1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile

[Wandering Eyes]

One year before Hollywood took temporary charge of the 1991 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Belmont Park hosted a day impossible to script. Sunny conditions would contribute to the downfall of Europe’s champion sprinter Dayjur (Danzig), ably abetted by the tenacity of Safely Kept (Horatius), but the latter’s win in the GI Sprint was tempered by the spills of Shaker Knit (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and Mr Nickerson (Slewpy). A more sickening sight was yet to unfold; the horror of Go For Wand (Deputy Minister) succumbing to injury in front of the stands, deep into her epic duel with Bayakoa (Arg) (Consultant’s Bid) for the GI Distaff, will be forever etched in the memory of those that witnessed it and nothing, surely, could lift the gloom. Hollywood was summoned, but declined the absurdity.

Lester Piggott was 54 years old and just 12 days back out of retirement–discounting the briefest of dallies in, of all places, Peru earlier that year–before getting the call from fellow veteran maestro Vincent O’Brien to partner the Classic Thoroughbred project’s Royal Academy (Nijinsky II) in the GI Mile. Regular rider John Reid, who had guided the bay to that July’s G1 July Cup over Newmarket’s straight six furlongs, had suffered a broken collarbone and Piggott was entrusted with guiding the sophomore around a full turn for the first time in seven career starts. Asked beforehand if his riding style might be adapted to suit conditions, he quipped, “No, still one leg each side.” Old stone face would not be fazed. Royal Academy drew the one hole and, after finishing second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, was stepping back up from sprint distances, having also chased home Dayjur in Haydock’s G1 Sprint Cup seven weeks prior to his date with destiny.

Skipping a beat at the break and trailing all one dozen rivals initially, auto-pilot kicked in for his wizened accomplice and the partnership picked off rivals without expending a trace. Royal Academy was still on the bridle and gaining ground when enduring an awkward moment coming off the home turn and Piggott was in full crouch thereafter. Sixth straightening up and fourth passing the furlong marker, the soon-to-be 55-year-old instinctively knew what was required for a safe landing and his mount’s willingness was not for negotiation. By now, the jockey was in trademark mode and his rapid-fire application of the whip when all seemed lost wrested a neck victory from Itsallgreektome (Sovereign Dancer) in the final stride. “The most satisfying winner I ever rode,” Piggott would later admit. Indeed. (video)

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