Racing: Highdown evokes heaven-sent glory days

On a day that brought the news of the death of a truly great racehorse in Nashwan, it was entirely appropriate that it was Marcus Tregoning who took feature-race honours with Highdown in the Steventon Stakes at Newbury. For the talented young trainer freely admits that he would not be where he is today – master of the state-of-the-art Kingwood Stables – had it not been for Sheikh Hamdan's superstar.

In Nashwan's glory year, 1989, Tregoning was assistant to his late trainer Dick Hern at West Ilsley. They were troubled times, for the wheelchair-bound Hern was shortly to be evicted from his base by his landlady, the Queen, but the brilliant colt's emotional 2,000 Guineas victory proved that being crippled had not tarnished his trainer's skill. "Nashwan saved Dick Hern's career," said Tregoning. "When he won his Classics he gave us all some hope for the future. Sheikh Hamdan is the most loyal of owners and built for the Major the yard where I took over and I am today. And all because of that horse sent to us from heaven."

The gallop that prompted a wholesale plunge on Nashwan for the 2,000 Guineas is now the stuff of legend and the photograph of Hern doffing his trilby to the chestnut and jockey Willie Carson from his chair in the Newmarket winner's circle one of the modern icons of the sport. The son of Blushing Groom went on to take the Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in his comet progress through that summer.

His end came, at the comparatively young age of 16, at his owner's Shadwell Stud, where he was humanely destroyed after complications developed during what had been expected to be routine surgery on a hind leg. Earlier this year, his half-brother, Unfuwain, also died at the Norfolk stallion station.

"It was so exciting to see Nashwan develop from the horse we hoped he might be to the brilliant one he was," added Tregoning. "I watched that piece of work before the Guineas with the Major and it was incredible. He was a horse with wonderful presence and an amazing, panther-like action."

It is a rare stallion who gets a performer better than himself but Nashwan very nearly did. His best son, Swain, was a dual winner of the King George, the race which gave his sire his finest hour. After being subjected to a hard race to catch Opening Verse in the Eclipse Stakes, Nashwan had to dig deep again to repel Cacoethes at Ascot. The next time Carson asked him to exert himself, in the Prix Niel, he could be blamed for declining so to do.

On Saturday, Tregoning will send out Nashwan's youngest sibling, Nayef, to carry the family honour in the 52nd running of Ascot's midsummer showpiece, the race that more often than not identifies Europe's champion. But, despite already winning twice at Group One level, in the Champion Stakes last year and the Sheema Classic in Dubai in the spring, the Gulch four-year-old cannot yet be mentioned in the same breath as his celebrated half-brother. Tregoning has not yet ceded hope, though. "When we took him to Dubai, it took him a long time to acclimatise," he said. "We were not happy with him at all until three weeks before the big day. He has been disappointing in his runs since his return, but he has now begun to blossom again."

Highdown's success in the ten-furlong Steventon Stakes will hardly have dented stable confidence. The Selkirk three-year-old left Foreign Affairs, who had just bettered the trail-blazing evens favourite, Tobougg, four lengths in his wake as he sprinted clear in the final furlong. A step up to Group Two company at Deauville next month now beckons.

The day's most valuable contest, the Weatherby's Super Sprint, owes its fiscal status to its sales-related format, which allows juveniles bought at auction for no more than 40,000 guineas to contest a large purse. Most of the prize money, as usual, went to the Richard Hannon stable, courtesy of 6-1 winner Presto Vento, who scooped £78,300 for her 18,500 guineas purchase price, fourth-placed New Foundation, who earned £6,750, and 9-2 joint favourite Hurricane Alan, who picked up £2,025 in sixth.

Presto Vento blazed a lone trail along the favoured stands rail to come in two lengths clear of the other joint favourite, Wunders Dream, and Sir Edwin Landseer on the far side of the track and take the trophy back to East Everleigh for the fourth time.

The judge was unable to split the principals in the main race at Newmarket, the Aphrodite Stakes. Marani, having her first run for more than a year, forced a dead-heat with Frosty Welcome in the final stride and will now step up to Group One company for a tilt at the Yorkshire Oaks.

Nashwan A horse apart

Nashwan (USA). Chestnut entire by Blushing Groom (Fr) out of Height of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino).

Foaled: 1 March 1986.

Form figures: 11-11113

Owner/breeder: Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Trainers: W R Hern and N Graham (for autumn 1988).

Jockey: W Carson.

Races won: Yattendon Maiden Stakes, Newbury, August 1988; Autumn Stakes (Listed), Ascot, October 1988; 2,000 Guineas, Newmarket, May 1989; Derby, Epsom, June 1989; Eclipse Stakes, Sandown, July 1989; King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot, July 1989.

Other race: 3rd Prix Niel, Longchamp, September 1989.

Total win and place prize money: £786,355.30.

Retired to Shadwell Stud in Norfolk at end of 1989 season.

Horses sired include: Swain (winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1997 and 1998) and One So Wonderful (winner of 1998 Juddmonte International Stakes).

Only horse to win the 2,000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse and King George in same year.