Horse Racing

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board
Size 14 x 11in approx


ARKLE
b h Archive (Nearco) - Bright Cherry (Knight Of The Garter)
Foaled: April 19, 1957, Ballymacoll Stud
Owner: Anne, Duchess of Westminster
Trainer: Tom Dreaper, Greenogue
Jockey: Pat Taffe
Lad: Johnny Lumley
Head Lad: Paddy Murray
Work Rider: Paddy Murray
Breeder: Mrs Mary Baker, of Malahow House,
near Naul, Co. Dublin

MAJOR WINS
Cheltenham Gold Cup (1964, 1965, 1966)
King George VI Chase (1965)
Irish Grand National (1964)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (1964,1965)
Leopardstown Chase (1964, 1965, 1966)
Whitbread Gold Cup (1965)
Gallagher Gold Cup (1965)
Power Gold Cup (1963)
John Jameson Gold Cup (1963)
Broadway Novice's Chase (1963)

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board
Size 14 x 11 in

Trainer Mark Johnson
Owner Duke of Roxburge
Breeder: Floors Farming


Attraction won Mark Johnson 5 Group 1 races, the 1,000 Guineas, the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Coronation Stakes, the Sun Chariot Stakes and the Maiden Stakes. Johnston's horses are infamous for their hell-for-leather attitude and refusal to cave under pressure.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx Image Size: 16 x 12 in

(14Feb04 b h)
Montjeu (11.6f) - Funsie(13.3f))
Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam
Owner Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar

One of the outstanding sons to date of Montjeu, provided Frankie Dettori with success in the Derby with a brilliant performance at Epsom, romping home by five lengths.
Won the Racing Post Trophy as a two-year-old, and a very impressive winner of the Dante prior to his triumph in the blue riband.
Defeated Dylan Thomas in the Juddmonte International, but disappointed in both the Eclipse and the Arc.
Cruised around Epsom, an emphatic Derby winner, and another Dalham Hall, Darley stallion.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 11" x 9"

Night Shift (8.0f) - Asmara
Trainer John Oxx
Owner H H Aga Khan
Breeder H H Aga Khan

With ice in his veins and a song in his heart Mick Kinane delivered an outrageous winning charge on Azamour in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Newbury, July 2005.
For the first mile of this extraordinary race, horse and rider were locked away at the rear of the field in a world of their own, apparently uninterested in the furious battle for positions ahead of them.
You could hear the concern in the course commentator's voice as he cried: 'And the favourite's going to have to pass every other runner if he's going to win.' Entering Newbury's long finishing straight Kinane was still motionless on Azamour's back as they stalked the field with deadly intent.Then the Irish jockey briefly shook his reins and the horse produced a blistering finishing run that will live forever in the memories of those lucky enough to be there.
One moment the cause looked hopeless, the next Azamour was surging irresistibly past his 11 rivals like a winged assassin. And long before the end we knew we had witnessed one of those rare moments in racing that transcend sport.
For Azamour had just dismantled one of the strongest collections of older horses ever assembled on these shores, and in record time.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 27" x 21"

Ballabriggs and Jason Maguire Win The 2011 Grand National

Ballabriggs won the 164th running of the Grand National to secure a new chapter in the McCain family's love affair with the famous Aintree marathon.

The horse's odds were between 14-1 and 20-1 before the race, but he unexpectedly remained in the leading pack for most of the race, before pulling out in front on the final fences. Ballabriggs finished ahead of Sam Waley-Cohen's Oscar Time in second, and Tony McCoy's Don't Push It in third. Dehydrated in the unusually hot weather, Ballabriggs immediately returned to the stable after the win, instead of going to the winners enclosure as tradition dictates. It was the first time only the jockey entered the winner's enclosure without his mount

Colour Bay
Breeder Mrs S L Jackson
Owner Trevor Hemmings
Trainer Donald McCain, Jr

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 17" x 14"

Ballabriggs won the 164th running of the Grand National to secure a new chapter in the McCain family's love affair with the famous Aintree marathon.

