Eu devia ter uns dez a doze anos e fiquei bastante nervoso por ter esquecido algo que aprendera no dia anterior no colégio. A resposta de vó Adelina, foi imediata. "Não se preocupe, cultura é um pouco que fica, do muito que se aprende"!
A vida me ensinou que a nobre senhora estava certa. Você aprende muitas coisas, mas poucas são aquelas que ficam guardadas em sua mente. esta semana um navegante me perguntou como eu avaliaria a Ryan Moore. Ao que respondi, "muito bom". Não satisfeito, ele voltou a carga. "Melhor que Lester"? Preferi mudar de assunto...
Para mim era como pedir um opinião sobre Maradona e depois de recebe-la a pergunta se ele teria sido melhor que Pelé? Pois é, a vantagem de se ter cultura, evita que você faça perguntas impertinentes.
Sou velho, mas não da era paleolítica. Apenas li, sobre o sorumbático Fred Archer, o colorido Steve Donoghue e o profissionalismo Sir Gordon Richards e aprendi sobre a grandeza dos mesmos. Tive a oportunidade de ver Lester Piggott e Frankie Dettori, que para mim, foram os que mais me impressionaram. Agora chegou a vez de Ryan Moore.
Mas antes que possam vir a me chamar de saudosista apresento abaixo um resumo das principais carreiras ganhas por Lester, e embora quem pague a banda, escolha a música, meu respeito por ele, está acima onde qualquer escolha pessoal.
Não tenho o número exato, mas Lester deve ter ganho 116 provas em Royal Ascot, número este, que Ryan está perseguindo e pode até a alcançar. Mas até lá...
Canada
- Canadian International Stakes – (1) – Dahlia (1974)
France
- Grand Critérium (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère) – (3) – Sir Ivor (1967), Breton (1969), My Swallow (1970)
- Grand Prix de Paris – (2) – Roll of Honour (1970), Sagaro (1974)
- Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud – (1) – Teenoso (1984)
- Poule d'Essai des Pouliches – (2) – Rajput Princess (1964), River Lady (1982)
- Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – (4) – Tower Walk (1969), Balidar (1970), Moorestyle (1980), Mr Brooks (1992)
- Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – (3) – Rheingold (1973), Alleged (1977 & 1978)
- Prix de Diane – (3) – Mrs Penny (1980), Madam Gay (1981), Lypharita (1985)
- Prix de la Forêt – (2) – Moorestyle (1980 & 1981)
- Prix Ganay – (1) – Trillion (1978)
- Prix Jacques Le Marois – (1) – Nonoalco (1974)
- Prix Jean Prat – (3) – Speedy Dakota (1975), Dom Racine (1978), Night Alert (1980)
- Prix du Jockey Club – (1) – Hard to Beat (1972)
- Prix Lupin – (2) – Hard to Beat (1972), Persépolis (1982)
- Prix Marcel Boussac – (3) – Vela (1969), Play It Safe (1981), Midway Lady (1985)
- Prix Maurice de Gheest – (4) – Mountain Call (1968), Abergwaun (1972), Moorestyle (1981), College Chapel (1993)
- Prix Morny – (2) – My Swallow (1970), Nonoalco (1973)
- Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (3) – Habitat (1969), Gold Rod (1970), Sparkler (1973)
- Prix Rothschild – (1) – Topsy (1979)
- Prix Royal-Oak – (1) – Ardross (1981)
- Prix Saint-Alary – (1) – Nobiliary (1975)
- Prix de la Salamandre – (2) – My Swallow (1970), Nonoalco (1973)
- Prix Vermeille – (1) – Aunt Edith (1965)
Germany
