Immortals of the Turf ~ 'Dancing Brave'

A man and a small boy stood beside the parade ring at Goodwood Racecourse. It was September 1986 and the next race was the Scottish Equitable Select Stakes - a Group 3 race, the significance of which was soon evident as a neat, well-made dark brown horse entered the paddock and all eyes were upon him. The man lifted his son up onto the outer perimeter rail and said "Take a good look and remember him because this is one of the greatest racehorses you will ever see" - prophetic words indeed.

The object of all this single-minded attention was Dancing Brave who was about to have his 'prep' race for his main objective - the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He had burst meteor-like on the flat racing season of 1986 and had simply swept opposition aside, with one notable exception - the Derby, which was to arouse considerable controversy, and still does whenever the subject arises in conversation. Already a 'star' whose name had reached beyond the confines of the racing world, Dancing Brave's finest hour was yet to come. He went out onto the lush Goodwood turf, strode nonchalantly to the start and returned a few minutes later with almost equal nonchalance having left his five rivals hopelessly flat-footed. Dancing Brave had booked his passage to Longchamp and a meeting with the French ace, Bering.

Dancing Brave "strolls" home at Goodwood

Although the Select Stakes was considered a formality, which it proved to be, racegoers flocked to the Sussex course because they knew it would be the last opportunity to see him race on English soil. It was well-known that the colt's owner, Khalid Abdullah, had no intention of keeping the horse in training for another season and that he would be retired to stud.

There had been rumours about Dancing Brave at the end of 1985 to the effect that he was very highly regarded by the staff at Guy Harwood's yard near Pulborough. This was at a time when that trainer was at the height of his success and had a yard full of very nice horses with which to make comparisons. His 2-year-old career was confined to just a couple of races late in the season, bypassing the major races for his age group such as the Dewhurst Stakes. Instead Dancing Brave made his racing debut at Sandown Park in October over one mile (which suggested that he was expected to 'stay' as a 3-year-old; this was to be significant in the furore that followed his run in the Derby). Word had obviously spread about his abilities since, not only did he start an odds-on favourite, but only 3 rivals took him on! Despite a poor start and being last into the straight, by the furlong marker it was all over and he won easily. His only other start that year was at Newmarket over a mile trip again, and he was one of a field of eleven. The quantity of runners made no difference however - this time he made a better start, took the lead a furlong out and won, as he liked, unextended.

Dancing Brave's connections then put him away for the winter knowing that they had something special to look forward to the following year. Naturally his first main objective in 1986 was the season's first Classic, the 2000 Guineas. He was probably in need of his 'prep' race, the Craven Stakes run over the same course and distance of that classic and it was the only occasion that Dancing Brave encountered ground softer than 'Good' or 'Good to Firm'. Once again he took the lead one furlong out and was pushed all the way to the line by his jockey, Greville Starkey. His quick action was almost certainly more effective on good ground but, nevertheless, he easily accounted for the French raider Baby Turk and the then well-regarded Mashkour from the all conquering yard of Henry Cecil.

On the strength of this trial there was no question of whether he would be favourite for the Guineas - it was inevitable. The first weekend in May saw Dancing Brave looking a picture and having benefited from his first outing. He was a medium sized colt but very compact and powerful. The race followed the same pattern as all his others, with Dancing Brave showing great acceleration at the furlong marker to leave the remainder of the field toiling in his wake. Green Desert, a very fast horse (who was later to win the July Cup - a Group I Sprint) and who excelled over distances from 6 furlongs to a mile, simply couldn't live with Dancing Brave that day - he was beaten for speed.

Continued Page 2