Race Analysis:
Ninepins romped to an impressive 22 length victory in the 98th
running of the Grade I Grand National in front of more than 32,000
people in Far Hills, New Jersey on October 23rd. The fact that Ninepins
won the $150,000 Grand National for the second time in his career
was not surprising; what was surprising is that his second victory
came seven years after his first Grand National score. Ninepins
had finished second in the 1992 running of the Grand National but
he was declared the winner when the stewards disqualified the first
place finisher Circuit Bar.
Now 12 years old, Ninepins was content to bide his time near the
back of the pack until the field headed toward the second-to-last
fence in the 2 and 5/8ths mile race. At that time Arch Kingsley
Jr., who suffered a back injury in a fall two weeks earlier, sent
Ninepins up on the outside to challenge for the lead. Master McGrath,
tracked by Campanile, had run 1-2 while jumping the first 10 of
14 fences in the race. Romantic, ridden by Chip Miller, took over
the lead down the backside the last time. After the field landed
over the next-to-last fence Ninepins drew even with Romantic. As
those two rounded the far turn Ninepins began to pull away from
Romantic, and came to the last fence nine lengths in front. Ninepins
flew the last fence and galloped home under 156 pounds in the weight-for-age
race to gain his first victory from eight starts this year. Romantic
faded through the stretch and was passed by Pinkie Swear, ridden
by Sean Clancy, who closed from the back of the pack to finish second.
Rowdy Irishman, who won the Grand National in 1995 and 1997, was
stymied in his attempt to become just the second horse to win the
race three times. The incomparable Neji remains the only horse to
complete the triple, having taken the 1955, 1957 and 1958 editions
of the Grand National when it was contested at Belmont Park.
The victory was worth $90,000 for Hudson River Farm and pushed
Ninepin’s career steeplechase earnings to $378,200. It took 5:28.2
for Ninepins to complete the 2 and 5/8ths miles over the yielding
turf course. Edward P.Swyer, the proprietor of Hudson River Farm,
was thrilled that it had rained throughout the night before the
race. "Ninepins loves the deep going." said Swyer, "The course was
like a bog when he won this race in 1992." Swyer, along with his
trainer Jonathan Sheppard and jockey Arch Kingsley Jr., had a successful
day in Far Hills. In addition to Ninepins’ score, those three teamed
up to win the hurdle race for 3-year-olds with Addison, a son of
Northern Baby. Sheppard and Kingsley also combined to win the $50,000
Foxbrook Supreme Hurdle earlier on the card with Muscle Car, a son
of A.P. Indy. Sheppard capped his successful day when he gave Jonathan
Kiser a leg up on Augustin Stable’s Sundin (GB) in the $35,000 Appleton
Stakes. That combination won the Grade III event by 1 and ¼ lengths
over Greek Hero, with Bisbalense (CHI) finishing third.
Sean Clancy won the 78th edition of the New Jersey Hunt Cup on
Atomistic, a 7-year-old son of Ascot Knight. Owned by Acron Hill
Farm and trained by Jack Fisher, Atomistic carried 165 pounds and
completed 3 and 1/4 mile course over timber fences in 7:21.4.
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Entries/Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
| 1 |
Ninepins (GB) |
156 |
Kingsley |
Sheppard |
Hudson River Stable |
| 2 |
Pinkie Swear |
156 |
Clancy |
Fenwick |
Arcadia Stable |
| 3 |
Romantic |
156 |
C. Miller |
Sheppard |
Timber Bay Farm |
| 4 |
Clearance Code |
156 |
Petty |
Carrier |
Gregory Bentley |
| 5 |
Master McGrath |
156 |
Brown |
Elliot |
William C. Lickle |
| 6 |
Campanile |
156 |
B. Miller |
Elliot |
Gregory D. Hawkins |
| 7 |
Rowdy Irisman |
156 |
Marzullo |
Haynes |
Vesta Balestiere |
| 8 |
Father Sky (GB) |
156 |
Traurig |
Williams |
Lucy Horner |
| Scr |
Soaringoverseattle |
156 |
Kiser |
Voss |
Warren R. Dempsey |
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Pedigree
NINEPINS, G, 1987
NEARCTIC
NORTHERN DANCER 1954
1961 [BC] NATALMA
NIJINSKY II 1957
1967 [CS] BULL PAGE
FLAMING PAGE 1947
1959 FLARING TOP
NINISKI 1947
1976 RIBOT
TOM ROLFE 1952 [CP]
1962 [CP] POCAHONTAS II
VIRGINIA HILLS 1955
1971 RIDAN
RIDIN' EASY 1959
1967 EASY EIGHT
1954
TOM FOOL
SILLY SEASON 1949 [IC]
1962 DOUBLE DEAL II
MARTINMAS 1946
1969 PRINCE CHEVALIER
CALVINE 1943 [C]
1960 DECEIVER
MARTINOVA 1955
1978 ARCTIC STAR
FIDALGO 1942
1956 MISS FRANCE
PAVLOVA 1946
1962 SUPREME COURT
TIME AND CHANCE 1948
1957 FOXTROT
1943
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Breeding Analysis:
Breeding analysis to follow...
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Race Analysis | Entries/Results
| Pedigree | Breeding
Analysis