The horse's odds were between 14-1 and 20-1 before the race, but he unexpectedly remained in the leading pack for most of the race, before pulling out in front on the final fences. Ballabriggs finished ahead of Sam Waley-Cohen's Oscar Time in second, and Tony McCoy's Don't Push It in third. Dehydrated in the unusually hot weather, Ballabriggs immediately returned to the stable after the win, instead of going to the winners enclosure as tradition dictates. It was the first time only the jockey entered the winner's enclosure without his mount

Sire Presenting
Grandsire Mtoto
Dam Papoose
Damsire Little Bighorn
Sex Gelding
Foaled 20 April 2001
Country Ireland

Colour Bay
Breeder Mrs S L Jackson
Owner Trevor Hemmings
Trainer Donald McCain, Jr

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 24" x 18"

Best Mate won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three consecutive times March 2002, 2003, 2004. equaling Arkle's record some 38 years ago. and with all the other major trophies Best Mate was certainly one of the all time greatest race horses that has ever lived.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 22" x 18"

World Hurdle winner 2009, 2010 and 2011

At the 2011 Cheltenham Festival Big Buck's made history by winning 3 consecutive World Hurdles, beating Grands Crus by one and a half lengths. He also confirmed his status as the greatest staying hurdler in history.

Major wins
Prix Amadou (2007)
Mildmay Novices' Chase (2008)
Cleeve Hurdle (2009)
World Hurdle (2009, 2010, 2011)
Liverpool Hurdle (2009, 2010, 2011)
Long Distance Hurdle (2009, 2010)
Long Walk Hurdle (2009, 2010)

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 21" x 15"

2010 Champion Hurdle winner

Binocular bounced right back to his brilliant best with a devastating display in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Sent off at 9-1 in the hands of Tony McCoy, Nicky Henderson’s charge could be called the winner a long way from home and he quickened right away after the final flight to beat Khyber Kim with plenty to spare


Country France
Colour Bay
Breeder Elie Lellouche
Owner J. P. McManus
Trainer Nicky Henderson

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 23" x 18"

Cash rode nearly 3,000 winners in his career and has been Champion jockey 5 times in France. He has also won 90 Group 1's, 51 of which have been gained in France.
Winners: ~ 3,000
Champion US Apprentice in 1979
Champion Jockey, France, 5 times
French Derby: 4 times, Suave Dancer, Hernando, Dream Well, Montjeu.


Along with Steve Cauthen, Cash is recognised as having introduced the American crouch style that is now a common feature in Europe.
He is arguably the most admired jockey amongst fans & professionals anywhere.
For owners, having Cash ride for them was like having the birthday treat one looked forward to as a kid.
Whether it was walking into the paddock to greet him or hearing what he had to say as he slid off side-saddle after the race, the thrill was great.

· BEST HORSES RIDDEN:
· Montjeu, Hernando, Dream Well, Dear Doctor, Spinning World, Suave Dancer, In the Wings, Northern Trick, Soviet Star, Polish Precedent, Kingmambo, April Run, Mairzy Doates, Northern Trick.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 24" x 18"

Irish Gold Cup Champion Denman is a racehorse that has captured the public imagination like few others in his generation. Relatively unknown prior to the much anticipated 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup showdown with stablemate Kauto Star, Denman is a racehorse in the mould of the Grand National legend Red Rum
Denman entered the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup as second favourite, priced at significantly higher odds than his much fancied stablemate Kauto Star. However, in a race that the racing world will remember for decades, Denman ran with sheer determination to easily outclass the rest of the Gold Cup field and claim a famous victory.

Major Wins include:
Cheltenham Gold Cup (2008)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase (2007)
Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2007)

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 24" x 18"

Denman (foaled 17 April 2000) is an Irish bred National Hunt racehorse sired by Presenting. Known as The Tank, Denman is widely known for his great rivalry with Kauto Star for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is a large horse with a front running style in an attempt to run the finish out of his rivals, exactly what he did to claim the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2008.
Major wins
Challow Novices' Hurdle (January 2006)
Berkshire Novices' Chase (2006)
Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2007)
Hennessy Gold Cup (2007, 2009)
Lexus Chase (2007)
Aon Chase (2008)
Cheltenham Gold Cup (2008)

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 23" x 18"

Sadlers Wells (11.3f) - Moon Cactus
Trainer Saheed Bin Suroor
Owner Godolphin
Breeder Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

