Celtic Swing
Encyclopedia
Celtic Swing is a retired British
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. He was owned by Peter Savill, bred by Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk
and trained by her daughter Lady Herries in Sussex
. Unfashionably bred, he was by the American
horse Damister and out of the British
horse Celtic Ring. His name, although partially inspired by that of his dam, was specifically taken from a Van Morrison
track. In all his seven races he was ridden by Kevin Darley
.
Celtic Swing raced for the first time at Ayr
on 16 July 1994, winning a two-year-old maiden race over seven furlongs by four lengths. This would be the only time he ran without starting as favourite. On 8 October 1994 he won over seven furlongs at Ascot
by eight lengths, beating the subsequently hugely successful Singspiel
. Although this created considerable excitement, the race that led to the hype was the Racing Post Trophy
over a mile at Doncaster
on 22 October 1994, which he won by twelve lengths. He was voted the Cartier Racing Award
as the top European two-year-old colt.
Going into 1995, expectations ran high for Celtic Swing with widespread claims that he would be one of the greatest horses of all time, and almost unprecedentedly short odds for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby
. Claims were even made that, 25 years after Nijinsky
had been the last horse to do it, he would also take the St Leger
and win the colts' Triple Crown
, which it was widely believed had become almost impossible due to specialist breeding.
Almost inevitably, he never lived up to these grand expectations, which included a number of rapturous editorials in The Times
. Stepping back to seven furlongs, he made his seasonal debut on softened ground at Newbury
in the Greenham Stakes
on 22 April 1995. Although his win over Bahri was not spectacular, he was still unchallenged, and he would have won by much more than the eventual one and a quarter lengths had he not been eased down.
All was set for the 2,000 Guineas on 6 May 1995, a race run amid almost unbearable expectations (on that day's Morning Line
, John McCririck
said to Jim McGrath
, who was strongly involved with Timeform
which had said that the race was a "certainty", that if the horse did not win by at least eight lengths McGrath was finished). But the first cracks in Celtic Swing's armour suddenly emerged: although he fought back near the end, he could not beat the French
horse Pennekamp, who eventually won by a head. Owner Peter Savill decided not to run in the Epsom Derby
, claiming that the ground at Epsom
was too firm for the horse's liking, and go instead for the Prix du Jockey Club
(the "French Derby") at Chantilly
on 4 June 1995. Here he started evens favourite, and won, but only by an unconvincing half-length over Poliglote.
His final race would be in the Irish Derby at The Curragh on 2 July 1995. Here he started as 5-4 favourite, but finished a bitterly disappointing eighth out of thirteen runners, never having looked like winning. Worse was to follow: he had been injured during the race, and the rest of his schedule for the season was abandoned. It had been intended to run him again as a four-year-old in the later part of the 1996 season, but the injury recurred and, almost unnoticed, the much-hyped "wonderhorse" was quietly retired on 20 July 1996, more than a year after his last race.
The best of Celtic Swing's progeny is the Australian breed Takeover Target
(Dam – Shady Stream) who has won eight Group One races including top sprinting races in Australia, United Kingdom, Japan and Singapore and in prize money from twenty one wins in forty one race starts.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He was owned by Peter Savill, bred by Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk
Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk
Lavinia Mary Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk LG CBE was a British peeress....
and trained by her daughter Lady Herries in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. Unfashionably bred, he was by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
horse Damister and out of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
horse Celtic Ring. His name, although partially inspired by that of his dam, was specifically taken from a Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
track. In all his seven races he was ridden by Kevin Darley
Kevin Darley
Kevin Darley is a retired jockey, and a co-president of the Jockeys' Association of Great Britain...
.
Celtic Swing raced for the first time at Ayr
Ayr Racecourse
Ayr Racecourse at Whitletts Road, Ayr, Scotland, was opened on 1907. The track is a left-handed, oval track, thirteen furlongs in circumference, with a straight run-in of half a mile. There are courses for flat and for National Hunt racing...
on 16 July 1994, winning a two-year-old maiden race over seven furlongs by four lengths. This would be the only time he ran without starting as favourite. On 8 October 1994 he won over seven furlongs at Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
by eight lengths, beating the subsequently hugely successful Singspiel
Singspiel (horse)
Singspiel was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. The Bay horse was out of the Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare, Glorious Song...
. Although this created considerable excitement, the race that led to the hype was the Racing Post Trophy
Racing Post Trophy
The Racing Post Trophy is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October....
over a mile at Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
on 22 October 1994, which he won by twelve lengths. He was voted the Cartier Racing Award
Cartier Racing Award
The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier jewelers. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph newspapers.Eight...
as the top European two-year-old colt.
Going into 1995, expectations ran high for Celtic Swing with widespread claims that he would be one of the greatest horses of all time, and almost unprecedentedly short odds for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
. Claims were even made that, 25 years after Nijinsky
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
had been the last horse to do it, he would also take the St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
and win the colts' Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
, which it was widely believed had become almost impossible due to specialist breeding.
Almost inevitably, he never lived up to these grand expectations, which included a number of rapturous editorials in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. Stepping back to seven furlongs, he made his seasonal debut on softened ground at Newbury
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
in the Greenham Stakes
Greenham Stakes
The Greenham Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April....
on 22 April 1995. Although his win over Bahri was not spectacular, he was still unchallenged, and he would have won by much more than the eventual one and a quarter lengths had he not been eased down.
All was set for the 2,000 Guineas on 6 May 1995, a race run amid almost unbearable expectations (on that day's Morning Line
Channel 4 Racing
Channel 4 Racing is the name given to the horse racing coverage on the British television station Channel 4.-History:The first transmission of racing on the channel was on 22 March 1984 from Doncaster, as it took over midweek coverage which had previously been on ITV...
, John McCririck
John McCririck
John McCririck is an English television horse racing pundit. He is notable not only for his racing opinions but also for his old-fashioned style of dress and mannerisms...
said to Jim McGrath
Jim McGrath (British commentator)
Jim McGrath is an English-based horse racing pundit and broadcaster. He was associated with Timeform from 1974 until 2009.McGrath had an ambition to become a jockey, but after a summer at trainer Bill Marshall's yard at Whitsbury, he was advised that he wouldn't make the grade...
, who was strongly involved with Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
which had said that the race was a "certainty", that if the horse did not win by at least eight lengths McGrath was finished). But the first cracks in Celtic Swing's armour suddenly emerged: although he fought back near the end, he could not beat the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
horse Pennekamp, who eventually won by a head. Owner Peter Savill decided not to run in the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, claiming that the ground at Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
was too firm for the horse's liking, and go instead for the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
(the "French Derby") at Chantilly
Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....
on 4 June 1995. Here he started evens favourite, and won, but only by an unconvincing half-length over Poliglote.
His final race would be in the Irish Derby at The Curragh on 2 July 1995. Here he started as 5-4 favourite, but finished a bitterly disappointing eighth out of thirteen runners, never having looked like winning. Worse was to follow: he had been injured during the race, and the rest of his schedule for the season was abandoned. It had been intended to run him again as a four-year-old in the later part of the 1996 season, but the injury recurred and, almost unnoticed, the much-hyped "wonderhorse" was quietly retired on 20 July 1996, more than a year after his last race.
The best of Celtic Swing's progeny is the Australian breed Takeover Target
Takeover Target
Takeover Target is a much travelled Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who has won top sprinting races in each of the five major cities in Australia as well as the United Kingdom, Japan and Singapore....
(Dam – Shady Stream) who has won eight Group One races including top sprinting races in Australia, United Kingdom, Japan and Singapore and in prize money from twenty one wins in forty one race starts.