Roddy Owen

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Roddy Owen
SireOwenstown
GrandsireApron
DamDeslas Star
DamsireCygnus
SexGelding
Foaled1949[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
ColourBay
OwnerLord Fingall
TrainerDanny Morgan
Major wins
Leopardstown Chase (1958)
Cheltenham Gold Cup (1959)

Roddy Owen (foaled 1949) was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1959 Cheltenham Gold Cup. After winning several good steeplechases in Ireland he was aimed at the major British races in the 1958/59 National Hunt season. He finished a close second in the King George VI Chase and then started second favourite for the Gold Cup in March. He relished the heavy ground came from a seemingly impossible position at the second last to defeat a strong field which included Linwell, Kerstin and Pas Seul. He finished fourth to Pas Seul in the following year's Gold Cup at the age of eleven.

Background

Roddy Owen was a bay gelding bred in England, and exported to Ireland as an

St Leger winner Gamester.[2] During his racing career Roddy Owen was owned by Oliver Plunkett, 12th Earl of Fingall and was trained at Newbridge, County Kildare by Danny Morgan who had won the Gold Cup as a jockey on Morse Code in 1938. The horse was named after Captain Roderick Owen, an amateur jockey who won the 1892 Grand National.[3]

Racing career

Early career

Roddy Owen developed into a high class steeplechaser in Ireland,

National Hunt Handicap Chase.[5]

1958/59 National Hunt season

After winning one of his first two starts of the 1958/59 season Roddy Owen was sent to England in December 1958 for the

5/1 whilst the other runners included Linwell, Kerstin and Lochroe. Beasley tracked the leaders but as the field approached the final fence he appeared to have no chance as he was four lengths adrift of the leading trio made up of Pas Seul, Linwell and Lochroe. The race changed completely at the last obstacle when Pas Seul fell, almost bringing down Linwell, who in turn collided with Lochroe. Roddy Owen, racing on the inside, was able to avoid the chaos and swept past Linwell and Lochroe to take the lead. Linwell made a recovery and reduced the deficit but Roddy Owen stayed on well to win by three lengths with Lochroe another ten lengths back in third place.[3]

Later career

In the 1959/60 National Hunt season Roddy Owen was again aimed at the Gold Cup. After finishing second on his seasonal debut at

Gowran Park in October he was beaten by Kerstin in the Imperial Leather Chase at Manchester Racecourse in December.[7] He faced eleven opponents at Cheltenham on 10 March. He was still in contention when hampered by the fall of Kerstin at the last and finished fourth behind Pas Seul, Lochroe and Zonda.[3] He stayed in training for the following season and finished third to Zonda at Leopardstown in November.[8]

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Roddy Owen an "average" Gold Cup winner.[9]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Roddy Owen (GB), bay gelding, 1949[1]
Sire
Owenstown (GB)
1934 		Apron (GB)
1920
Son-in-Law
 Dark Ronald
Mother in Law
Aprille Chaucer
Japonica
Madame de Stael (IRE)
1923 		Chaucer
St Simon
Canterbury Pilgrim
Temoignage The Tetrarch
Monaleen
Dam
Desla's Choice (IRE)
1931 		Cygnus (IRE)
1916 		Sunstar Sundridge
Doris
Mangalmi William the Third
Vampire
Desla (GB)
1914 		Desmond St Simon
L'Abbesse de Jouarre
Lady Fowler Wildfowler
Orxema (Family: 19-c)[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Roddy Owen pedigree". Equineline. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  2. ^ a b "The Twinkle - Family 19-c". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  3. ^
    ISBN 1-84018-381-0
    .
  4. ^
    Glasgow Herald
    .
  5. ^ "White and Gold" (13 March 1957). "Preference for Armorial III in Grand National Trial". Glasgow Herald.
  6. Montreal Gazette
    .
  7. ^ "White and Gold" (5 December 1959). "Roddy Owen best of Manchester field". Glasgow Herald.
  8. ^ "Harkaway" (23 March 1961). "Blonde Warrior for Topham Trophy". Glasgow Herald.
  9. ISBN 9781901570151
    .
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