Knock Hard
Knock Hard | |
---|---|
Sire | Domaha |
Grandsire | Chestnut |
Owner | Moya & Harry Keogh Francis More O'Ferrall |
Trainer | Vincent O'Brien |
Major wins | |
Great Yorkshire Chase (1953) Cheltenham Gold Cup (1953) |
Knock Hard (foaled 1944) was an Irish
Background
Knock Hard was a chestnut gelding with a narrow white
The wartime market for yearlings was depressed and Knock Hard fetched only 75 guineas when put up for auction in 1945.[3] During his racing career, the gelding was owned by Moya and Harry Keogh and trained by Vincent O'Brien in County Cork before moving to Ballydoyle from 1951. O'Brien made a major impact on British jump racing in the decade after World War II sending out Cottage Rake to win three Gold Cups and Hatton's Grace to win three Champion Hurdles before training three consecutive Grand National winners in Early Mist, Royal Tan and Quare Times.[4]
Racing career
Flat career
Knock Hard began his career
1951/52 National Hunt season
Knock Hard had been tried over fences before his win in the Irish Lincoln and in the 1951/52 National Hunt season he developed into a high-class steeplechaser. In December he was sent to race in England for the first time for the King George VI Chase but fell in a race won by the six-year-old Statecraft. He was going well at the time and his rider Phonsie O'Brien (younger brother of the trainer) stated that if he had not fallen he would have won by fifteen lengths.[5]
On 6 March 1952 Knock Hard made his first attempt to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and started the
1952/53 National Hunt season
In the late autumn of 1952 Knock Hard returned to the flat and finished second to the three-year-old Summer Rain (winner of the
On a cold, misty day at Cheltenham on 5 March he made his second attempt to win the Gold Cup. He started at odds of 11/2 against eleven opponents including Halloween (the favourite), Mont Tremblant, E.S.B., Mariners Log and Teal. Knock Hard was not amongst the early leaders and when the horses emerged from the fog approaching the third last he appeared to be out of contention as E.S.B., Mont Tremblant, Galloway Braes and Rose Park disputed the lead. Mont Tremblant soon weakened and Rose Park fell at the second last but Knock Hard began to make rapid progress. He took the lead at the last and drew away up the run-in to win by five lengths and two lengths from Halloween and Galloway Braes.[3]
Later career, retirement and death
In March 1954 Knock Hard attempted to repeat his 1953 success in the Gold Cup but struggled on the heavy ground and finished fifth of the nine runners behind Four Ten, Mariner's Log, Halloween and Mont Tremblant.[5]
Knock Hard later was bought by Francis More O'Ferrall. His form deteriorated further and he was given away to Lady Jane Lumley, the daughter of Lord Scarbrough and he was moved to England to become a hunter. He collapsed and died approximately two years later, probably due to a recurrence of his heart condition.[3]
Assessment and honours
In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Knock Hard a "superior" Gold Cup winner.[8]
Pedigree
Sire Domaha (FR) 1934 |
Vatout (FR) 1926 |
Prince Chimay | Chaucer |
---|---|---|---|
Galorette | |||
Vashti | Sans Souci | ||
Vaya | |||
Proserpine (FR) 1928 |
Eugene de Savoie | Jacobi | |
Yolande | |||
Prahova | D'Or | ||
La Prevoyante | |||
Dam Knocksouna (IRE) 1938 |
Beresford (GB) 1921 |
Friar Marcus | Cicero |
Prim Nun | |||
Bayberry | Bayardo | ||
Catalpa | |||
Cloudless (GB) 1928 |
Thunderer | Sunstar | |
Lauda | |||
Queen of Diamonds | Polymelus | ||
Princess Dorrie (Family: 5-i)[2] |
References
- ^ a b "Knock Hard pedigree". Equineline. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Diversion – Family 5-i". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
- ^ ISBN 9780553817393.
- ^ Julian Wilson. "Obituary: Vincent O'Brien". The Guardian.
- ^ ISBN 1-84018-381-0.
- Montreal Gazette. 7 March 1952.
- ^ Glasgow Herald.
- ISBN 9781901570151.
External links
- Coverage of 1953 Gold Cup by British Pathe