SHARPO

before my time but seemed to win them nunthorpes with a ton in hand

- AND ... was beating OTHER Top, and, good, SPRINTERS at the time, too!

A good sire to follow on soft / heavy ground too

I am going to aftertime horribly but I backed Sharpo on-course the first time he won. I had 3 other winners at decent prices that day.By far the best I ever did on-course.

Moorestyle, Marwell, Sharpo and Habibti - the Golden Age of sprinting.

salmon, my memory probably faulty, but didn't Sharpo win at 33/1 fto?

SHARPO ...

Only ran ONCE as a 2-yr-old - in 1979

Contesting the last race on the card at Newbury, on Autumn Cup Saturday.
He was ridden by 5lb Apprentice, Steve RAYMONT - and finished UNPLACED, out of the first 10 finishers in 22 runner race.

He must have been showing something at home - for shrewd trainer, Jeremy Tree - as he started 4/1 second fav.

The Winner was the 2/1 Fav, Gift Wrapped - trained by Frankie Durr, and ridden by Greville Starkey.
----------------------

1980 - 3-yr-old

Ran 6 times - WON 2 - Placed other four outings.

WON on 3-yr-old debut .... in the  Group 3 Temple Stakes at Sandown - on this, his only second ever racecourse appearance.

Ridden by Brian ROUSE - SHARPO started at 33/1 - and beat 3/1 second fav, Abdu by 2 and a half lengths.
Vaigly Great was the 5/2 Fav, and finished 5th.... 10 ran

-----------

salmon - the other Winners at Sandown that day were ....

Bank Holiday Monday, May 26th

2:00 - 2-y-old fillies
UNASHAMED - Luca CUMANI - Tony IVES ... 9/4 FAV

2:30 - Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3)
GREGORIAN - Vincent O'Brien - Lester PIGGOTT ... 4/6 FAV

3:05 - Whitsun Cup
IMPERIAL ACE - Michael STOUTE - Lester PIGGOTT ... 11/2 second fav

3:35 - Temple Stakes (Group 3)
SHARPO - Jeremy TREE - Brian ROUSE ... 33/1

4:05 - Richmond Handicap
DOUBLE FLORIN - John DUNLOP - Willie CARSON  ... 2/1 FAV

4:45 - 3-y-o Maiden
ENCHANTMENT - Jeremy TREE - Lester PIGGOTT ... 7/4 FAV

thanks for that sharpo recorded his 3 nunthorpy wins he p!ssed up

For many years when the ground turned heavy, I would back anything by Sharpo.

and Habibti - the Golden Age of sprinting.

That brings back memories - I was at Longchamp to see her win the Abbaye.

Habibti and Soba had some tussles

In his 3-yr-old career SHARPO - went on to finish ...

2nd - in the Cork and Orrery (Group 3) - (now upgraded to the Diamond Jubilee Stakes)  -
to 40/1 shot  Kearney - with Valeriga third.

3rd - to MOORESTYLE in the July Cup

WON - the Nunthorpe, from Valeriga and Abdu

2nd - at odds on of 4/9 Fav - to Sayyaf - in Scarborough stakes at the St Leger meeting.

2nd - Prix de l'abbaye - to MOORESTYLE - Valeriga third.

Still cant believe that he lost to Marwell in the Abbaye. Lumped on at the Tote night before at around evens.

Certainly was the golden age of sprinting, my fav horse around that time was Standaan, shame there were no 4 furlong races he would have won every time.

my first visit to the july course was the day sharpo won the july cup ,went to perry bar dogs at the night and watched west Germany beat france in the world cup semi final those were the days you just punted with cash.

another thing about the good old days,when sharpo won the temple stakes it was on bank holiday Monday we had the whitson cup aswell that day now the temple stakes is run at haydock and the whitson cup is a shadow of its forever self hidden away on some music night.

forever = former

SHARPO WAS VERY EFFECTIVE ON SOFT GROUND WHEN I WORKED IN THE CREDIT BIZ WITH LADDYS ...SHARPOS OWNER MONICA SHAREEF USED TO ASK FOR ME ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAD A WAY OFF EXPLAINING THINGS TO HER ,SHE WAS VERY POSH U KNOW ,SPOKE TO HER ON HALF A DOZEN OCCASIONS .......DIDNT KNOW THAT DID YA

