DERBY KING - AND AN ARC CHAMP TOO

Graham Buddry looks back on the career of Sinndar, who rewrote the record books, both here and across the Channel

- Graham Buddry

When researching these articles I have relied heavily on my own knowledge to get started, knowing already about Ribot or Nureyev, Mill Reef or Pebbles, Lochsong or Lammtarra. For today's offering my knowledge was very sketchy indeed apart from the obvious two races and when I looked closer I realised he had only once raced on these shores so little wonder that such a great champion had slipped from my view and now I hope to do justice to the wonderful Sinndar.

Foaled on February 27, 1997, Sinndar was the dark bay offspring of Grand Lodge and Sinntara, both of whom had long lines of top class breeding behind them. Owned and bred by HH Aga Khan VI he was soon sent to Ireland and the exemplary care of John Oxx and his more than capable stable jockey, Johnny Murtagh.

Given plenty of time to mature, it wasn't until September 5 of his two year-old season that Sinndar saw a racecourse for the first time, making the short trip to his local course, The Curragh. Oxx had chosen a one mile maiden for his debut on good to firm ground where his twelve opponents would include Media Puzzle, who would later go on to win a Melbourne Cup. As it was, news of how good the youngster was had already circulated and the even money favourite made short work of the task in hand, taking the lead a furlong out and winning comfortably.