Dream Fulfilled

re: Dream Fulfilled

John T — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 22:03:46 GMT

Hi Hal

Sceptre's owner, Robert Siever was a frequent visitor to Paris and in fact spent 2 weeks there about a month before the 1902 Lincoln leaving Sceptre in the care of an American friend who give her appalling severe workouts day after day

When Siever returned home he could not believe what he was looking at but he had no choice but to run Sceptre in the Lincoln due to large amount of bets he had made for that race. That Sceptre run so well finishing a close second was a testament of the class act she really was. The French race that Siever chose for her was the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp over 15 furlongs. In 1902 Randall was in his first year as a professionel jockey and the French jocks made him stay to the outside and Sceptre quite easily covered 2 miles in that race and finished unplaced. The descendants of Sceptre went on to perform quite well on the racetrack as you say and one of them Northern Light avenged her defeat in the Grand Prix de Paris.

re: Dream Fulfilled

Hal Dane. — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:06:25 GMT

Hi, John, T.,

Looking into my records, I find that Sceptre won 13 of her 24 races in the UK, she also ran in France.

She was ridden by Randall in the 1000 Gns, 2000 Gns, Oaks, & Derby.. but he lost, so got the boot for the St Leger, as Hardy got the ride and he won.. she also won the Champion Stakes the following year.. her older half/Bro, Labrador, also won the Champion Stakes in 1896.

There are so many Group Race winners descending from her, I have lost count now.

re: Dream Fulfilled

John T — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 03:39:51 GMT

Hi Hal

It took many years of lobbying to finally have a race to be proud of for that great Canadian racehorse and stallion Northern Dancer and I think everyone who has the greatest respect for the horse is very happy with the race that is run and named in his honour at Woodbine. Alas as you point out at Doncaster the race named for Sceptre is only a group 3. Sceptre was truly an Magnificent individual who was by the Epsom Derby winner Persimmon who himself was a full brother to the English Triple Crown winner Diamond Jubilee. Despite her great racing record there is no doubt it would have been even more spectacular if she had a professionel trainer and jockey befitting her

re: Dream Fulfilled

Hal Dane. — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:15:31 GMT

The SCEPTRE stakes, is a Group 3 race for fillies, run at Doncaster's St Leger meeting.

re: Dream Fulfilled

John T — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:01:33 GMT

Hi Alan

That is correct, Sceptre had been bought by Robert Siever who had bad gambling debts and in fact ran her twice in the Lincoln in 1902 and 1903. She nearly won it the first year just getting caught in the last sride were Siever stood to win 30,000 pounds in bets if she had. At that time Siever did train her himself as his own trainer, Charles Morton had accepted a post as private trainer to Mr. J.B. Joel.

re: Dream Fulfilled

Alan Porter — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:29:08 GMT

If I remember rightly, Sceptre was prepared for a tilt against older horses in the Lincolnshire Handicap, prior to the classics in the hope of pulling off a betting coup.

I'm not sure that her owner didn't train her himself.

re: Dream Fulfilled

John T — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:54:07 GMT

No matter were I have been fortunate enough to watch this great sport of thoroughbred racing the one thing that never fails to amaze me is the great guts and determination of a filly or mare in a group race against colts or an entire horse and Danedream certainly belongs in that catergory after winning the Arc last year what a great performance she put on to win the King George at Ascot this year. Perhaps in the long history of this sport the greates performance ever by a filly against colts was in 1902 when Sceptre won four of the five English Classics and finished fourth in the other one,The Derby. Owned by the first Duke Of Westminster, Hugh Lupus who was lucky to own one of the greatest horses in British turf history, Ormonde and the brilliant but very tempermental, Flying Fox, he unfortunatley died before Sceptre reached racing age and she was sold to other interests. If the Duke had lived she would have been sent to that great trainer of that era, John Porter and one can only guess what kind of racing record she would have had. I do not know if Danedream can win the Arc for a second year but you can bet in that great filly and mare spirt against colts and entire horses she will ''Give It Her Best Shot''.

re: Dream Fulfilled

True Stayer — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:53:37 GMT

This is THE best filly in training in the WORLD!. 5 GR1 wins vs males, a classic winner, and she WILL win the ARC this year, and hopefully the BC Turf this year instead of going to Japan for the Cup.