The 2008 Ritz Club July Festival at Newmarket’s July Course will be your last opportunity to see one of the most popular handicappers on the Flat in recent times take to the turf.
The 10-year-old, named Mine , will hang up his shoes after one last outing in his favourite race, the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup on 11 July. Mine, is the only horse to have won the famous £100,000 handicap three times. His first victory in the seven-furlong race came in 2002 with jockey Kieren Fallon aboard. Richard Quinn rode him to success in 2005 and Mick Kinane sealed the hat-trick the following year.
As well as his Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup heroics, Mine has given his owner Mike Dawson plenty of other special days. During a career hat has spanned 65 races to date, he also won both the Victoria Cup and the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in 2004, while achieving Listed success for the first time only last year with victory in the John O’Gaunt Stakes at Haydock.
No wonder Dawson is fond of his star horse, who will stand as a stallion at his owner’s stud just south of York once his career finishes next month: "He is a lovely chap and has given me so much pleasure. He is part of the family and I would not sell him for all the tea in China.
"He will retire after the Bunbury Cup and he’s going to frolic with the fillies at my Allerthorpe Farm Stud.
"He has done extremely well for me. But apart from winning over £350,000 worth of prize money, I have a lot of affection for him. He is really well-mannered for a horse of his size. He is a gentle giant with a heart of gold and an abundance of talent.
"When he won the Royal Hunt Cup it was the thrill of my life. I count myself very fortunate to own such a great horse. He’s remarkable."
Dawson confirmed that Mine’s initial stud fee will be around the £1,500–£1,700 mark and added: "a bargain at twice the price!"
Dawson paid tribute to his trainer James Bethell, saying: "Mine is quite a straightforward horse but James has done a fabulous job with him. I don’t think that he is given sufficient horses to show just how good he is, but I find him first-class."
Newmarket Racecourses will extend a warm welcome to Mine when he ventures to The July Course for one last time.
Michael Prosser, the track’s Director of Racing, said: "To win the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup on no less than three occasions is an extraordinary achievement from a very good and very tenacious horse.
"Mine has always seemed to have thrived in the hustle bustle of the race and we are very pleased that he will be competing in it again this year. We also very much look forward to welcoming his connections."
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