O’Brien revels in glory of Academy’s master class
O’Brien, then 73 and in the twilight of his career, inveigled Lester Piggott, a 54-year-old grandfather, out of retirement to partner Royal Academy, a horse he had captured for $3.5m in one sensational bidding bout at Keeneland two years previously and who had never particularly shone over a mile.
“It is,” according to Vincent’s wife Jacqueline, “probably my most abiding memory of all. Vincent only had a few horses in training by then. He had flu and couldn’t go himself. So I went, with my son Charles (O’Brien’s then assistant trainer). Vincent had got Lester to ride, which everyone said was crazy. It was like a miracle.”
Ray Paulick, the editor of the respected American thoroughbred journal The Blood-Horse, concurs: “There was much gloom and doom at Belmont that day because three horses perished that day, most notably Go For Wand in the Distaff, but this performance changed all that.”
The seeds of this victory were born in Vincent’s gambling spirit, determination and cool head. It was also achieved on the back of the failure of the Classic Thoroughbreds, the publicly-quoted bloodstock enterprise he headed in the mid-eighties, and the loss to injury of stable jockey John Reid just three weeks before the New York race.
Vincent was unfazed. He seriously fancied Royal Academy, whose speed had been proven with victory in the six-furlong July Cup at Newmarket, to win at Belmont. But who would ride?
Ladbrokes PR man Mike Dillon first mentioned Lester to Vincent and John Magnier at the races in Phoenix Park earlier that year. The three agreed he was ideal. The problem was that he was retired.
But, having ridden in a couple of veterans’ races, his appetite was whetted. He also met with the trainer in Dublin and was offered the job of stable jockey for the following year. Having passed health and fitness checks, he returned after a five-year hiatus at Leicester that October with three rides for Henry Cecil. “Three rides, no winners,” Lester commented, “but wonderful to be back.” Vincent gave him four rides at the Curragh; all four won. The road to the Breeders’ Cup was paved.
Vincent’s doctor insisted he not travel to Belmont because he had the flu. It was the only important overseas race he ever missed. Jacqueline and his son Charles went to New York, but there was a hiccup with the horse’s travelling arrangements when his planned flight was scuppered by an Air France strike. New plans were quickly made to get him to America.
Having landed in New York, Charles O’Brien, who was in charge, was faced with a major problem. Under New York Jockey Club rules, owners must be fingerprinted, and it would be rather difficult to get the fingerprints of all the shareholders of Classic Thoroughbreds. In the end the horse ran under the ownership of the ‘Classic Thoroughbred partnership’. Additionally, Lester needed to pass a medical examination, and Charles himself a temporary training license; both were secured.
On the morning of the race, the party travelled by limousine from the Waldorf Astoria to the Long Island track. Jacqueline reported that in 30 years’ association with Lester, she had never seen him so anxious. She thought “Lester felt this was the most important race of his entire life, and Charles and I definitely knew it was the most vital for Vincent, particularly as things were going so badly for Classic Thoroughbreds.”
On a sunny raceday, Royal Academy was backed in from 8/1 in the morning to 7/2 favourite just before the off. and Lester, in the green white and gold of Classic thoroughbreds, and the horse were mobbed in the small paddock. Contemporary reports suggest every Irishman in New York State — along with their wives and children — was there.
Royal Academy was drawn in stall one and Lester was slightly unnerved when he gave a gigantic buck in the parade ring. But he remembered sire Nijinsky’s high-strung temperament and managed to stay in the plate. He was loaded first and had a wait while the others were installed, but stayed calm. Lester said “he seemed half asleep.” He may have been, because he missed the break, “came out in a heap” and left the stalls last.
Lester settled the horse on the long run to the first turn, the plan being to ride him off the pace. But having rounded the first turn, Royal Academy lost his action, floundered, and lost his place and acceleration. “Probably put his foot in a hole,” the jockey reported later, “but no time to see what!”
He let the horse settle into his characteristic long, raking rhythm and then, at least six lengths off leader Itsallgreektome with 400 yards left, Lester got stuck in. He began to gain with every stride. “Just flew,” the ever succinct jockey reported later. He caught the leader just before the post and Royal Academy was going so well, Lester was able to cock a cheeky glance at his rival as they crossed the line. “Just like old times,” he murmured as he was led into the winners’ enclosure.
The emotions in the Irish party ran high. The usually stone-faced jockey was visibly moved when interviewed on television. “This is a very special moment. Felt ecstatic. I give thanks to Vincent for encouraging me to come back. And for putting me up in such an important race. But if MV thought I could still deliver the goods…” His voice tailed off, leaving the unnecessary unsaid.
Luca Cumani, the Italian trainer based in England summed up the feelings of everybody who had wished for this outcome.
“It was a highly emotional day with Lester coming back and storming up the straight on Royal Academy, especially as the Americans think they are better than us with their horses and jockeys.”
Ray Paulick said: “In the circumstances it might have been that Lester’s ride on Royal Academy might have been overlooked, but it was such an unbelievable ride — a ride for ages — it should never be overlooked in racing history.”
Lester’s ride, Vincent’s training feat. Once more the duo had seemingly done the impossible. It was not as if they needed to underline their already legendary status, but they did anyway.
*Vincent O’Brien, The Official Biography by Jacqueline O’Brien and Ivor Herbert is on sale in paperback in all good bookstores.