This outstanding racehorse annihilated the opposition in the 2004 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, which he won by three lengths from the American challenger Hard Buck. This, remarkably, arguably wasn’t even Doyen’s best Ascot performance, because at the Royal Meeting the previous month he had smashed the 12-furlong track record in the Hardwicke Stakes, beating the mark set by Japan Cup victrix Stanerra in the same race 21 years previously – and she herself had bettered the record established in the ‘Race of the Century’, the 1975 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in which the Derby winner Grundy had bested Bustino in a titanic duel which had left the mighty Dahlia, winner of the previous two renewals of this great race, toiling in their wakes. It was no wonder that Timeform rated him 132 and elected him its Horse of the Year

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 23" x 18"

Mr Greeley (8.0f) - Musical Treat(8.5f))

Trainer J S Bolger
Owner M A Ryan
Breeder Rathberry Stud

She is one of only two horses ever to win both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the English1,000 Guineas. She missed her chance at a "Triple" when she ran second in France in the 2007 in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp.
She posted not just the fastest 1000 Guineas time ever, but the quickest time of any Guineas.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on board

Approx Image size 23in x 18in

The greatest-ever jockey

You don't need to be a horse racing fan to know about John Francome.
His success as a jockey and trainer makes him one of the foremost figures of all time in the racing world.
John Francome went on to win seven championships in ten years but admits that by the time he set a new record of 1036 jumping victories in June 1984, he was already making up his mind to retire. He rode his 1038th and last winner in April 1985 and was awarded the MBE the following year.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx 11 x 9in

Danehill - Bordighera

Trainer A P O’Brien
Owner Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith
Breeder Lael Stables

A £1.15 million son of Danehill and Bordighera, this brilliant half-brother to mutiple Group 1 winner Grandera ended the 2006 Flat Season as the winner of six of his ten racecourse outings, including four at Group One level. He made his debut at Newmarket in May 2005 when finishing a close up third over five furlongs but finished the remainder of his two year old campaign unbeaten on his next four outings.

It was no real surprise when O’Brien announced that his charge would not have a prep race for the 2000 Guineas as a three year old as the Master of Ballydoyle had already captured the first Classic of the season on three occasions with King Of Kings (1998), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002) and Footstepsinthesands (2005) all making winning seasonal debuts in the big race itself. On the day, George Washington started a heavily backed 6/4 favourite despite the fact that the stable did not appear to be firing on all cyclinders at the time but once again, this top class colt put up a supremely impressive performance. Travelling strongly under Kieren Fallon in midfield, George Washington surged to the front with a devastating turn of foot inside the two furlong marker and settled the issue in a matter of strides. At the post, he had two and a half lengths to spare over subsequent Epsom Derby winner and the previously unbeaten Sir Percy with Olympian Odyssey back in third spot. This was a brilliant performance although once again, the horse’s quirky temperament came to the surface after the race as he steadfastly refused to enter the winner’s enclosure. Eventually, he relented after his trainer had taken him on a virtual tour of the enclosures.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot was the horse’s next assignment four weeks later where O’Brien promised we would see a different horse and once again he was proved correct. George Washington was simply awesome as he gained revenge on Araafa by a cosy length and a quarter having raced towards the rear of the field for much of the journey and there was no doubt that he was the best miler in the world on the evidence of this display. While it was generally expected he would round off his career in the Breeders Cup Mile event at Churchill Downs in early November, connections bravely decided to go for the Breeders Cup Classic race over ten furlongs on dirt. While he had never raced on a dirt surface before, it was probably the ten furlong trip that found him out as he had to settle for sixth place, seven lengths behind Invasor with the hot favourite, Benardini, in second place. George Washington was retired to stand at Coolmore Stud but due to fertility problems, it was announced that he would race on as a four year old with Holy Roman Emperor filling his place in the breeding shed.

Sadly, George Washington was fatally injured on his final outing of the 2007 season which came in the Breeders Cup Classic over ten furlongs at Monmouth Park in America.

