The jumps season is getting into full swing now and Paul Nicholls clearly has plenty of ammunition as he seeks to defend his trainer’s title. Turko, Pepperoni Pete and of course Kauto Star were all impressive winners yesterday. I see that he has also “signed” Sam Thomas as his number two jockey to Ruby Walsh, and with the horses and jockeys he now has at his disposal he must be hot favourite to head the trainers table at the end of the season.
There is only one runner from our list to follow in action tomorrow and that is Dandy Nicholl’s Fast Heart. He has not won for some time but is looking increasingly well handicapped. He runs in the 4.10 at Catterick.
See you tomorrow
ahorse 