By Peter Moore at Newbury Saturday 21st September
A foul afternoon at the Dubai Duty Free International Saturday at Newbury was lit up with the smiles of owner Lady Blyth, trainer Hughie Morrison and jockey Tom Marquand after 12-year-old Not So Sleepy ended his career as he started it, in the winners enclosure.
On his 70th run, the popular gelding bought up his 12th win of his career after fighting back two furlongs out when looking beaten to get up to win by one and three quarter lengths.
After entering the winners circle to a raptus round of applause, the veteran who excels in heavy ground bowed out for the last time on a racecourse.
After winning the class 2 Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup, the horse has now raked up over £600,000 in prize money after scoring on his debut on the flat in 2014 when George Baker booted the newcomer home at Nottingham.
In his time the horse has won the Dee Stakes at Chester as a three-year-old which was one of six wins over the flat.
However, Not So Sleepy will always be remembered for his exploits over the jumps including a dead heat with Epatante in the 2021 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, a race he won last year when run at Sandown.
“He always does it on this ground,” said Morrison, delighted that a 5am thunderstorm had turned the ground heavy. “I put my glasses down when one went past him but when I looked again he’d started to come back and probably won quite easily in the end. He’s amazing.
“He was a bit of a nightmare as a younger horse and was always running away. Every morning he goes out first now, usually with another horse because he might stop. He goes for about 50 yards and then off he goes on his own, usually too damn quick!”
“There’s been so many pinnacles,” said Morrison. “I enjoyed his first run, watching it at Tattersalls and him winning rather easily. The Dee Stakes was a great day too but dead-heating in the Fighting Fifth giving Epatante 7lb was probably his best ever performance. He’s got a big fan club out there.”
“He’s beautiful,” said an emotional Lady Blyth. “He’s been so versatile and won over hurdles as well, so he’s been a great star in our family. He’s now going to stay with us forever.
“We have to find something for him to do, because he’s not a horse to just stand in a paddock. He’s going to have a few months off and calm himself down and we’ll see what we can find for him to do. Everyone knows him and everyone loves him.”
Asked if they were tempted to have one last crack at the Fighting Fifth in November, Lord Blyth added: “We’d never forgive ourselves if he hurt himself. That was an exceptional performance today and we’ll settle for that.”
Richard Hughes landed his first Group 3 race winner when No half Measures landed the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes.
Victory came just six days after No Half Measures finished on the heels of the leaders in the Group 3 Prix du Petit Couvert at Longchamp and a return trip to Paris awaits.
After riding the filly to victory, Ryan Moore brought up a double after guiding the Richard Hannon trained Stem to a comfortable nine and a half length victory in the 7f two-year-old novice stakes.
Champion jockey elect Oisin Murphy had to wait until late in the day before landing a treble through Make You Smile, Movie Maker and Atlantic Gamble.
The feature race of the day The Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes was won by Powerful Glory who held on to beat La Bellota by a neck.