It would've been Chester's May Meeting this week and we recall our favourite Classic heroes that strutted their stuff on the Roodee - we want your stories too.
What are your favourite recollections of the Classic trials from the Chester May Meeting? Share your thoughts with us via racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and they will appear at the foot of the article.
David Ord - Big guns fired
I remember Henbit winning the Vase in 1980, making all. There was a significant moment three out when Willie Carson gave him a tap with the whip and he snapped back on the bridle. Almost instantly the others were at work. He looked a class act - and was to prove a brave one, winning the Derby despite breaking a bone in his leg at the furlong pole.
I've never seen Shergar's record-breaking 12 lengths romp in 1981, despite desperate searches of Youtube and various twitter accounts that do a wonderful job of bringing us the action from yesteryear.
It must have been exhilarating viewing for those who followed Guardian correspondent Richard Baerleins advice. After Sir Michael Stoute's charge had won the Sandown Classic Trial by eight lengths he wrote: "At 8/1 Shergar for the Derby, now is the time to bet like men".
I hope they did.
And they are two examples of horses who learned their trade at the Roodee. It's easy to think of the unique track as a place for low drawn, front-runners who aren't for catching. But it's also a place where horses have to adapt quickly. It's a place for a fast-track education favoured by many of the great trainers.
Just look at Aidan O'Brien's record there. He's saddled six of the last seven Vase winners, and as much as the Dante at York is regarded as the premier Epsom trial, Chester is a crucial stepping stone for so many of the Ballydoyle three-year-olds.
Henry Cecil liked it too, Old Vic and Belmez were good winners in 1988 and 90, Armiger followed suit in 1993 but his career fell short of the expected heights. And when he needed it most Light Shift took the 2007 Cheshire Oaks before a career-reviving win at Epsom.
And then there's John Gosden. It was here that a certain Enable took her first, tentative steps, towards greatness when treating her 2017 rivals with contempt in the same race. At that stage she was somewhat in the shade of stablemate Shutter Speed. She didn't stay there.
And that's what Chester can do. It's a springboard to Epsom and beyond. Some of the greats have trodden the path and more will in the future. Unique, exhilarating. It's not for the faint-hearted. But it's a place where the the stars can still shine.
Ben Linfoot - The Fallon factor
A lot of years passed between those early eighties glory years for the Chester trials and the Roodee’s renaissance at the turn of the century - when it came to finding Classic winners at Epsom, at least.
The Chester Vase and Dee Stakes were the stepping stone for Irish Derby winners like Law Society, Old Vic and Sir Harry Lewis, but Epsom heroes came via different routes for much of the 1980s and 90s.
And then came Oath in 1999, trained by Henry Cecil. Sent off the 2/1 favourite for the Dee Stakes on the back of a good reappearance at Newbury, he stormed to an impressive five-length victory under Kieren Fallon, who eased his mount down in the closing stages.
The bookies weren’t initially impressed, with quotes of 14/1 and 16/1 for the Derby freely available in the aftermath of his Chester win, but he went off at 13/2 at Epsom where Fallon famously broke the parade to keep a lid on him in the preliminaries.
Oath is also the last Derby or Oaks winner to come from stall one, with 40 horses subsequently attempting the feat without success, Fallon making the inside berth look no disadvantage at all as he smoothly negotiated Oath into a prominent position through the chicane.
But if that was a good ride, how would you describe his performance on Kris Kin to win at Epsom four years later?
Kris Kin’s trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, described it as one of the greatest in the history of the race according to Fallon’s autobiography, a view perhaps moulded by the horse’s reputation at home, where he showed little on the gallops and was labelled as lazy.
That would also explain Fallon’s decision not to ride him in the 2003 Dee Stakes. He was on John Dunlop’s Big Bad Bob, the 4/9 favourite, with Fergal Lynch on Kris Kin, the 20/1 outsider of four.
Yet Lynch and Kris Kin landed the Dee by a couple of lengths, from Fallon and Big Bad Bob, the winning jockey dumped to the turf after the finishing line as the winner jinked while Lynch’s arm was aloft in celebration.
Kris Kin was supplemented for Epsom, late money came for Fallon’s mount and his challenge was timed to perfection as he reeled in the front-running The Great Gatsby to win by a length.
Fallon was to win the Derby once more on North Light, an altogether more straightforward victory, but his first two winners of the world’s greatest Flat race were fabulous rides and both horses were made in Chester.
Send us your views
Send in your favourite memories of the Classic trials from the Chester May Meeting and other contributions to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com while if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks, please let us know.
Feedback from readers
Neil Mitchell: I usually went to Chester's May meeting in the County Stand, but in 1981, I don't know why, but I decided to visit Chester with my late Mum. As we were walking down to the racecourse we were so very fortunate to see Shergar (with his white face) being walked from the stables, which in those days were in the city, to the racecourse.
We then found a good spot on the walls to watch the race, well what a race it was, or rather a romp in the park, Shergar just left his rivals trailing in his wake hehehe, a 12 length win.
I have many amazing memories of Chester races, but this is certainly one of the most memorable!!!!!!
Shergar a true Champ, may he R.I.P.
Andrew Pelis: I remember Shergar's 1981 Chester Vase victory well and he had passed the post before the last horse reached the home straight.
But in terms of significance, the 1990 Chester May Meeting is surely the classiest ever?
The Chester Vase saw subsequent King George winner Belmez beat future Derby winner Quest For Fame.
While the Dee Stakes that year, saw future Derby runner-up Blue Stag, beat Saumarez, who would later land that year's Arc de Triomphe.
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