SOLD

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 23in x 18in

Danehill - Bordighera

Trainer A P O’Brien
Owner Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith
Breeder Lael Stables

A £1.15 million son of Danehill and Bordighera, this brilliant half-brother to mutiple Group 1 winner Grandera ended the 2006 Flat Season as the winner of six of his ten racecourse outings, including four at Group One level. He made his debut at Newmarket in May 2005 when finishing a close up third over five furlongs but finished the remainder of his two year old campaign unbeaten on his next four outings.

It was no real surprise when O’Brien announced that his charge would not have a prep race for the 2000 Guineas as a three year old as the Master of Ballydoyle had already captured the first Classic of the season on three occasions with King Of Kings (1998), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002) and Footstepsinthesands (2005) all making winning seasonal debuts in the big race itself. On the day, George Washington started a heavily backed 6/4 favourite despite the fact that the stable did not appear to be firing on all cyclinders at the time but once again, this top class colt put up a supremely impressive performance. Travelling strongly under Kieren Fallon in midfield, George Washington surged to the front with a devastating turn of foot inside the two furlong marker and settled the issue in a matter of strides. At the post, he had two and a half lengths to spare over subsequent Epsom Derby winner and the previously unbeaten Sir Percy with Olympian Odyssey back in third spot. This was a brilliant performance although once again, the horse’s quirky temperament came to the surface after the race as he steadfastly refused to enter the winner’s enclosure. Eventually, he relented after his trainer had taken him on a virtual tour of the enclosures.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot was the horse’s next assignment four weeks later where O’Brien promised we would see a different horse and once again he was proved correct. George Washington was simply awesome as he gained revenge on Araafa by a cosy length and a quarter having raced towards the rear of the field for much of the journey and there was no doubt that he was the best miler in the world on the evidence of this display. While it was generally expected he would round off his career in the Breeders Cup Mile event at Churchill Downs in early November, connections bravely decided to go for the Breeders Cup Classic race over ten furlongs on dirt. While he had never raced on a dirt surface before, it was probably the ten furlong trip that found him out as he had to settle for sixth place, seven lengths behind Invasor with the hot favourite, Benardini, in second place. George Washington was retired to stand at Coolmore Stud but due to fertility problems, it was announced that he would race on as a four year old with Holy Roman Emperor filling his place in the breeding shed.

Sadly, George Washington was fatally injured on his final outing of the 2007 season which came in the Breeders Cup Classic over ten furlongs at Monmouth Park in America.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 22" x 18"

Imperial Commander landed a famous Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2010 to win a dramatic race after odds-on favourite Kauto Star fell four fences from the finish.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 24" x 18"

INGLIS DREVER, the three-time winner of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham,

SOLD

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 15in x 10in

Sadlers Wells - Bettys Secret
Trainer A P O’Brien
Owner J P McManus
Breeder Shadwell Estate Company Limited

National Hunt Racing would probably list the steeplechasers GOLDEN MILLER, ARKLE, RED RUM and DESERT ORCHID as the "greats" of the sport for no hurdler has ever achieved such popular acclaim - until ISTABRAQ. The huge interest in his attempt to claim an unprecedented fourth Champion Hurdle in 2002 at Cheltenham was proof of the horse's enormous popularity on both sides of the Irish Sea.
His brilliant hurdling career dazzled the racing public and especially the Cheltenham Festival; he has also become a household name. To achieve such acclaim horses need a unique team behind them and in J. P. McManus, Aiden O'Brien and Charlie Swan, ISTABRAQ enjoyed the perfect Irish recipe of devotion, dedication and deliverance.
The statistics are staggering: ISTABRAQ is the first National Hunt horse to win over $1 million pounds in prize money, winning 23 of his 29 starts including the Royal and Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle, three Smurfit Champion Hurdles and four AIG Champion Hurdles.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 23in x 18in


Kalanisi— Miracle
Trainer Alan King
Owner D S J P Syndicate
Breeder Whitley Stud

Katchit became the first five-year-old since See You Then, in 1985, to take the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
Relishing a barging match coming down the hill, this tiny horse seized the lead from rivals faltering in the soft ground. Still, he had to repel the renewed snapping at his heels of Osana to win by a length for his increasingly impressive jockey, Robert Thornton

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 24 x 18 in

Kauto Star is one of the most successful National Hunt horses of all time, ultra consistent, incredibly tough and extremely versatile, he possessed a devastating turn of foot, a unique talent among staying chasers. He holds numerous records in the sport, he was the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup and is the only horse to have won the King George VI Chase four consecutive times.

