PERSIAN PUNCH (IRE)

Chestnut gelding
Persian Heights – Rum Cay ( USA ) (Our Native ( USA )
13 April 1993 died 28 April 2004

Owner: Jeff Smith
Trainer: David Elsworth
Lad: Derek Brown
Breeder: Adstock Manor Stud

Persian Punch had the rare distinction of becoming a legend in his own time. He raced for 8 seasons and in the later years of his career people went racing just to see him. Regardless of which horse punters had backed they often ended up cheering him home as this front running warrior got into yet another battle with the favourite. He was a hard horse to pass, never shirked a fight and came out the victor in 7 photo finishes.

He had 63 starts winning 20 and placing in 19. His last victory was in the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket in October 2003. This brought his prize money tally to just over one million pounds (£1,008,785) and equalled the record 13 wins in Group company achieved by Brigadier Gerrard, Ardross and Acetengango for the most Group wins in Europe since the Pattern was introduced in 1971.

Persian Punch was placed in, but did not win, a Group 1 race. This technically meant that he could not be defined as a champion racehorse. But there were many remarkable things about Persian Punch, his size, his courage, his kind nature, his heart like a lion, his longevity. Few champions gave the racing public what Punch could and in the last year of his career he was the best ambassador that flat racing could have wished for. In recognition of his special qualities the Racing Post cover following his victory at the age of 10 in the Doncaster Cup proclaimed, 'The Bravest Of Them All'. HIs fans dubbed him 'The People's Champion'.

At the age of 10 he was just denied the Stayers Triple Crown of Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup when Mr Dinos beat him into 2nd place at Ascot . He won three Jockey Club Cups, a Doncaster Cup, two Goodwood Cups, three Henry II Stakes and two Lonsdale Stakes.

Persian Punch lost his life in his first race of the 2004 season, when he collapsed and died in April at Ascot Racecourse in front of the fans and connections who adored him.

Newmarket Rowley Mile
Champions Day, October 2005
The unveiling of the Persian Punch bronze

Fans who mourned their friend wanted above all for him to be remembered and the Persian Punch Memorial Fund was launched to obtain a statue of the gelding at Newmarket. This is the story of that statue.

MEMORIAL STATUE AT NEWMARKET RACECOURSE

More details about Punch are here : -

about this website here .

A downloadable article, about Persian Punch, courtesy of Timeform, is here .

The Racing Post Favourite Racehorses article is here.