Bloodstock & Breeding
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22 Sep 11
12:04
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Date Joined:
05 Jan 10
Slip Anchor, the winner of the 1985 Derby for his owner/breeder Lord Howard de Walden, has been euthanised at the age of 29.
He spent his last years in retirement at Plantation Stud, where he was born and took up stallion duties in 1987.
“It’s a really sad day for all of us here,” said Plantation Stud Manager Adrian O’Brien. “He just started to go downhill in the last few weeks and, with Lady Howard, we decided that the time was right. It has become almost a cliché in these circumstances, but it was due to the infirmities of old age.”
Trained by Sir Henry Cecil, Slip Anchor was by the 1978 Derby winner Shirley Heights out of the German mare Sayonara. He streaked to victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial, winning by ten lengths en route to his Classic success.
Ridden at Epsom by Steve Cauthen, he took the lead from the off and powered farther clear of his rivals around Tattenham Corner to land the Derby by seven lengths.
At stud, Slip Anchor’s best performers included Oaks winner User Friendly, multiple Group winner Posidonas, Ebor hero Give The Slip and Derby Italiano winner Morshdi.
Speaking to Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder last year for the 25th anniversary of Slip Anchor’s Derby victory, Lady Howard de Walden said: “Plantation has been his home for so many years and he’s really happy here. He was the most special racehorse and it gave my husband great pleasure to have owned and bred a Classic winner.”
He spent his last years in retirement at Plantation Stud, where he was born and took up stallion duties in 1987.
“It’s a really sad day for all of us here,” said Plantation Stud Manager Adrian O’Brien. “He just started to go downhill in the last few weeks and, with Lady Howard, we decided that the time was right. It has become almost a cliché in these circumstances, but it was due to the infirmities of old age.”
Trained by Sir Henry Cecil, Slip Anchor was by the 1978 Derby winner Shirley Heights out of the German mare Sayonara. He streaked to victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial, winning by ten lengths en route to his Classic success.
Ridden at Epsom by Steve Cauthen, he took the lead from the off and powered farther clear of his rivals around Tattenham Corner to land the Derby by seven lengths.
At stud, Slip Anchor’s best performers included Oaks winner User Friendly, multiple Group winner Posidonas, Ebor hero Give The Slip and Derby Italiano winner Morshdi.
Speaking to Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder last year for the 25th anniversary of Slip Anchor’s Derby victory, Lady Howard de Walden said: “Plantation has been his home for so many years and he’s really happy here. He was the most special racehorse and it gave my husband great pleasure to have owned and bred a Classic winner.”
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Incredible age 29 years, in a way the end of an era as he perhaps was the last Epsom Derby winner owned and bred by a true English aristocrat,who like so many of those sorts was given great credibility at stud despite his now unfashionable stamina laden pedigree.I remember his Epsom victory very well,I'm pretty sure he was the oldest surviving Derby winner,now that title goes to 1986 hero Shahrastani.
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Shahrastani didn't hold the title for long did he.What sad news he was a very much underrated horse always in the shadow of the horse he beat at Epsom,I remember that day very well I backed him to win he then improved for his easy win here at the Curragh.I looked at him when he was in the states and he was one who would take your eye he was a great looking stallion I've never forgot how he looked that day.RIP old man.
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