Major wins
Cheltenham Gold Cup (2007, 2009)
King George VI Chase (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Betfair Chase (2006, 2007, 2009)
Tingle Creek Chase (2005, 2006)
Old Roan Chase (2006)
Aon Chase (2007)
Ascot Chase (2008)
JNwine.com Champion Chase (2008, 2010)

SOLD OUT

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 24" x 18"

Kauto Star is simply one of the greatest racehorses ever and probably the best horse of his generation. Kauto Star has become a public favourite over the past few years. Stabled in Somerset at Ditcheat near Shepton Mallet by Champion trainer Paul Nicholls for owner Clive Smith, Kauto Star’s partnership with regular jockey Ruby Walsh has become a match made in heaven.

The horse has won a string of big races including two Cheltenham Gold Cups in 2007 and 2009 becoming the first ever horse to regain the title after losing it. Add to that, four King George Chases at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, two Tingle Creeks at Sandown Park and an Order of Merit season of six out of six in season 2006/07 including the Betfair bonus of £1,000,000 and you can see why Kauto Star has earned his connections around £2,500,000 in prize money.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 15in x 12in


Village Star - Kauto Relka
Trainer Paul Nichols
Owner Clive Smith
Breeder Mme Henri Aubert

He is one of the greatest and most successful National Hunt horses of all time, ultra consistent, incredibly tough and extremely versatile, he has a devastating turn of foot, a unique talent among staying chasers. He holds numerous records and achievements in the sport, most notably being the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the only horse to have won the King George four consecutive times.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 272 X 21"

Long Run and Sam Waley-Cohen Win the 2011 Gold Cup


SOLD

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 14in x 11 in

High Line - Fair Winter

Master Willie won the Eclipse Stakes, Coronation Stakes, International Stakes, York.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx Image Size: 23in x 18in


Michael Roberts won the South African 2,000 Guineas eight times, the South African Derby six times, and was champion jockey of South Africa 11 times. He was also England’s champion jockey in 1992, with 206 winners
In 1992, Michael created history by being the first jockey to ride a 2-year-old juvenile filly to win the group I Nunthorpe Sprint at York, the meeting’s major sprint event. The filly was Lyric Fantasy.

Michael’s riding skills earned international headlines after he piloted the Alec Stewart trained Mtoto to victory in the 1987 Coral Eclipse stakes. Up until that point Henry Cecil’s brilliant Derby winner Reference Point had looked unbeatable. Michael’s partnership with Mtoto went on to add the 1988 Coral Eclipse stakes and the King George and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Roberts conceded he “was by far the best I sat on. His acceleration was incredible.”

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 14in x 11in


Montjeu - Out West
Trainer Michael Bell
Owner The Royal Ascot Racing Club
Breeder Deerfield Farm

Motivator's best performance as a two-year-old came in the 2004 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. He started his three-year-old campaign with an impressive victory in the Dante at York and enjoyed his finest moment when romping home to an easy success in the Epson Derby. Motivator subsequently started warm favourite for the Eclipse at Sandown but fast ground contributed to a surprise defeat at the hands of Oratorio.Following a break, Motivator reappeared in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, but again had to settle for second place behind Oratorio.
His final race came at Longchamp in October when he ran fifth in the Arc behind winner, Hurricane Run. He was scheduled to compete in the Breeders Cup but came up lame and was retired to stud duty.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 23in x18in

Montjeu - Out West
Trainer Michael Bell
Owner The Royal Ascot Racing Club
Breeder Deerfield Farm

Motivator's best performance as a two-year-old came in the 2004 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. He started his three-year-old campaign with an impressive victory in the Dante at York and enjoyed his finest moment when romping home to an easy success in the Epson Derby. Motivator subsequently started warm favourite for the Eclipse at Sandown but fast ground contributed to a surprise defeat at the hands of Oratorio.Following a break, Motivator reappeared in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, but again had to settle for second place behind Oratorio.
His final race came at Longchamp in October when he ran fifth in the Arc behind winner, Hurricane Run. He was scheduled to compete in the Breeders Cup but came up lame and was retired to stud duty.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 23in x18in