I certainly didn't back him at 33-1     
Memory tells me I got 9-2 for the Nunthorpe but that probably wasn't the SP even if it is right.
Never been to Sandown. It was definitely York.

sorry onlooker hadn't seen your post.

enchantment brings back happy memories for me I travelled up to ayr from beckhampton the day he won a big sprint handicap up there I think it was the tote trophy,pretty sure sangster won the Scottish derby that day with a horse trained by the greatest trainer of them all,perhaps you could look it up for me.

jimnast

I bet there are not many on here that can remember those sprint battle between Bleep Bleep and Tin Whistle.

which one.




Year

Winner

Age

Jockey

Trainer

Time


1979 Serge Lifar 3 Brian Taylor Ryan Price 
1980 Prince Roland 3 Steve Cauthen Barry Hills 
1981 Little Wolf 3 Graham Sexton Dick Hern 
1982 Jalmood 3 Steve Cauthen John Dunlop 
1983 Dazari 3 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 
1984 Raami 3 Tony Ives Bill O'Gorman 
1985 Eagling 3 Paul Eddery Henry Cecil 
1986 Moon Madness 3 Tony Ives John Dunlop 
1987 Ascot Knight 3 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 2:08.62
1988 Kefaah 3 Ray Cochrane Luca Cumani 2:06.71
1989 Scenic 3 Michael Hills Barry Hills 2:07.88
1990 Husyan 4 Willie Carson Peter Walwyn 2:08.01
1991 Zoman 4 Alan Munro Paul Cole 2:07.18
1992 Sharpitor 3 John Reid William Jarvis 2:06.03
1993 River North 3 Kevin Darley Lady Herries 2:08.12
1994 Beneficial 4 Michael Hills Geoff Wragg 2:05.66
1995 Baron Ferdinand 5 Kevin Darley Roger Charlton 2:08.28
1996 Montjoy 4 Richard Quinn Paul Cole 2:10.07
1997 Crystal Hearted 3 Tony McGlone Henry Candy 2:09.26
1998 Winter Romance 5 Kieren Fallon Ed Dunlop 2:12.79
1999 Prolix 4 Richard Hughes Barry Hills 2:13.01
2000 Endless Hall 4 Jamie Spencer Luca Cumani 2:04.02
2001 Carnival Dancer 3 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute 2:10.61
2002 Imperial Dancer 4 Chris Catlin Mick Channon 2:09.91
2003 Princely Venture 4 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute 2:07.46
2004 Kalaman [a] 4 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute 2:04.90
2005 Imperial Stride 4 Richard Hills Sir Michael Stoute 2:06.08


a The 2004 winner Kalaman was later exported to Hong Kong and renamed Oriental Magic.

Thanks for those details onlooker.  I certainly remember Double Florin.  I think he finished 3rd behind Ardross in the Goodwood Cup the following year.

Kalamanmy biggest ever loser on one bet

Not sure if Monica Sheriffe's Sharpo colours are still registered. They'd probably make a few quid if offered for sale - Blue Birds-eye with a White Cap.

These unusual colour patterns/combinations and/or braid facings no longer allowed of course, unless you happen to be a newly arrived rich Qatari prepared to sponsor bits of British racing.

Hello jim,

ENCHANTMENT won three more  races - from 7 further outings as a 3-yr-old ...

A Handicap at Newmarket - and then the last race on the Saturday of Glorious Goodwood - 4/1, ridden by Steve Cauthen.

He won on his final outing that year - at Newmarket, on Cesarewitch day - 3/1 Fav, ridden by John Reid.

Some other winners that day were ...

11 year-old TRAQUAIR - ridden by Nicky DAWE claiming 3 - Won the opening Apprentice Handicap, for Owner trainer John Dunlop - formerly owned by i'ts
breeder, the Duke of Norfolk.
The Placed jockey were - K (Kevin?) WILLEY  - and P (Peter?/Paul?) BLOOMFIELD.

CAIRN ROUGE - Won the Champion Stakes - ridden by Tony MURRAY - beat Master Willie.