- Deutsches Derby – (3) – Orsini (1957), Fanfar (1963), Luciano (1967)
- Preis der Diana – (1) – On Dit (1967)
- Preis von Europa – (1) – Esprit du Nord (1983)
Ireland
- Irish 1,000 Guineas – (2) – Favoletta (1971), Godetia (1979)
- Irish 2,000 Guineas – (3) – Decies (1970), Jaazeiro (1978), Rodrigo de Triano (1992)
- Irish Champion Stakes – (3) – Malacate (1976), Inkerman (1978), Commanche Run (1985)
- Irish Derby – (5) – Meadow Court (1965), Ribocco (1967), Ribero (1968), The Minstrel (1977), Shergar (1981)
- Irish Oaks – (3) – Santa Tina (1970), Juliette Marny (1975), Godetia (1979)
- Irish St. Leger – (3) – Dan Kano (1967), Caucasus (1975), Meneval (1976)
- Matron Stakes – (1) – Kalamaika (1978)
- Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1) – Lemon Souffle (1993)
- National Stakes – (4) – Cellini (1973), Sir Wimborne (1975), El Prado (1991), Fatherland (1992)
- Phoenix Stakes – (1) – Getaway (1958)
- Pretty Polly Stakes – (3) – Mariel (1971), Godetia (1979), Calandra (1980)
- Tattersalls Gold Cup – (2) – Cavo Doro (1973), Elegant Air (1985)
Italy
- Derby Italiano – (3) – Bonconte di Montefeltro (1969), Cerreto (1973), Welnor (1984)
- Gran Criterium – (1) – Alhijaz (1991)
- Gran Premio del Jockey Club – (4) – Nagami (1958), Marco Visconti (1966), Awaasif (1983), Silvernesian (1992)
- Premio Presidente della Repubblica – (1) – Moulton (1973)
- Premio Roma – (3) – Irvine (1972), Noble Saint (1979), Old Country (1985)
Singapore
- Singapore Derby – (1) – Saas Fee (1979)
- Queen Elizabeth II Cup – (2) – Jumbo Jet (1972)
Slovakia
- Derby – (1) – Zimzalabim (1993)
United Kingdom
- 1,000 Guineas – (2) – Humble Duty (1970), Fairy Footsteps (1981)
- 2,000 Guineas – (5) – Crepello (1957), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Shadeed (1985), Rodrigo de Triano (1992)
- Ascot Gold Cup – (11) – Zarathustra (1957), Gladness (1958), Pandofell (1961), Twilight Alley (1963), Fighting Charlie (1965), Sagaro (1975, 1976 & 1977), Le Moss (1979), Ardross (1981 & 1982)
- Champion Stakes – (5) – Petite Etoile (1959), Pieces of Eight (1966), Sir Ivor (1968), Giacometti (1974), Rodrigo de Triano(1992)
- Cheveley Park Stakes – (4) – Fleet (1966), Lalibela (1967), Durtal (1976), Marwell (1980)
- Cork and Orrery Stakes (Golden Jubilee Stakes) – (9) – Right Boy (1958 & 1959), Tin Whistle (1960), El Gallo (1963), Mountain Call (1968), Welsh Saint (1970), Saritamer (1974), Thatching (1979), College Chapel (1993)
- Coronation Cup – (9) – Zucchero (1953), Nagami (1959), Petite Etoile (1960 & 1961), Park Top (1969), Roberto (1973), Quiet Fling (1976), Sea Chimes (1980), Be My Native (1983)
- Coronation Stakes – (5) – Aiming High (1961), Calve (1972), Lisadell (1974), Roussalka (1975), Chalon (1982)
- Derby – (9) – Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St. Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1983)
- Dewhurst Stakes – (10) – Crepello (1956), Follow Suit (1962), Ribofilio (1968), Nijinsky (1969), Crowned Prince (1971), Cellini (1973), The Minstrel (1976), Try My Best (1977), Monteverdi (1979), Diesis (1982)
- Eclipse Stakes – (7) – Mystery IX (1951), Darius (1955), Arctic Explorer (1957), St Paddy (1961), Pieces of Eight (1966), Wolver Hollow (1969), Artaius (1977)
