Brigadier Gerard

Was Frankel definitely the best of all time or did Brigadier Gerard do even more within his era to earn that crown? The jury’s out, says Julian Muscat

- Julian Muscat

Brigadier Gerard’s origins

Bay colt, foaled 5 March 1968

By Queen’s Hussar out of La Paiva, by Prince Chevalier

OWNER: Mr and Mrs John Hislop

TRAINER: Major Dick Hern

BREEDER: John Hislop

JOCKEY: Joe Mercer

Brigadier Gerard’s sire, Queen’s Hussar, was decidedly moderate: he stood at a fee of just £250 when his best son was conceived, but he also sired The Queen’s dual Classic heroine, Highclere. Brigadier Gerard’s dam, La Paiva, failed to win while her dam, Brazen Molly, cost John Hislop just 400gns at auction. Brigadier Gerard cut little ice as a stallion himself. His best runner was the 1980 St Leger winner Light Cavalry, also ridden by Joe Mercer.

Rebounding from defeat

CONNECTIONS’ nerves were taut when Brigadier Gerard returned to the track after his only defeat at York, but jockey Joe Mercer had no inhibitions: “I knew he wasn’t right at York, so I wasn’t worried. In the paddock, owner-breeder John Hislop [pictured, with his wife] asked me how I planned to ride the race. I told him I was going to go out there and break the track record. That’s exactly what we did.”

DEFEAT is a dirty word in racing. It leaves a permanent stain, no matter how dominant any horse may have been throughout its distinguished career. When it comes to the “best of all time” debate, far better to retire unbeaten in the manner of Frankel.