Royal Ascot: The Norfolk Stakes Group 2. This 2yo contest open to colts & fillies over 5f is a featured on the third day of this supreme meeting of quality racing.
Established in 1843, it was originally called the New Stakes with Rattan winning the inaugural event.
The race was renamed in 1973 in honour of the 16th Duke of Norfolk & promoted from Group 3 status in 2006.
Lester Piggott is the leading jockey for this race (Abermade 1961 - Niche 1992) with 9 victories. Surprisingly, no trainer has achieved more than four winners to date.
Superpower
This bay colt was trained by two-year-old supremo Bill O'Gorman. Racing in the silks of Mrs P L Young he was bred by D A And Mrs Hicks. This son of Superlative made his debut in 1988 and become known as a prolific-winning juvenile.
He made his debut in April, a Windsor maiden over the flying five furlongs. This 6/5f won by a length, making all under the tender handling of Tony Ives. This talent was kept busy winning his next four races at stakes class. Pundits noted this juvenile as one of the most promising two-year-olds in training.
Connections had bigger plans. Royal Ascot's Norfolk Stakes Group 3 looked to be a test. Priced at even money favourite, he made virtually all to win comfortably by two and half lengths.
At Newmarket he suffered a shock 4/11f defeat in the Chesterfield Stakes Listed. Many considered the weight penalty of six straight wins a factor. A narrow defeat in third was seen when heading across the channel to race at Maissons-laffitte, France, contesting the Prix Robert Papin Group 2 over 51/2f on soft ground. Losing by just over two lengths gave encouragement more victories would come.
Travelling to Ireland for the Heinze ''57'' Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) saw a truly memorable display. Stepping up to 6f on much faster ground, Superpower, ridden for the first time by Walter Swinburn, broke fast, made all, and won by an easy three lengths to take the £120,000 prize.
Dropping back to stakes class for his next start over 5f at York looked a straightforward task. He suffered an odds-on defeat against Ron Boss' filly, Madam Millie.
The Flying Childers Stakes Group 2 would see his final juvenile contest. Finishing fifth was a fair effort if not a little disappointing.
Bill O'Gorman's charge ran four times at three at pattern grade before being retired in September of that year.
Superpower is still remembered for his precocious two-year-old racing achievements.
Royal Ascot: The Norfolk Stakes Group 2. This 2yo contest open to colts & fillies over 5f is a featured on the third day of this supreme meeting of quality racing.
Established in 1843, it was originally called the New Stakes with Rattan winning the inaugural event.
The race was renamed in 1973 in honour of the 16th Duke of Norfolk & promoted from Group 3 status in 2006.
Lester Piggott is the leading jockey for this race (Abermade 1961 - Niche 1992) with 9 victories. Surprisingly, no trainer has achieved more than four winners to date.
Mind Games
Puissance (6.4f) — Aryaf (CAN) (Vice Regent (CAN) (8.8f)
Trainer J Berry
OWNER: Robert Hughes (shropshire)
Mind Games was a second foal, half-brother to Able Fun, 1m winner at 2, Prince Ary, 10f winner at 3, & Quiz Show, 1m winner at 3, later dam of smart sprint 2yo Right Answer; dam unplaced at 2-3, half-sister to quite useful miler Peartree House
On the 24th March 1994 Mind Games won the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes by a neck from Jobran, trained by Gay Kelleway, at 4/1 joint favourite. Jack Berry - the renowned trainer often noted for his red shirts - had unveiled one of the most talented horses from the vast string of horses. Berry was well known for his early-season dominance of two-year-old races. This son of Puissance ran seven times at two, winning his first three races with a ready success taking the Norfolk Stakes (Group 3) at Royal Ascot over 5f. He suffered his first loss (5th) when competing at Leopardstown (IRE) in the Heinze 57 Phoenix Stakes (Group 1). Mind Games continued to mark himself as a top-class two-year-old racing at Group level and narrowly losing by a short head in the Flying Childers (Group 2).
A successful career at 3 & 4 saw him race from Listed to Group 1 level, winning a further four races, with the Temple Stakes (Group 2) at Sandown being a notable success. Mind Games raced at Group 1 level on nine occasions but never won at this level albeit finishing 4th in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) at York, beaten by two length behind Pivotal.
Berry's star raced once as a five-year-old before being retired to stud.
In his career, Mind Games raced 20 time, winning 7 races and won total prize money of over a quarter of a million pounds and an official rating of 112.
Royal Ascot: The Norfolk Stakes Group 2. This 2yo contest open to colts & fillies over 5f is a featured on the third day of this supreme meeting of quality racing.
Established in 1843, it was originally called the New Stakes with Rattan winning the inaugural event.
The race was renamed in 1973 in honour of the 16th Duke of Norfolk & promoted from Group 3 status in 2006.
Lester Piggott is the leading jockey for this race (Abermade 1961 - Niche 1992) with 9 victories. Surprisingly, no trainer has achieved more than four winners to date.
A number of outstanding juveniles have won this race including Niche, trained by Richard Hannon. She went on to win the classic trial Nell Gwyn before finishing second in the 1,000 Guineas. Sadly this wonderful filly was tragically killed in a freak road accident after unseating her rider on the gallops. Hannon said: ''She was one of the best I ever trained. I still can't believe it happened.''
In 2001, Johannesburg trained by Aidan O'Brien and owned by Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier won the Norfolk Stakes before notable successes. This exceptional horse remained unbeaten in seven starts at two including the Phoenix Stakes, Prix Morny, Middle Park Stakes & Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Group 1. He was named Cartier Award for Two-Year-Old European Champion Colt & United States Champion Two-Year-Old Champion Colt 2001.
More recently, Reckless Abandon won the Norfolk Stakes Group 2 for Clive Cox in 2012. He is unbeaten in five races at two including the Prix Morny, Prix Robert Papin & Middle Park Stakes. He is a leading tip for the 2013 classics.
