At the astonishing height of his considerable training powers, Henry Cecil had difficulty in sending out anything other than a continuous stream of winners. Many of them became household names while others shone but briefly, yet few were as popular, or talented, as the iron-grey battleship that was Indian Skimmer.
Foaled in 1984 in Kentucky, the daughter of Storm Bird had exemplary breeding through grandsire, Northern Dancer, and damsire Vaguely Noble. The resulting offspring was named Indian Skimmer after a rare tern-like, scissor-billed bird.
Running in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed, Indian Skimmer had one race unplaced where she had little idea of what to do or how to actually race yet quickly established herself with five victories through 1987, first at lowly Wolverhampton. This was quickly followed by the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket where she ran with the choke out for nearly a mile so hard did she fight for her head before settling. Two furlongs later she was asked for an effort and still cruised well clear to win as she pleased.
The Musidora at York saw only two opponents take on the grey and although they were both high class in their own right, once inside the final furlong they were made to look like selling platers. Next were two successful trips across the Channel. The first of these was the Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp before a mouth-watering clash with the mighty Miesque for Chantilly’s Prix de Diane, the French Oaks.
Esta historia es de la edición August 2020 de Racing Ahead.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 2020 de Racing Ahead.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
HENRY'S A REALLY GOOD FELLOW!
Paul Jacobs backs Aidan O'Brien's silver starlet to shine this summer
RETIRED, BUT NOT OVER THE HILL JUST YET
Ben Hastie looks at life after racing for stars of the track
LOCKED ON TO JOLLIES
Andy Newton analyses trends in Newbury highlight bookies fear
TOTS OF THE TURF SHOWING PROMISE
lan Heitman stumbles across some gems at the Curragh and Doncaster
APPLEBY'S SPEECH STRIKES RIGHT NOTE
Andy Ayres has keen eye on Guineas fancy
IT'S THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Karl Hedley looks at Ireland's young speedsters ready to fly the flag on the Flat
AINT BAD AT ALL BUT UP FOR A FLAT PROFIT
Ben Morgan looks back on his jumps festival punting highlights and onwards to three big Flat fancies
CRAIC'S GRAND BOTH SIDES OF THE WATER
Simon Nott tracks the Grand National bookies each side of the Irish Sea for his Tales from the Ring
NO REGRETS, NO SECRETS - AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Nick Townsend talks to jockey Kieran Shoemark about his winning battles on the track and off it
TEN TO FOLLOW AS WE HIT A NEW LEVEL
Paul Ferguson offers his selection of Flat stars to follow this season