Frankel
When Prince Abdullah wanted to name a horse after his late trainer Bobby Frankel who had died in the November of 2009 the pick of his yearling crop was a handsome bay colt by Galileo out of Kind. This colt would carry the name Frankel and was sent to Warren Place to be trained under the watchful eye of Henry Cecil.
Frankel soon established himself as the best of the Cecil bunch and it was with a great deal of confidence that he was sent in the August of his 2-year-old to make his racecourse debut under Tom Queally at Newmarket’s July Course. His defeat of future Group 1 winner Nathanial started a 14-race unbeaten campaign.
Stephen recalls
“In my position as farrier at Warren Place I would accompany our horses when they galloped, that way I was on hand if a problem was to occur. Over the years, I have observed many horses gallop, but Frankel was notable from the beginning. I have never seen another horse move so effortlessly or accelerate so powerfully. I recall proclaiming after watching his final gallop before his racecourse debut that this was the best horse I had ever worked with”
Frankel ended his career as one of the all-time greats, a horse that transcended racing.
European Champion at 2, World champion at 3 and 4 Frankel was sublime. The winner of 5 prestigious Cartier awards, rated 147 by Timeform, he also achieved the highest speed figures ever recorded.
Frankel brought racing to the front pages, along with his extraordinary ability he was trained by the much-loved Sir Henry Cecil who was fighting cancer and together they ignited a passion in public. This was particularly evident when the Queen's Guard adorned the famous pink and green silks of Frankel's owner Prince Abdullah in the build up to his final race.
That race in the rain softened Ascot ground showcased that Frankel had the courage to go along with his ability and he won readily in ground that was not to his liking.
Many pages could be written about his exploits on the track, but we will finish with the words of his trainer Sir Henry Cecil who sadly passed away little more than 6 months after the retirement of his beloved horse.
“He is the best I’ve had,
The best I’ve seen,
I’d be surprised if there ever was better”
Sir Henry Cecil
Equinox
“Here is the titan of the worlds turf, he is Equinox.” Larry Collmus
On the 16th of December 2003 at Nakayama racecourse a retirement ceremony was held for Equinox. He retired a World Champion with an official rating of 135 making him the highest rated horse ever to emerge from Japan. Bred by Northern Farm and raced under their Silk Racing partnership, Equinox captured the hearts and admiration of racing fans from across the world.
Stephen’s association with Northern Farm has steadily grown over the years and in the March of that year he was asked to shoe their intended runners for Dubai World Cup night. That consignment comprised of eight horses in total, each one being a previous Group 1 winner.
The haul included the previous two winners of the Japanese Derby, the winner of the 2022 Japanese 2000 Guineas, a Japan Cup winner, a previous winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic and Equinox the winner of the Arima Kinen and the horse many felt lay claim to the title of the worlds best.
Stephen recalls
“ I’m no stranger to working with top class horses, but never before had I worked with so many Group 1 winners on the same day. Equinox in particular stood out, he had a presence and aura about him and I was very much looking forward to seeing how he would run.”
Run he did, from the front at a blistering pace that seen a high class field full of international rivals fall away one by one. When the clock stopped the track record had been lowered by over a second. If many thought beforehand he was the best, afterwards there was no doubt. This victory would not only cement his position at the top of the world rankings, it was a performance that would mark him down as one of the all time greats.
Stephen remembers
“Equinox is such a special horse, a unbelievable talent, with beautiful looks and a kind temperament. I feel so lucky to have shod him for such a spectacular victory.”
Postponed
When Sheik Mohammed Obaid moved his string of horses from the stable of Luca Cumani to Roger Varian at the end of 2015 the jewel in the crown was Postponed, a top class proven performer with a King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes already on his roll of honour.
Postponed entered 2016 with high expectations and did not fail to deliver. Shipped to Dubai in the spring he ran out a ready winner of the City of Gold a prep race for the $6 million Sheema Classic on World Cup night.
Under an illuminated Meydan Racecourse he put up a devastating display in the Shema Classic to collect the lion’s share of the prize money. Returned to England he then put a high-class field including subsequent Arc winner Found to the sword in the Coronation Cup at Epsom run over the Derby course and distance.
A virus robbed him of the chance to defend his crown in the King George which was won by Highland Reel whom he had beaten in Dubai.
His next appearance was a winning one in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York where the drop in distance proved no obstacle.
As the season approached its end Postponed next travelled to France to race in the much-coveted Arc De Triomphe where he ran with credit to finish 5th. Ironically the winner Found, and 2nd placed Highland Reel had both finished behind him in previous races that season.
Sportingly kept in training as a five-year-old by his owner injury prevented him from adding more Group 1 success to his C.V.
Stephen recalls
“Postponed was a beautiful and powerful horse. He was a pleasure to work with and was great so have such a good horse so early in my working relationship with Roger”