Further Flight
Encyclopedia
Further Flight was an Irish
-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Jockey Club Cup
for five successive years. He is the only horse to win the same European Group race
five times
.
winner Pharly out of the Cambridgeshire Handicap
winner Flying Nelly, from whom he inherited his grey coat. He became a favourite of the British racing public, competing in and winning long-distance events in a career that lasted from 1988 to 1998. He was trained throughout his career by Barry Hills and ridden in 64 of his 70 starts by Michael Hills
.
and finishing second in the Cesarewitch Handicap
in which he attempted to give seventeen pounds to the winner.
In 1991 he won five of his eight races starting with two handicaps before moving up to Group class
to win the Goodwood Cup, St Simon Stakes and his first Jockey Club Cup. He also finished first in the Prix Kergorlay
but lost the race after a Steward's Inquiry.
In 1992, he was at his peak. A run of four consecutive Group race wins saw him add wins in the Doncaster Cup and Lonsdale Stakes to repeat victories in the Goodwood Cup and Jockey Club Cup.
As a seven-year-old in 1993 he captured a second Lonsdale Stakes and a third Jockey Club Cup. 1994 brought a fourth Jockey Club Cup and a win in a listed event at Newmarket.
By 1995, it was clear that his very best days were behind him, but wins at Haydock and Doncaster were followed by a fifth vicory in the Jockey Club Cup. Further Flight continued to race for another three seasons, winning once in each of them, and putting in a number of good placed efforts, including a third place as an eleven-year-old in the 1997 Jockey Club Cup.
run since 2001 at Nottingham
in April.
His longevity and consistency, combined with his distinctive racing style and easily recognisable grey coat made him a popular favourite. On his retirement Barry Hills said, "You could live a lifetime and never have a horse like him again".
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Jockey Club Cup
Jockey Club Cup
The British Champions Long Distance Cup, formerly known as the Jockey Club Cup, is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles...
for five successive years. He is the only horse to win the same European Group race
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
five times
Repeat winners of horse races
-Eight wins:-Seven wins:-Six wins:* The Race Around Yorkshire Handicap was renamed the "Gods Solution Handicap" in 1990.-Five wins:Cheekio Ora won the Herefordshire Light Horse Breeding Society's Hunter Chase five times in the 1980s....
.
Background
Further Flight was foaled in Ireland in 1986, sired by the Prix du Moulin de LongchampPrix du Moulin de Longchamp
The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older...
winner Pharly out of the Cambridgeshire Handicap
Cambridgeshire Handicap
The Cambridgeshire Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event...
winner Flying Nelly, from whom he inherited his grey coat. He became a favourite of the British racing public, competing in and winning long-distance events in a career that lasted from 1988 to 1998. He was trained throughout his career by Barry Hills and ridden in 64 of his 70 starts by Michael Hills
Michael Hills
Michael Hills is a British flat racing jockey. He is twin brother to Richard Hills and their father is racehorse trainer Barry Hills.Michael has a series of hobbies, such as darts and snooker.Michael is sponsored by Carraig Insurance....
.
Racing career
Further Flight did not appear on the racecourse until the autumn of 1988 when he ran down the field in a minor event at Chepstow. As a three-year-old he ran four times, winning once at Ayr. As a four-year-old he emerged as a top-class staying handicapper winning four races including the Ebor HandicapEbor Handicap
The Ebor Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
and finishing second in the Cesarewitch Handicap
Cesarewitch Handicap
The Cesarewitch Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Newmarket over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and the latter part is on the Rowley Mile. It is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was...
in which he attempted to give seventeen pounds to the winner.
In 1991 he won five of his eight races starting with two handicaps before moving up to Group class
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
to win the Goodwood Cup, St Simon Stakes and his first Jockey Club Cup. He also finished first in the Prix Kergorlay
Prix Kergorlay
The Prix Kergorlay is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 3,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
but lost the race after a Steward's Inquiry.
In 1992, he was at his peak. A run of four consecutive Group race wins saw him add wins in the Doncaster Cup and Lonsdale Stakes to repeat victories in the Goodwood Cup and Jockey Club Cup.
As a seven-year-old in 1993 he captured a second Lonsdale Stakes and a third Jockey Club Cup. 1994 brought a fourth Jockey Club Cup and a win in a listed event at Newmarket.
By 1995, it was clear that his very best days were behind him, but wins at Haydock and Doncaster were followed by a fifth vicory in the Jockey Club Cup. Further Flight continued to race for another three seasons, winning once in each of them, and putting in a number of good placed efforts, including a third place as an eleven-year-old in the 1997 Jockey Club Cup.
Retirement
Further Flight was retired in 1998. As a gelding, he had no stud career but had an active retirement at the home of his former jockey Michael Hills. He died after suffering a paddock injury to his hind leg in July 2001.Assessment
Further Flight was named Top Older Horse in the 1995 Cartier Racing Awards. The Further Flight Stakes, named in his honour, has been listed raceConditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
run since 2001 at Nottingham
Nottingham Racecourse
Nottingham Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. It is situated at Colwick Park, close to the River Trent and about 3 km east of the city centre....
in April.
His longevity and consistency, combined with his distinctive racing style and easily recognisable grey coat made him a popular favourite. On his retirement Barry Hills said, "You could live a lifetime and never have a horse like him again".