| Desert Orchid |
Article Index for Desert |
Website Links For Desert |
Information AboutDesert Orchid |
|
Desert Orchid is probably one of the United Kingdom 's most famous racehorses over jumps. He was a grey Steeplechaser who was affectionately known as ''Dessie''. Desert Orchid's first season started in an unspectacular fashion. Few who saw him on his debut thought they were watching one of racing's superstars. In fact when he fell at the first in a novice hurdle at Kempton in 1983 , it seemed that his first race may be his last, as he took along time to get to his feet after a heavy fall. Desert Orchid started the 1983/4 season on a winning note, again in novice company at Ascot . In this season he won 6 of his 8 starts, his final race of the season being an unplaced effort behind the ill-fated Dawn Run in the 1984 Champion Hurdle. David Elsworth's grey was no longer eligible for novice company over timber in 1984/5 and struggled, to recapture his novice form. He won one of his eight starts this season, the win being in February at Sandown. He was pulled up in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham , the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow , and on his final outing of the season fell at Ascot. Desert Orchid was then switched to the bigger obstacles, and ran up a sequence of four wins at Devon and Exeter, Sandown and Ascot (twice) before unseating at Ascot. He did not win again that season despite three further placed efforts. Back at Ascot he won over 2 miles before returning to Kempton Park for the Boxing Day showpiece. Dessie tackled Grade 1 company in the King George VI Chase and ran out a spectacular 15 length winner over Door Latch. This was Dessie's first win under Simon Sherwood. He followed up with wins at Sandown and Wincanton, before finishing third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham , three lengths behind Pearlyman. He bounced back to win over 2m 4f at Ascot before being pulled up in the Whitbread on his final outing of the 1986/7 season. A string of places followed in 1987, second at Sandown (2m), before a second in the 1987 King George, and places at Sandown, Wincanton and Cheltenham. He got his head in front on his last two starts of the 1987/8 season taking the Martell Cup at Liverpool and the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown, ridden by Simon Sherwood . However, his finest hour was till to come. This time he was stepped up to 3m 2f for the Cheltenham Gold Cup - he had previously been considered a two-miler and tackled the Champion Chase. The rain and snow had fallen relentlessly at Cheltenham on Gold Cup day made the racecourse going heavy. These were conditions hardly suited to Desert Orchid, especially at this left-handed course which he never particularly favoured. However, his trainer David Elsworth was determined to run him. A crowd of over 58,000 witnessed Desert Orchid's effort to overhaul the mud-loving Yahoo in the final stages of the race. After his one and a half length victory, Desert Orchid's rider, Simon Sherwood said: "''I've never known a horse so brave. He hated every step of the way in the ground and dug as deep as he could possibly go''". Three cheers were called as Desert Orchid was unsaddled, surrounded by thousands of fans. In 1989 Dessie again returned at Wincanton with victory under a new pilot, Richard Dunwoody. After a second in the Tingle Creek, he headed for Kempton and his annual Boxing Day outing, where he took his third King George beating Barnbrook Again, this time as the 4/6 favourite. He followed up with a win at Wincanton and then took the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. A third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup preceded Desert Orchid's convincing win in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. He was given top weight of 12 stone, but sent off the even money favourte he won by twelve lengths. Dessie did not reappear until November 1990, finishing second in the Haldon Gold Cup. A fourth in the Tingle Creek followed, before the King George. Incredibly, Dessie made the 1990 race his fourth King George victory. Dessie had three more races in the 1990/91 season, his final ever victory coming in the Agfa Diamond Chase at Sandown on 2nd February 1991. His final start of the season was a 15 length third to Garrison Savannah in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. And so to Dessie's final season, where he was beaten in his first outing at Wincanton, the race he had made his own and which now bears his name. He finished third in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon before falling when at the rear of the 1991 King George field at Kempton, bidding for his fifth win. Time was called on his illustrious career. Desert Orchid retired in December 1991, and survived a life threatening operation a year later. As a competitor his presence is missed. Desert Orchid's breathtaking jumps were one of the most compelling sights in racing. Desert Orchid won 34 of his 70 starts, amassing £654,066 in prizemoney. Since his retirement Dessie has raised thousands of pounds for charity, and his mere presence at charity events brings the public in their droves. |
|
|