CAN YOU NAME THE BEST HORSE TO WIN THE LADY DUDLEY CUP?
UNMISTAKABLY |
JUST CLIQUOT |
CAUGHT AT DAWN |
PAYMASTER |
GREENWICH |
DISTINCTIVE |
SOLBA |
PERFECT LIGHT |
DOUBLE THRILLER |
SHARINSKI |
BOND JNR |
YAHOO |
BRUNICO X 2 |
THE RED ONE |
TURN MILL |
BORDER SUN |
NORTH KEY |
PRIDE OF TULLOW |
HIGHLAND BLAZE |
RIDGEMAN |
DARLINGATE |
CLEAR PRIDE |
NORMAN CASE |
PETITE MANDY |
MAJOR STAR |
SPARKFORD |
SPORTING LUCK |
LITTLE FLEUR |
JIM LAD |
MICKLEY SEABRIGHT |
LAKE DISTRICT |
MIGHTY RED X 2 |
REAL RASCAL |
FROZEN DAWN |
BRIGHT WILLOW |
TAILORMAN |
HANDSEL |
SNOWDRA QUEEN |
STRAIGHT LADY |
NO REWARD |
FOROUGHNA |
MIDNIGHT COUP |
POMME DE GEURRE |
FLIPPANT LAD |
CORN STAR |
The old saying of lies, damn lies and statistics came to mind prior to this research. Individual opinions are obviously subjective with some horses obviously held in higher esteem than others.
47 horses (listed above) have won the Lady Dudley Cup since Geoffrey Sale first introduced his ratings back in 1961. Successes prior to that and the merits of those performances will always be a matter for individual interpretation and no doubt the supporters of Cash Account, Creola, Pucka Belle and O’Dell will dispute these findings.
The 2006 running of the Lady Dudley Cup attracted a top class field and was acknowledged as one of the best races in recent years with a good proportion of the runners rated over 100 by the Racing Post Weekender.
This led to the question - How did it compare with previous contests and which was the best Dudley Cup? The answer to the first part of the question is not very well with Unmistakably only rated equal 10 th – we attempt to resolve the second part of the question below.
Up until 1980 a vast majority of the winners of this prestigious trophy were rated above 11 stone by Geoffrey Sale and his successors Iain Mackenzie, Terry Selby and Martin Harris.
It could be argued that it is impossible to achieve parity with the Handicap Marks due to changes in personal over the years, but those charges are not levied at the Official Handicapper under Rules, so I do not think they are valid.
The lowest rated horse during the early years of the race was Flippant Lad who won a Division of the race back in 1961. There were 11 subsequent winners up until 1969 and 7 of them were rated at 11 stone or above.
The standard was maintained during the 1970’s when there were 10 winners with 8 of these horses rated above 11 stone, while the other two achieved ratings of 10 stone 12 lbs. and 10 stone 13 lbs. respectively.
It is evident that from the 1980’s, into the 1990’s and through to the present day that there has been a struggled to maintain the standards achieved in previous eras.
Just 1 horse in the 1980’s and 2 in the 1990’s managed to graduate through the 11 stone barrier. Highland Blaze did so in the 1980’s, while Bond Jnr and The Red One were the only horses to achieve this milestone in the next decade.
Greenwich was rated at 11 stone 3lb following his win in 2002, which was 2-lbs. superior to this year’s winner Unmistakably.
While it would be remiss to state that Pride of Tullow was the worst horse to win the Dudley Cup he does have the lowest rating of 10 stone 2 lb, but his name is down in the record books and that fact cannot be denied.
TO FIND OUT THE BEST THREE HORSES TO WIN THE DUDLEY CUP
BUT BEFORE YOU DO, SEE IF YOU CAN GET THEM IN CORRECT ORDER
