The Thinker (horse)
| The Thinker | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Cantab |
| Grandsire | Cantaber |
| Dam | Maine Pet |
| Damsire | Light Year |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 20 April 1978 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Victor Semple |
| Owner | Tom McDonagh |
| Trainer | Arthur Stephenson |
| Major wins | |
|
Midlands Grand National (1986) Cheltenham Gold Cup (1987) Tommy Whittle Chase (1988) |
|
The Thinker (20 April 1978 – 4 April 1991) was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, best-known for his win in the 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Thinker was a chestnut gelding bred in Ireland by Victor Semple. He was sired by Cantab, a successful hurdler who won the Triumph Hurdle in 1961 before becoming a successful National Hunt stallion. His other progeny included Little Polveir, Little Owl (Cheltenham Gold Cup) and Dixton House (National Hunt Handicap Chase). Cantab was a representative of the Byerley Turk sire line, unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian. The Thinker was the best racer produced by the unraced Maine Pet, but his full-sister Heather-Can did place in a few National Hunt flat and hurdle races in 1979 and 1980.
As a young horse, The Thinker was bought by Arthur Stephenson and entered the ownership of Tom McDonnagh. He was trained in County Durham by Stephenson, who was known for consistently winning numerous minor races at northern racecourses, his motto being "little fish are sweet".
In November 1985 at Ayr, The Thinker won the Joan Mackay Handicap Race against eight other horses at 14-1 odds. Running in the W.L. Hector Christie Memorial Trophy at Catterick in December 1985 and ridden by Kevin Jones, The Thinker was an 11-8 favourite and "appeared to have the race sewn up" when he was defeated by a neck by a late challenge from Hazy Glen. He did not finish the Townton Handicap Chase at Wetherby later in December 1985 having been pulled up during the race. In January 1986, he was unplaced for the Stokesley Handicap Chase at Catterick. In February 1986, The Thinker won the Stanwix Handicap Chase in Carlisle defeating the Grand National placer Mr. Snugfit. He was unplaced in the March 1987 running of the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham. In April 1986, The Thinker recorded his first major win when he won the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter Racecourse in snowy conditions. He won the County of Ayr Handicap Chase in May. He was unplaced in the November 1986 Charlie Hall Memorial Wetherby Pattern Chase and the November 1986 Joan Mackay Handicap Chase at Ayr. On 27 December 1986, The Thinker won the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby. He was unplaced in the January 1987 Peter Marsh Challenge. The Thinker was entered in the 1987 Grand National but was withdrawn shortly before the start due to Stephenson's concerns about the muddy course conditions and the results of a training gallop the morning of the race.
...
Wikipedia