Montjeu - Out West
Trainer Michael Bell
Owner The Royal Ascot Racing Club
Breeder Deerfield Farm

Motivator's best performance as a two-year-old came in the 2004 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. He started his three-year-old campaign with an impressive victory in the Dante at York and enjoyed his finest moment when romping home to an easy success in the Epson Derby. Motivator subsequently started warm favourite for the Eclipse at Sandown but fast ground contributed to a surprise defeat at the hands of Oratorio.Following a break, Motivator reappeared in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, but again had to settle for second place behind Oratorio.
His final race came at Longchamp in October when he ran fifth in the Arc behind winner, Hurricane Run. He was scheduled to compete in the Breeders Cup but came up lame and was retired to stud duty.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx Image Size: 11in x 9in


It was not only her owner Lord Derby whose life was changed by Ouija Board winning the 2004 Oaks. Her victory in the Epsom Classic delivered a new superstar to British racing, and before long she was captivating race-goers all over the world. She won big races on three continents and competed in seven different countries; she won two Breeders' Cup races in the USA; and her showdown with Alexander Goldrun at Goodwood in August 2006 has been hailed as one of the greatest races ever. When she won the Oaks, Ouija Board was the only horse Lord Derby had in training. But it was his ancestor the twelfth Earl of Derby who founded, in the late 18th century, the most famous race in the world, and the extraordinary story of Ouija Board and her exploits is inextricably entwined with the long history of the greatest racing family of all.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 14in x 10in


Cape Cross - Urban Sea
Trainer John Oxx
Owner Christopher Tsui
Breeder Sunderland Holdings


Sea The Stars - the very name has a magical ring. Horse of the season, the decade, the century - possibly of all time. The Arkle of the Flat Racing World, he has captured the imagination of racing fans throughout Europe. It is not just what he has won, but the manner in which he has done so: six Group Ones in six months, including the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the Arc de Triomphe, the Big Three never before achieved by one horse in one season. Only once did any of his races approach a close finish. If trouble appeared, he cast it aside with his scintillating speed and he kept improving with every race. He held his own and more against older horses; not for him the tag 'miler' or 'stayer', for he proved his superiority at three separate distances. In short, Sea The Stars was the model racehorse

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 22 X 16"

Many racing pundits consider Sea The Stars the best racehorse ever to run on the Flat, the horse who captured the hearts of racegoers all over the world. His 2009 achievement of winning the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is unparalleled in racing history. His unflappable temperament, his apparently effortless abilities to find another gear when the chips were down, and his unruffled demeanor after each race made him the most popular racehorse since the days of Desert Orchid.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 24" x 18"

Sea The Stars (foaled 2006 in Ireland) is a champion Irish Thoroughbred colt racehorse. Regarded by many as one of the greatest racehorses of all time, he is best known for winning the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, - the first colt to accomplish this treble since 1989 champion Nashwan - the International Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Major wins
Beresford Stakes (2008)
Eclipse Stakes (2009)
International Stakes (2009)
Irish Champion Stakes (2009)
2,000 Guineas (2009)
Epsom Derby (2009)
French Classic Race wins:
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2009)

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 27" x 19"

Major wins
Beresford Stakes (2008)
Eclipse Stakes (2009)
International Stakes (2009)
Irish Champion Stakes (2009)

British Classic Race wins:
2,000 Guineas (2009)
Epsom Derby (2009)

French Classic Race wins:
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2009)

