Golden Cygnet

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Golden Cygnet was a racehorse who many believed was going to be the next superstar of National Hunt racing after he arrived on the hurdling scene towards the end of 1977. He is fondly remembered by many, having appeared just like a shooting star across the sky and then, just as suddenly, he was gone again. What he achieved in such a short time and at such a young age left everyone grasping for superlatives. Tragically he suffered a fatal injury in the Scottish Champion Hurdle when in the process of delivering another one of his incredible performances. His hurdling career had lasted less than 5 months but at the time no one wanted to talk about any other horse.

Golden Cygnet, a bay gelding, was born on the 21st June 1972 which made him a very late foal in bloodstock terms (on the 1st January 1973 he was officially the same age -1 year old - as those born 5 months before him). His sire was Deep Run - the best National Hunt sire of his era - and his dam was the Golden Vision mare, Golden Cygneture. He turned out to be the only foal of his dam who never set foot on a racecourse. His grand-dam was My Cygneture who never ran either and only had 2 foals apart from Golden Cygneture, one of whom was a minor winner. There didn't appear to be any indication, on pedigree, why such an exceptional racehorse would descend from such a weak female line. In fact, the only reason why this line was kept at all was most probably due to the 3rd dam, Cygnet, who bred 10 winners from 11 foals including the leading racehorse and sire, Wolver Hollow.

Golden Cygnet was sent to Goffs November Sales as an unbroken 3-y-o in 1975 where he was bought by his trainer, Edward O'Grady for the princely sum of 980 guineas. He wasn't the easiest horse to break or ride in the beginning, and when galloping he had the unusual habit of carrying his head very low which necessitated the use of knee boots whilst in training because his low head carriage caused his knees to clash with his mouth and this caused it's own problems. As a horse, he wasn't much to look at, being a sparely-made, narrow individual but he obviously had a serious engine.

Golden Cygnet began his racing career as a 4-y-o in a flat maiden over 2 miles at Leopardstown on the June bank holiday monday. He was obviously showing something at home as he was backed in to 3/1 from 7's. Although he won the race he was disqualified for causing interference inside the final furlong and placed second. Connections might have lost their money but at least they knew they had a horse with potential. His next run was in a bumper at Roscommon where he was a fast finishing third, beaten less than a length before signing off for the year with an 8 length win at Naas in a one-and-a-half mile flat maiden for amateur riders in early October.

It was almost a year before Golden Cygnet re-appeared on the racetrack again, finishing last in a handicap over 2 miles at Listowel in September before heading to Punchestown the following month for another handicap over a trip that was too short for him (9 furlongs). The form book stated 'never placed to challenge, some late progress'. Those who suspected that this was probably just a warm-up with a future target in mind could argue that they were proved right when he turned up for the Leopardstown November Handicap and was backed in from 20/1 to 7/2. With only 7-7 to carry, the top British-based lightweight jockey, Richard Fox was booked for the ride but despite taking up the running 4 furlongs out he faded in the straight and could finish only seventh. This being the last day of the flat season, Golden Cygnet's sights were then switched to hurdling. No one could have forseen at this stage that within 5 months he would become one of the most talked about horses ever to have jumped a hurdle.

His first appearance over hurdles came at Clonmel on the 8th December, 1977 where he was ridden by the young 18-y-o amateur Mr. Niall Madden (who was to ride him in all of his hurdle races) and he made short work of his 16 rivals to win by 3 lengths (Form Book: 11/10 Fav, soon in touch, 2nd after 3 out, led between last two, ran on well). His next appearance was at Leopardstown on St. Stephen's Day in a 'Winners' hurdle for which he again started favourite at 6/4. This was a performance that had to be seen to be believed. Having been held up off the pace early on, he gradually made progress to join the leaders approaching the straight. At this stage he was travelling so strongly that Niall Madden was having trouble restraining him because he had begun to take such a fierce hold. He went to the front sooner than he wanted because he literally could not hold him any longer and he strolled away from the others in the straight to win on a tight rein (Form Book: 6/4 Fav, waited with, improved to 4th 3 out, joined leader cantering entering straight, soon led, drew clear, impressive).

So easily had Golden Cygnet won at Leopardstown that his trainer Edward O'Grady decided to let him take his chance in the Slaney Hurdle at Naas only 12 days later. Although he won, he was not as impressive as one would have expected after his performance at Leopardstown and not only was his victory hard fought, he also had to survive a stewards' inquiry into possible interference although he deservedly kept the race (Form Book: 4/6 Fav, mid division & waited with, improved when mistake 4 out, 5th 3 out, led from next, edged right at last, ran on well). In hindsight, the race probably came a little too soon after his win at Leopardstown or possibly he had picked up some sort of virus in the meantime. Whatever the reason for his lack lustre effort at Naas, he was given plenty of time to recover and did not re-appear until the 25th February, exactly 7 weeks later. His target was the Fournoughts Hurdle at Punchestown, a trial for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Any doubts people might have had after his run at Naas were well and truly squashed here as he destroyed his 6 opponents and looked every inch a Cheltenham winner in waiting (Form Book: 4/7 Fav, always close up, 2nd 2 out, led on bridle entering straight, went clear before last, easily).

