|
|
 |
|
|
1991 - TIERCE |
|
|
|
| |
|
Imperial Prince |
| |
Victory Prince |
|
| |
|
Victoria Cross |
TIERCE |
chestnut colt 1988 |
|
| |
|
Rheingold |
| |
Manx Park |
|
| |
|
Calamarie |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trainer : Clarry Conners Jockey : Shane Dye
|
|
|
|
When trainer Clarry Conners trained Victory Prince to defeat Red Anchor in the 1984 AJC Sires Produce Stakes, he did not realise that this
unheralded horse would sire his first Golden Slipper winner seven years later. Breeder Richard Turnley raced Tierce after he failed to reach his reserve at the Inglis Classic sale. Tierce won his first three races
before a surprising defeat in the William Inglis Classic ridden by jocky Neil Paine. Shane Dye replaced Paine and the colt won the Coca Cola classic for two years at Newcastle, followed by the Todman Slipper Trial
at Rosehill by over 7 lengths. On Slipper day the Sterling Smith-trained Bold Promise started favourite at 10-9 on but could not manage a place. Tierce settled midfield before racing away to win in record
time with Canonise taking second and Big Dreams third. Scenes in the mounting yard following Tierce's return will long be remembered for the emotion displayed by the Conners family and jockey Dye. The next
week Tierce won the AJC Sires Produce Stakes but then followed a week of drama when it was revealed that the colt had produced a positive drug test to Lignocaine following the Slipper. It was discovered that the
drug was in a bottle of mouthwash that Conners had had for years and when Tierce had lost a tooth in the week before the Slipper he had bathed his mouth with it. In a landmark decision stewards ruled that the
amount of lignocaine did not affect Tierce's performance and Conners was fined $10,000 but the horse was allowed to keep the race. Tierce then went on to win the AJC Champagne Stakes (thus taking the two year old
Triple Crown) before being sent for a spell. He returned in the Spring to win the San Domenico Stakes at Warwick Farm, McNeil Quality at Caulfield and the Ascot Vale Stakes at Flemington in record time,
before being beaten by Ready To Explode in the Bill Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley. He then missed the rest of the spring when he contracted a severe bout of colic and had to receive round-the-clock
treatment. Tierce returned in the Royal Sovereign Stakes at Randwick and was beaten into third place by old rival Big Dreams and fourth in the Hobartville Stakes at Warwick Farm. It was then decided to
retire Tierce to stud at Newhaven Park. His best progeny was another Conners' trained colt Encounter who narrowly missed winning the 1997 Golden Slipper when shied away from the whip at the winning post but who
went on the win the AJC Sires and Champagne Stakes and other Group One events in a stunning career. |
|
|