- Falmouth Stakes – (7) – Sylphide (1957), Green Opal (1960), Chrona (1966), Vital Match (1969), Chalon (1982), Niche (1993), Lemon Souffle (1994)
- Fillies' Mile – (4) – Escorial (1973), Miss Pinkie (1976), Cherry Hinton (1977), Oh So Sharp (1984)
- Haydock Sprint Cup – (3) – Green God (1971), Abergwaun (1972), Moorestyle (1980)
- International Stakes – (5) – Dahlia (1974 & 1975), Hawaiian Sound (1978), Commanche Run (1985), Rodrigo de Triano (1992)
- July Cup – (10) – Vigo (1957), Right Boy (1958 & 1959), Tin Whistle (1960), Thatch (1973), Saritamer (1974), Solinus (1978), Thatching (1979), Moorestyle (1980), Mr Brooks (1992)
- King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (7) – Meadow Court (1965), Aunt Edith (1966), Park Top (1969), Nijinsky (1970), Dahlia (1974), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1984)
- King's Stand Stakes – (7) – Right Boy (1957), Majority Rule (1963), Swing Easy (1971), Abergwaun (1973), Godswalk(1977), Solinus (1978), Never So Bold (1985)
- Lockinge Stakes – (6) – Sovereign Path (1960), The Creditor (1964), Sparkler (1973), Belmont Bay (1981), Polar Falcon(1991), Swing Low (1993)
- Middle Park Stakes – (6) – Petingo (1967), Steel Heart (1974), Junius (1978), Mattaboy (1980), Cajun (1981), Diesis (1982)
- Nassau Stakes – (5) – Aunt Edith (1965), Haymaking (1966), Cheveley Princess (1973), Roussalka (1975 & 1976)
- Nunthorpe Stakes – (7) – Right Boy (1958 & 1959), Matatina (1963), Caterina (1966), Tower Walk (1969), Swing Easy (1971), Solinus (1978)
- Oaks – (6) – Carrozza (1957), Petite Etoile (1959), Valoris (1966), Juliette Marny (1975), Blue Wind (1981), Circus Plume(1984)
- Prince of Wales's Stakes – (3) – Gift Card (1973), Anne's Pretender (1976), Crimson Beau (1979)
- Queen Anne Stakes – (5) – Sparkler (1972), Baptism (1979), Belmont Bay (1981), Mr Fluorocarbon (1982), Trojan Fen (1984)
- Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (4) – The Creditor (1963), Linacre (1964), Hill Rise (1966), To-Agori-Mou (1981)
- Racing Post Trophy – (5) – Ribocco (1966), Noble Decree (1972), Apalachee (1973), Dunbeath (1982), Lanfranco (1984)
- St. James's Palace Stakes – (5) – Roan Rocket (1964), Petingo (1968), Thatch (1973), Jaazeiro (1978), Bairn (1985)
- St. Leger – (8) – St Paddy (1960), Aurelius (1961), Ribocco (1967), Ribero (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Athens Wood (1971), Boucher (1972), Commanche Run (1984)
- Sun Chariot Stakes – (6) – Popkins (1970), Cheveley Princess (1973), Swiss Maid (1978), Topsy (1979), Snow (1980), Home on the Range (1981)
- Triumph Hurdle – (1) – Prince Charlemagne (1954)
- Sussex Stakes – (6) – Petite Etoile (1959), Roan Rocket (1964), Petingo (1968), Thatch (1973), Artaius (1977), Jaazeiro (1978)
- Yorkshire Oaks – (4) – Petite Etoile (1959), Parthian Glance (1966), Shoot A Line (1980), Awaasif (1982)
United States
- Breeders' Cup Mile – (1) – Royal Academy (1990)
- Washington, D.C. International – (3) – Sir Ivor (1968), Karabas (1969), Argument (1980)
Pois é, quantas copas e quantos gols fez Pelé. Agora me contem o mesmo sobre Maradona...