Golden Cygnet arrived at Cheltenham as the banker for most Irish punters and he did not let them down. He toyed with his seventeen rivals having been waited with in the early part of the race. As soon as Niall Madden pulled him out to challenge at the top of the hill with 3 to jump, he began pulling for his head and it was amazing to witness the sight of Golden Cygnet's head shifting from side to side as young Madden tried desperately to stop him from going to the front too soon whilst all around him were being hard ridden. Once he jumped the second last, he let him go and he shot clear, jumped the last superbly and sprinted up the hill to win running away by 15 lengths in a faster time than the Champion Hurdle which took place one hour later. It was a majestic performance and one that is still talked about to this day (Form Book: 4/5 Fav, always going easily, led 2 out, went clear flat, impressive) - [Link: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=3_8KSgxz4pg]. He was immediately installed as favourite for the 1979 Champion Hurdle, a huge compliment for a novice considering that the sport was right in the middle of what has been called 'the golden age of hurdling' which included Night Nurse (Champion in 1976 & 1977), Monksfield (Champion in 1978 & 1979) and Sea Pigeon (Champion in 1980 & 1981). It appeared to all that Golden Cygnet was on the road to greatness because none of the aforementioned had achieved anything like as much as he had at the same stage of their careers.

He was to run twice more. Firstly he headed to the Fairyhouse Easter Festival for the Fingal Hurdle, a race for the best novices in the country. As in previous races, he swept his 8 rivals aside with a devastating turn of foot approaching the last, settling the issue in a few strides and coming home eased down by 10 lengths (Form Book: 2/7 Fav, waited with, 2nd 4 out, disputed lead approaching next, soon led, quickened clear approaching last, impressive). It was expected to be his last race of the season but he was so well in himself afterwards that Edward O'Grady decided to let him take his chance in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr 18 days later.

The Scottish Champion Hurdle represented a huge step up in class. Up until now, Golden Cygnet had been taking on fellow novices and they had proved to be no threat to him. At Ayr he was taking on very experienced hurdlers of the highest class who were well capable of exposing any chinks in his armour. On top of that, it was a handicap. In most years a Cheltenham winning novice could be expected to receive 14 lbs or more in weight from his more experienced rivals, especially from the likes of Night Nurse, the Champion Hurdler in 1976 & 1977 and Sea Pigeon who was to go on and win the Champion Hurdle in 1980 & 1981. However, the handicapper paid Golden Cygnet a huge compliment in allotting him 11-13 which was 5 lbs more than dual champion Night Nurse, 7 lbs more than Beacon Light, who had been fourth in the Champion Hurdle the previous month and 12 lbs more than Decent Fellow, winner of the Irish Sweeps Handicap Hurdle under 11-4. The only horse set to carry more weight than him was Sea Pigeon who was asked to carry only 1 lb more having finished second to Monksfield in the previous month's Champion Hurdle.

The race went according to plan most of the way. Having been held up early, Golden Cygnet moved into third place as they came to the second last hurdle. Approaching the final flight, he moved alongside Night Nurse travelling very strongly and looked an assured winner when for some unknown reason he just did not lift his front legs and crashed through the flight, somersaulting on his head before hitting the ground with a tremendous thud. Luckily, Niall Madden was thrown clear before the horse landed on him. Sea Pigeon went on to win the race, catching Night Nurse close home. Racing's most respected judges 'Timeform' stated in their 1977/1978 Annual "The race confirmed two important points - that Sea Pigeon had no superior among the established hurdlers apart from Monksfield, and that all the superlatives heaped on Golden Cygnet had been justified......Golden Cygnet appeared to have plenty left, and was two lengths up on Sea Pigeon and about to take the lead from Night Nurse when he suffered his fatal fall. Judging by the way Golden Cygnet finished in his previous races, he would have taken some catching......Golden Cygnet was challenging the leader Night Nurse, looking all over the winner, when he fell. The connections of Sea Pigeon did not dispute the general feeling afterwards that Golden Cygnet would have beaten Sea Pigeon in the Scottish Champion Hurdle if he had not come to grief at the last. And for a novice to have defeated a seasoned campaigner of Sea Pigeon's calibre at a difference of only 1 lb would have been a staggering achievement." Very few people were inclined to disagree including the compilers of the form book whose comment was (7/4 JF, waited with, improved approaching 2 out, quickened between last two, disputed & looked winner when fell last) - [Link: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=GtieDQ9blK4].

Golden Cygnet eventually got back to his feet after the fall and although dazed and naturally very sore as a result, everything appeared to be fine. A long period of rest over the summer seemed to be all that was required. As a precaution, Edward O'Grady sent the horse to the local veterinary hospital in Ayr for a couple of days to be sure that everything was alright before allowing him to travel home. Initially all appeared to be fine but 24 hours later, his condition began to deteriorate. Things got worse as time went on and come tuesday, 3 days after the race, Edward O'Grady was told that there was no chance of saving him and he reluctantly gave permission for the horse to be put to sleep rather than have him suffer any more. When the news broke, the racing world was stunned. Here was a horse who had more potential as a hurdler than any horse ever seen before or since. Suddenly he was gone - forever. It was an absolute tragedy for the game and more so for his connections. For many, his like will never be seen again. He remains the highest rated novice hurdler of all time.

Golden Cygnet has a race named in his honour which is run at Leopardstown every year and when that day arrives, it must bring back vivid memories of the horse for those who were there on the 26th December, 1977. No one who was there is ever likely to forget the performance of Golden Cygnet that day or indeed any of his subsequent races. That his potential was never given the chance to be fulfilled remains one of the most disappointing and tragic events ever to have happened in National Hunt racing. Of the many quotes about the horse, the following one probably summed it up for everybody - "They say that there is always another one around the corner but somehow I think it is going to be a very long corner before we see another Golden Cygnet." More than 30 years later the same quote still applies.