Events / Malcolm Pannett / 13 October 2009 / 1 Comments

The Cesarewitch is one of top staying handicaps in the programme book as well as being the second-leg of the Autumn double. First run in 1839 it is named in honour of an eminent Russian visitor. Malcolm Pannett fills in the details.

"The name of the race is derived from the Russian title Tsarevich which was given to the Tsar’s first born son and therefore heir apparent - the equivalent of the Prince of Wales in the UK"

As an ultra competitive handicap it is no surprise that only two favourites have won the Cesarewtch in the past two decades. Therefore when horses with a touch of class prevail it is even more noteworthy. The most recent market leader to win was the former Triumph Hurdle-winner Detroit City in 2006 (pictured) who was preceded by the great Vintage Crop (1992) the dual Irish St Leger-winner who went on to cap his career by winning the 1995 running of the Melbourne Cup.

Indeed the inaugural winner Cruisken (1839) was a good filly who went on to win the Chester Cup in 1941. In the early days Classic winners contested the race with Derby-winner Bloomsbury finishing runner-up to Clarion (1840) in the second running, while St Gatien, who had dead-heated with Harvester in the Derby, went one better in 1884.

The name of the race is derived from the Russian title Tsarevich which was given to the Tsar's first born son and therefore heir apparent - the equivalent of the Prince of Wales in the UK. The particular Tsarevich in question went on to become Tsar Aleksandr II, in 1855, and is honoured in the race title to thank him for his gift to the Jockey Club of £300 during his state visit to England in 1838.

Contrary to popular belief the race is run entirely within the county of Cambridgeshire with only the part of the course where the horses pull up being in Suffolk.

Among the more notable renewals was a three-way dead-heat in 1857, which Prioress won after a run off, and the disqualification of Orchardist in 1962 with the race being awarded to Golden Fire. There was also a dead-heat in 1893 where Red Eyes and Cypria shared the spoils.

There was no race in 1942. In 1943 there were three races (at Newmarket, Ascot and Stockton) while in 1944 there were two (at Ascot and Stockton but not at Newmarket). The 1986 and 1999 races were run on the July Course.

Notable winners in the last 50 years include; Grey Of Falloden (1964) who had won the Doncaster Cup and took the next season's Henry II Stakes; Major Rose (1968) that season's Chester Cup winner who was subsequently placed in two Champion Hurdles; Chester Vase-winner Shantallah (1975); and John Cherry (1976) who carried the record winning weight of 9st 13lb. John Cherry, who had already won the Chester Cup, went on become a dual winner of the Long Walk Hurdle.

They were followed by Mountain Lodge (1982) who won the next year's Irish St Leger; Bajan Sunshine (1983) who was successful in the Aintree Hurdle two years later; Tom Sharp (1984) (see below) the Fighting Fifth Hurdle-victor in 1986; and Nomadic Way (1988) the winner of the 1992 Stayers' Hurdle who was also twice runner-up in Champion Hurdle.

And in the last decade; Landing Light (2003) who won the Christmas Hurdle and Fighting Fifth Hurdle as well as the replacement race for the Champion Hurdle at Sandown when Cheltenham was abandoned due to an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth disease; Sergeant Cecil (2005) the Prix Royal-Oak, Prix du Cadran; Ebor, Doncaster Cup, Yorkshire Cup and Northumberland Plate-winner; and Leg Spinner (2007) who had won 2005 Ascot Stakes.

25 Year Ago - Tom Sharp, who along with Have Blessed, was allowed an easy lead in the early stages made the most of the advantage to win at 40/1 under Steve Dawson. Kicked on by his apprentice-partner half-a-mile from home the result was never danger as the son of Martinmas came home with six lengths to spare over Valuable Witness in second.

10 years ago - The former Coral Cup Hurdle and dual Chester Cup-winner Top Cees added to his haul in the hands of Kieren Fallon and in the process landed a gamble. Sent off at 7/1 Ian Balding's charge, who had been second to Turnpole in 1997, made good progress from the rear of the field until being hampered at the furlong pole. However he soon extricated himself and found plenty to run out a ready length-and-a-quarter victor from Dominant Duchess, Heros Fatal and Eastwell Hall with favourite Far Cry in fifth.

Five years ago - A second win in the race for Mark Johnston as Contact Dancer added to the triumph of Spirit of Love in 1998. Ridden by Royston ffrench Contact Dancer was always up with the pace and reached the front with a quarter of a mile to travel. As always with a Johnston horse the son of Sadler's Wells showed tremendous gameness to outbattle Mr Ed winning by half-a-length with just a further head back to High Point in third. More recently Contact Dancer has been in training with Peter Bowen picking the odd race up over jumps.

Last Year - Nicky Henderson's 11-year-old Caracciola notched up his 15th career success running out an impressive winner over Arc Bleu. The previous winner of the Greatwood Hurdle and Grand Annual Chase, who had been second to Leg Spinner the year before, stayed on strongly to claim the prize by three lengths at the rewarding odds of 50/1. Caracciola also popped up at Royal Ascot this year taking the Queen Alexandra Stakes in arresting style.

Tags: Caracciola, Contact Dancer, Cruisken, Detroit City, John Cherry, St Gatien, Tom Sharp, Top Cees, Vintage Crop