Leading National Hunt racehorse owner John Hales has passed away. The deceased, who was 85, made his money through the Golden Bear Toys company he co-founded in 1979, which went on to produce products from major children’s shows such as Teletubbies, Basil Brush, Thomas the Tank Engine and In The Night Garden, owned some champions of the turf.
Perhaps the best of them all was one of his first, the grey One Man, trained by the late Gordon Richards. He won two King George VI Chases at Kempton on St Stephen’s (Boxing) Day before – in what must be regarded as a genius move by Paul Nicholls (one of many) – dropping back spectacularly in trip to two miles and reduced his affable owner, the type of man who came across like everybody’s grandad, to tears by claiming the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival of 1998.
I think it’s fair to say everybody with even a passing interest in racing loves a grey. Outside of Desert Orchid, it would probably be fairly roundly acknowledged Mr Hales owned a couple of the greatest in the aforementioned One Man and Aintree Grand National winner Neptune Colonges. The latter, poignantly, was partnered by the recently retired Daryl Jacob.
But there was also Noland and Protektorat (his last winner, only weeks ago at Windsor) and Politilogue and, his last major purchase – in conjunction with his daughter, Lisa, and Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason and Peter Done – Caldwell Potter. That one hasn’t really fired since going to Paul Nicholls from the Andrew and Gemma Browne dispersal sale – but, if you’re brave enough to stick by him, I certainly wouldn’t put you off having a few quid thereon.
The world works in mysterious ways and it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if the bookies on the rails up yonder are shortening the odds on the ex Gordon Elliott inmate as we speak. Mind you, even after reeling off all the above equine royalty, we still haven’t arrived at my favourite Hales-owned steed.
That, my dear people, has to be Azertyuioup. For the sole and simple reason that any horse that could better Moscow Flyer over two miles – when the latter stood up – deserves elevation to the highest available pedestal in the sport. Every sporting discipline needs its rivalries and that between the two speedy titans of the turf deserves placement in the pantheon of some of the greatest.
Now, it may have been a short term incarnation, but that Hales’ hero and Moscow are the things on which future generations were built. Just as the deeds of Constitution Hill and Gallopin Des Champs and Teahupoo and Sir Gino will do in years to come. Put it this way, Moscow’s regaining of the Champion Chase in 2005 as an 11-year-old was only the truly remarkable story it was owing to the fact that Azertyuioup emerged as a genuine suitor to the crown. Though as it happened, the greatest challenge to the re-coronation came from the equally admirable Well Chief after Ruby Walsh’s mount quite literally put his hoof in it at the water jump.
In latter years, with the late Mr Hales and his daughter owning the horses in partnership with Messrs Ferguson, Mason and Done, the horses often lined out in Sir Alex’s all red jacket or the predominantly white silks with red and blue epaulettes of Ged Mason, but how fitting it was that the final Festival winner with which he was associated – Politilogue in the Ryanair Chase last March – went into battle in the familiar yellow jacket, white hoop on sleeve, red star, yellow cap and red star.
It will now stand as being very appropriate also that said winner was trained by Dan Skelton because John Hales was an ardent supporter of all horse sports – not just thoroughbred racing – and of the Skelton family in particular. Indeed, I have a vague recollection of Lisa Hales being in some way involved with the horses at the time Nick Skelton won his last Olympic medal.
I think at one stage Gordon Elliott had a steed in the Hales colours, whether there were any before or since I’m not sure, but, no matter what happens now, the distinctive, recognisable and familiar attire – and the gregarious, affable character who gave them their platform, will be very sadly missed. May he rest in peace.
Leave a Reply