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 14in x 11in


Kings Cygnet - Jadidh
Trainer Rod Millman
Owner Terry Cooper
Breeder D E Hazzard


Every horse should have it´s followers, but some horses achieve such very special things on the racetrack that even more people take them into their hearts.
Sergeant Cecil clearly was such a horse. From humble beginnings (indifferent breeding - and his first victory would not come until he had turned 4), from a small yard deep in the West Country best known for jumping horses who had never trained a Group 1 winner before, Sergeant Cecil was an unlikely candidate to "create flat racing history".
But he did just that in 2005 when he became the first horse ever to win the three major staying handicap´s in England´s Flat-season in one year
How did he do it? He simply put his head down and fought for every yard in every race he ran, guided, and no doubt this added to the "Cecil Magic", by a returning hero in Alan Munro.
At the End of 2005 an admiring racing public voted Sergeant Cecil "Horse of the year", a feat never achieved by a mere Handicapper before.
2006 was bound to be a difficult year, as The Sergeant had progressed beyond Handicaps, and it would be Group-Races now. But he continued to improve and rose to the challenge.
In 2006 Sergeant Cecil not only won his first Group Race but he made two and, on a glorious Sunday in France, he triumphed where other star stayers like Persian Punch and Double Trigger had failed - he took the Grp 1 Prix du Cadran by storm.
The old soldier continued to thrill connections and the public mixing it with the best of the bests. 2007 was bound to be a tough year for him carrying his Grp 1 penalty at the age of 8 but he still managed to win the Yorkshire Cup (becoming the oldest horse to do so) on his favoured Knavesmire in which he had finished second in 2006.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx image size 23in x 18in

Pistolet Bleu - Jennie Dun
Trainer Henry De Bromhead
Owner Ann and Alan Potts Partnership
Breeder Mrs Angela Bracken



AS Channel Four commentator Simon Holt called Sizing Europe to victory in the Arkle Chase at the opening day of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, the picture of 2008 was quickly erased from the memory.
On that occasion, he was favourite to land the Champion Hurdle but faded badly from the second last before being stopped to a walk by jockey Andrew McNamara and the big question was would the horse ever recover from this disappointing performance?
After his trainer Henry de Bromhead also had to pull his much loved horse out of the day one feature last year, many wondered if the talented horse would ever return to Prestbury Park and have his day in the sun.
The questions were all answered in fine style as the Alan and Ann Potts owned horse held off the late strong challenge of Somersby to land the valuable steeplechase much to delight of his connections by 3/4 of a length with Osana a further 1 and 3/4 lengths back in third.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx Image Size 23in x 18in

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx Image Size: 26in x 20in

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx Image Size: 23 in x 18 in


Timmy Murphy has consistently featured prominently in the leading Jump Jockey tables in recent years, and was runner-up to Tony McCoy for the Championship in 2004-5.
One of his career highlights and possibly the best ride he has ever given a horse came in 1999, on Ever Blessed, when winning the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, at Newbury.
Murphy's big-race wins include the 2008 Grand National on Comply or Die and Our Vic at the Cheltenham Festival's Ryanair Chase, both for the Johnson and Pipe team. He also landed Newbury's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Ever Blessed in 1999

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx Image Size: 23in x 18in

Viking - Fourth Degree

Trainer David Nicholson
Owner Roach Foods Limited
Breeder Miss E C Holdsworth

He started his career with Martin Pipe, making his debut at Naas over 7 furlongs in 1989. He ran his first race over obstacles at Wolverhampton in 1990, falling at the fifth. However, he will be best remembered for his two Queen Mother Champion Chase wins, as well as victory in a terrific battle with Deep Sensation and Martha?s Son in the 1995 Melling Chase at Aintree.

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board

Approx Image Size: 23in x 18in

A study of top jockeys Willie Carson and Cash Asmussen

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 30" x 22"

Workforce is a 2007-born thoroughbred racehorse that won the 2010 Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, ridden by Ryan Moore. The bay colt is trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah

On 5 June 2010, being ridden for the third time by Ryan Moore, Workforce won the Epsom Derby by seven lengths, breaking the Epsom Downs track record in the process. With a finishing time of 2m 31.33s, he beat the previous track record of 2m 32.31s set by Lammtarra in the 1995 Derby. Only two horses had ever won the Derby by a larger distance,

by Brian Halton

Pastel on Board 30" x 22"

2010 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - After much discussion about whether Workforce would run in the Arc, the decision was made on the Thursday prior to the race to run. In the race itself, he settled back in the field before running through the middle of the field to take the lead halfway up the straight, and held on to win by a head from Japanese runner Nakayama Festa

Major Wins:
Epsom Derby (2010)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2010)
Brigadier Gerard Stakes (2011)