Three Tough Handicappers from '68

My Swanee

My Swanee was a good sort of horse winning three of his nine races in 1968 scoring the most important success in the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom. He stayed one and a half miles, and  seemed to act on an going except perhaps really firm ground. Picture left shows My Swanee (L. Piggott) winning the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom from Le Garcon (G. Lewis), in third the blinkered Hully Gully (R. Maddock), and fourth Lexicon (P. Tulk) on the rails. Trained by W. C. Marshall (Marlborough).   



Birdbrook

A game and consistent handicapper Birdbrook won 16 races in his career four of them in 1968 including the Paragon stakes at Kempton, Seaview handicap at Brighton, and the Rous Memorial Stakes at Ascot. Birdbrook stayed one and a quarter miles, acted on any going but was best suited by firm ground and front running tactics. Pictured right is Birdbrook (R. Hutchinson) winning the Seaview handicap at Brighton from Straight Master (W. Willliamson) and Come April (G. Lewis). Trained by M. B. Pope (Streatley).

St. Alphage

St Alphage a strong robust horse was still improving as a 5 year old but fell just a shade short of top class as could be seen when So Blesssed was barely off the bit to beat him in the King George Stakes at Goodwood... However, he was extremely difficult to beat in handicap company. Following two good wins at Sandown where in the Summer Handicap he beat the subsequent Wokingham winner Charicles and in the Southern Sprint Handicap (Pictured above) ridden by Joe Mercer he beat Welsh Bede (M. Thomas) and Inclination (R. Hutchinson), St Alphage then went on to smash the 30 year old course record at Brighton in the Newhaven Handicap where carrying the welter burden of 10st 3lbs and giving at least 31lb to his rivals he beat Maddox Court by a short head with Derreen receiving 42lbs a further three quarters of a length back in third. Trained by J. Sirett (Epsom).