The Stewards' Cup is one
of the oldest sprint handicaps in the calendar, founded in its present form as
a six-furlong dash in 1840, and nowadays one of the most valuable; today's
edition, sponsored by Robins Farm Racing (the newly-founded Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani-backed
training business of Olly Stevens in Chiddingfold, Surrey) offers prize money
of £100,000.
It is also one of the most
thrilling; the sight of what is nearly always a full field of 28 hoving into
view over the rise at the five-furlong marker before beginning the downhill
charge to the line would quicken the most jaded of pulses. Today's is the 172nd
running.
The Stewards' Cup was
founded by Lord George Bentinck as a betting medium, and so it remains. Some
monster punts have been attempted, and some even landed. The 2003 winner
Patavellian was backed down to 4/1, the shortest-priced winner in the post-war
period, and showed he had been something of a 'good thing' under 8st 11lb by
winning the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye next time out.
Other winners to progress
to top honours later in their careers include Lochsong, winner at 10/1 under
8st in 1992; Coastal Bluff, 10/1jf winner in 1996 under 8st 5lb, and
Borderlescott, who also started at 10/1 in 2006, carrying 9st 5lb.
The longest-priced winner
was 66/1 shot O'Donovan Rossa in 1901. Three winners have started at 50/1
(Ashhurst Wonder 1954, Ahonoora 1978 and Madraco 1987), and three at 40/1
(Gangway 1894, Shikari's Son 1995 and Conquest 2008).
There has been only one
dead-heat in the Stewards' Cup, in 1914 when the previous year's winner Lord
Annandale shared the spoils with Golden Sun. Last year's winner Hawkeyethenoo
prevailed by a nose, the shortest winning distance in the race's history. The
longest post-war winning distance has been the four lengths by which Madraco
scored under a featherweight 7st 2lb in 1987.
Hawkeyethenoo and the 2011
winner Hoof It are back for another go. Only five horses have won two Stewards'
Cups: Marvel (1890, 1892), Golden Rod (1910, 1912), Lord Annandale (1913, 1914
dh), Sugar Palm (1942, 1943) and most recently Sky Diver (1967, 1968).
Hoof It carried a record
10st to victory two years ago. He again has top-weight, this time 9st 12lb,
which would be the second-highest winning weight. King's Signet (1993) and Petong
(1984) both shouldered 9st 10lb.
Seven jockeys have ridden
three Stewards' Cup winners. Richard Hughes is the only one currently riding;
he partners Ninjago today and has been successful on Shikari's Son (1995),
Harmonic Way (1999) and Tayseer (2000).
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