POPSI'S JPY - Won the Cesarewitch - 5y-8-6 ridden by Lester PIGGOTT, at 10/1 - Paid just 66p - 11/2 - on the TOTE ....
  from POPaway - 14/1 - 3y-7-2, ridden by Bryn CROSSLEY claiming 5lb

The 'Mug's Dual Forecast paid £6-07p - the Computer Straight Forecast £14-24.

---------------------

ENCHANTMENT - for the Ayr race.

You are correct, of course, ... Next year - 1981 - as a 4-yr-old

Re-appeared at Epsom, on Derby Day - a WEDNESDAY - Uplaced
Then 3rd in a Salisbury Handicap
Then - beaten a Short-Head in the WOKINGHAM - by Great Eastern

Then - went to AYR - on Saturday July 11th - and - WON TOTE SPRINT TOPHY -
4y-8-11, ridden by Pat EDDERY - 11/4 Fav, 11 ran.
Then fished 2nd in a Group 3 at Deauville.

The previous race to the TOTE SPRINT TROPHY was ...

The LAND OF BURNS STAKES (Listed) - won by Vincent O'Brien - for owner Robert SANGSTER - as you said.

The horse was MAGESTERIAL - beatt Bonol - 4 ran.

Evens Fav ..... You must have got all the 11/10 - or some 5/4, even.
---------------

The urning question', however, is ....

What were YOU doing, at "Beckhampton."?

blackbarn,

one of three birds eye sets still registered, this one with the white cap is now in the ownership of Mrs E.F.Newton, cannot find any horses in her name, though someone of the same name, prseumably/possibly her, is listed as a registered trainer on the RP site

Thanks Cork. Where did you get the Mrs Newton data from?  Re the other two, if you have owners and colour(s) that would be great. There have historically been around 50 different birds-eyes!! Grateful as always for what you have. Cheers

blackbarn,

Data comes from the jockeycolours.com website, it can be a little temperamental sometimes, patience is required, but great fun once you get use to it, the other two listed are

Mrs B.Cross - Blue bird's-eye, gold sash, blue cap

Mrs Hugh McCalmont - Blue bird's-eye, crimson sleeves, straw cap

Very many thanks Cork. Grateful!

i remember that race he won as 3 yold well, my dad had the second said it was a absolute cert and coudnt believe that this thing came and one at 33/1, listened to it on wireless at time,as soon as race finish he said that must be some horse and I bet it done a fantastic time to beat mine. next day looked at the times and low behold it had done something like 4 or 5 seconds under average still one of the fastest sprints . and yet when he  retired he seems to breed horses who love soft .

Now - There is a STRANGE one - mepoor

Just checked the Result in the Form Book -

- and there is NO time printed for the race

I am not saying that there was not a time printed in the following day's newspaper -
As - If there had not been a time - then it would have stated - 'No time returned' - in the Form Book.

What has, probably, happened is ...

The Temple Stakes  Race Result is at the bottom of a page -
The Race Time - is the LAST line that they printed on any result.

Looks like the typesetter decided to 'miss off' the time - so that he could start the NEXT Race Result at the TOP on the next page ....
Rather than have just a single line - of the Temple Stakes time - at the top of that NEXT page.

He could have left the next to bottom line - the TOTE dividends out, instead.

That typesetter is possibly/probably dead now  ....

I bet he NEVER thought that his 'sneaky space-saving' would be being discussed 33 years later!

"Blackbarn - Not sure if Monica Sheriffe's Sharpo colours are still registered. They'd probably make a few quid if offered for sale - Blue Birds-eye with a White Cap"

Nobody else seems to have noticed that those Sharpo colours can regularly be seen on ITV4 in repeats of Minder, as Dave the barman often sports a shirt with those precise silks from what I can remember - the ITV wardrobe budget didn't get ransacked in those days as Dave has that shirt on for half the series!

thanks again onlooker my memory is still pretty good.

you ask what was I doing in beckhampton,well back then I had two friends who worked for Jeremy tree one in fact looked after bel bolide a pretty decent horse lovely looking chesnut with plenty of white about him,the other a lad called mike rogan who on his first ride rode fandangle to win at newbury {perhaps you could bring that race up }soon after he had a ride at ascot and came very wide into the straight as far as I can remember that ride cost him his career he then went to America,in those days I spent a lot of time around lambourn and beckhampton and would often travel up in the box.

