Hard Ridden
Encyclopedia
Hard Ridden was an Irish Thoroughbred
racehorse. In a brief career of five races, he won the Irish 2000 Guineas
at the Curragh
and the Derby
at Epsom
in 1958. He was retired from racing later in the same year and stood as a stallion in Ireland and Japan.
Hard Ridden was sent to the sales at Dublin as a yearling, and was bought for 270gns
by Sir Victor Sassoon. The colt was sent into training with Mick Rogers
at the Curragh
.
. He was then returned to the same course for the Irish 2000 Guineas and won impressively by four lengths from the future Irish Derby winner, Sindon, with Paddy's Point third.
The favourite for the Derby, Alcide, was withdawn from the race after being “got at” (deliberately injured) in his stable, leaving the race looking very open. Hard Ridden, however, as the son of a sprinter, was thought unlikely to be effective over one and a half miles and started at 18/1 in a field of twenty in front of a crowd estimated at 200,000 including the Queen. Ridden by the fifty-one-year-old Charlie Smirke, Hard Ridden was held up in the early stages as the leaders set a moderate pace. In the straight, Smirke sent Hard Ridden through a gap on the inside to take the lead and go clear. In the closing stages Hard Ridden extended his advantage to win by five lengths from Paddy's Point and Nagami, becoming the first Irish-trained winner of the race since Orby
in 1907. Immediately after the race Smirke announced "That's it,I've ridden my last Derby!."
Hard Ridden did not appear again on the racecourse until late July, when he ran in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot
. He finished unplaced behind Ballymoss
and was shortly afterwards retired to stud.
Timeform
rated Hard Ridden on a mark of 131. A rating of 130 is considered the mark of an above average European Group One winner.
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. In a brief career of five races, he won the Irish 2000 Guineas
Irish 2000 Guineas
The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
at the Curragh
Curragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
and the 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...
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...
in 1958. He was retired from racing later in the same year and stood as a stallion in Ireland and Japan.
Background
Hard Ridden was a “long and lean” bay horse bred in Ireland by Sir Oliver Lambart. His sire, Hard Sauce (1948– 1969) was a top-class racehorse, who excelled over sprint distances, winning the July Cup in1951. Hard Ridden’s dam, Toute Belle, was a French-bred mare from a staying family who failed as a racehorse and was covered by Hard Sauce after a failing to attract a buyer when put up for auction at Newmarket in December 1953.Hard Ridden was sent to the sales at Dublin as a yearling, and was bought for 270gns
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
by Sir Victor Sassoon. The colt was sent into training with Mick Rogers
Mick Rogers
Mick Rogers was warden of Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre at Portland Bill, Dorset, England from 1979 to 1995 ....
at the Curragh
Curragh
The Curragh is a flat open plain of almost 5,000 acres of common land in County Kildare, Ireland, between Newbridge and Kildare. This area is well-known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside the famous Japanese Gardens. Also...
.
1957: two-year-old season
Hard Ridden finished second in his only race as a two-year-old in 1957.1958: three-year-old season
On his three-year-old debut, Hard Ridden ran second in a race at the CurraghCurragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
. He was then returned to the same course for the Irish 2000 Guineas and won impressively by four lengths from the future Irish Derby winner, Sindon, with Paddy's Point third.
The favourite for the Derby, Alcide, was withdawn from the race after being “got at” (deliberately injured) in his stable, leaving the race looking very open. Hard Ridden, however, as the son of a sprinter, was thought unlikely to be effective over one and a half miles and started at 18/1 in a field of twenty in front of a crowd estimated at 200,000 including the Queen. Ridden by the fifty-one-year-old Charlie Smirke, Hard Ridden was held up in the early stages as the leaders set a moderate pace. In the straight, Smirke sent Hard Ridden through a gap on the inside to take the lead and go clear. In the closing stages Hard Ridden extended his advantage to win by five lengths from Paddy's Point and Nagami, becoming the first Irish-trained winner of the race since Orby
Orby
Orby is a village and civil parish which lies in the marshes of the Lincolnshire coast east of the town of Spilsby, and west of the seaside resort of Skegness, Lincolnshire, England...
in 1907. Immediately after the race Smirke announced "That's it,I've ridden my last Derby!."
Hard Ridden did not appear again on the racecourse until late July, when he ran in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 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...
. He finished unplaced behind Ballymoss
Ballymoss
Ballymoss was an Irish Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. The son of Mossborough, his grandsire was the extremely important Nearco. Out of the mare Indian call, the damsire of Ballymoss was Singapore whose sire was the 1918 U.K. Triple Crown winner Gainsborough.Ballymoss was sold by his breeder at...
and was shortly afterwards retired to stud.
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated "Hard Ridden" as an “inferior” Derby winner.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...
rated Hard Ridden on a mark of 131. A rating of 130 is considered the mark of an above average European Group One winner.