NUREYEV
by Andrew Pelis
One of the downsides of flat racing is the fleeting glimpse of brilliance we so rarely see, often shortly afterwards vanquished. Reputations are so often built-up to gargantuan levels on the gallops but that promise is seldom transferred to the racecourse. Northern Dancer in the Seventies was already building a reputation for producing high-class European turf horses. Keeneland's annual jamboree in 1978 saw a bay yearling colt with a flashy white face sold under the hammer for 1.3 million pounds sterling. The competition for this lot had been fierce, with the Sangster/Ballydoyle team outbid by Greek shipping magnet Stavros Niarchos. The yearling, now called Nureyev, was sent to France, where he would be trained by Francois Boutin. Raced only once at two, he comfortably won on his debut before winter set in. The following spring saw Nureyev's reputation grow immensely ' a view that was emphatically endorsed with a facile victory in the Prix Djebel.
Afterwards, Boutin decided to let the colt take his chance in the 1980 Newmarket 2000 Guineas. The field was particularly strong, with home hopes resting on John Dunlop's highly regarded maiden Posse, Greenham winner Final Straw, Known Fact and future Irish Derby winner Tyrnavos, whilst Vincent O'Brien sent Night Alert over from Ballydoyle. As the field set off, Nureyev's jockey Phillipe Paquet, exuding confidence, dropped the colt at the back of the field. As they approached the final quarter of a mile, he was still last and at this point Paquet decided it was time to act. Ahead of him, Known Fact and Posse were beginning to make their runs too and as the leaders began to tire, Nureyev became boxed in. It is the habitual jockey's nightmare to have a ton of horse under him and nowhere to go, particularly in a Classic. Paquet, desperate for room, unceremoniously barged Pat Eddery and Posse out of the way and almost to the floor and made rapid headway down the center of the course. With racing room, the colt showed brilliant acceleration to head Known Fact on the stands side close home. Posse ran on commendably to take third place and connections felt he might have won. Nureyev had lived up to the hype in a phenomenal manner, his third race had yielded a masterful performance of brilliance. Robert Sangster and Vincent O'Brien were left to rue the one that got away.
Even as he was being pulled up the words stewards enquiry were being announced. A lengthy enquiry resulted in Known Fact being awarded the race and Nureyev being demoted to last place, a travesty in the circumstances as given a clear run he would surely have won by a wide margin. Those behind him that day would enjoy glory, including Tyrnavos, Known Fact and Posse. However, Nureyev would suffer illness during the summer and eventually the announcement was taken that he had run his last race and would go to stud. Nureyev, the unbeaten son of Northern Dancer, first past the post in a Classic. The hype was easy to build and Walmac International were happy to accommodate the young stallion. Subsequent years would see Nureyev pass on his brilliance to a host of top class horses and a look down the list stamps him one of Northern Dancer's finest sons at stud. The list includes: Miesque, winner of two Breeder's Cup Miles and the 1000 Guineas, Spinning World, Theatrical, Peintre Celebre, Soviet Star, Zilzal, Sonic Lady and more recently Fasliyev.
Sadly, Nureyev had to be humanely destroyed in 2001, having suffered from a tumor in his right front hoof, but his legacy both on the course and at stud will last for some time to come.