Nice thread this.  I've really enjoyed reading the above posts which have certainly brought back some memories.

Morning jim - Anything for you, mate

FANDANGLE

Ran twice as a juvenile in 1980
4th first time out -
then - beaten a Short-Head - in the Chesterton Maiden, on the Thursday of the Cesarewitch meeting, when ENCHANTMENT won on the Saturday.

Riberetto (Ron Boss) beat it in the Chesterton - ridden by Lester PIGGOTT.

Lester Piggott rode 4 Winners that Thursday ...

Fordham Handicap - Steeple Bell  (Michael Stoute) - 9/1
Somerville Tattersall - Spark Of Life  (M Stoute) - 10/11 Fav
Challenge Stakes - Moorestyle  (Robert Armstrong) - 2/5 Fav
Chesterton Maiden - Riberetto  (Ron Boss) - 4/1 (op 3s, tchd 9/2) 

In 1981
--------------
FANDANGLE was equally ridden by Pat EDDERY and Steve RAYMONT (who was, by now, no longer Claiming an Allowance)

Steve Raymont rode Fandangle to it's only Win that year - a Maiden at Brighton, on it's second outing - although it was also Placed 3 times in Handicaps.
* Incidently - If memory serves me right -
I think Steve Raymont was one of those Apprentices who LOST his ALLOWANCE through reaching the age of 23 - rather than riding out his claim ...But Jeremy Tree stood by him, and continued to use him.
Presumably, he must have been a very good 'work rider', too.

In 1982

Fandangle -  Again, Won on it's second outing - Handucap at Goodwood May meeting, ridden by Pat EDDERY.

Next time out - WON - APPRENTICE Handicap - at NEWBURY, on Summer Cup day - Thursday June 10th.

1st - FANDANGLE - 4-9-9(7ex) - M ROGAN*3
     (led 2f out, ran on well)
2nd - Hanham Road - 4-7-10
3rd - Swift Palm - 5-8-9
3rd - Tower Win - 5-7-7

Dist: Half length, One length, Dead-Heat

SP: 11/4 Fav, 11/2, 13/2

Fandangle went on to Win a Haydock Handicap, ridden by Steve Cauthen, 11/8 Fav, later in the season - that being the race before another Apprentice race at Ascot, on Diadem/Cumberland Lodge day - where Fandangle started at 13/2, and ran unplaced.

Great stuff onlooker.  You do post some really interesting information and it's a joy to read it.  Thanks.

thanks onlooker didn't realise fandangle won by as much as 1/2 length seemed much closer up in the stands.

^ Probably seemed even closer - to the jockey.

I posted earlier that Sharpo was a good sire to follow on soft / heavy ground

Just looked up RP progeny stats

HEAVY 6 WINS FROM 44 RUNS 14%
SOFT  17 WINS FROM 149 RUNS 11%

A total of 23 wins

???????????????

That wouldn't be the full picture as the RP database is not reliable prior to '89 (or possibly '88). So, for instance, Risk Me is not included in those stats, and he was a very good son of Sharpo who loved soft ground, and won the Greenham, and some Group races in France.

Risk me was foaled in '84.

Surely there were more than 6 wins on heavy ground

You must be correct about the lack of reliability  of the RP data

I think it was Heavy when Risk Me won the Greenham, but as before, that win wouldn't be in the RP stats as it was '87.

The progeny list does not include Cutting Blade, another son of Sharpo, who was Lester Piggott's only Royal Ascot winner as a trainer when he won the Coventry, though I don't think the ground was proper soft that day.

Just looked up Risk Me

Comment reads

SIRE COMMENT: high class at 10f, overall stud record moderate but can sire smart 2yos, progeny like soft ground

Stats Heavy 7 wins 94 runs 7%

      Soft 23 wins 312 runs 7%

      Good/soft 27 wins 272 runs 10 %

      Good 39 wins 451 runs 9%

      Good/firm 24 wins 349 runs 7%

Comment and stats do not concur