Looking Back 93) Vagog

                        Vagog

Today’s horse is one I have to confess I had not really heard of in my time here, but was kindly suggested by David Pipe Racing Club member Peter Slee and what a good horse he was!  He was actually owned by a friend of Peter’s, Mike Swift who is sadly no longer with us.  Vagog was a 1985 born bay gelding by Glint of Gold and his dam was called Vadrouille. 

He began his career on the flat as a three year old for trainer P Calver and made his racecourse debut in a seller over 1m4f at Thirsk in May 1988 and he finished second at 20/1. He was consistent in his next few starts and then got his first win in a seller at Pontefract in August after which he was bought by trainer Nigel Tinkler who actually trained the horse who finished second to Vagog that day.  He finished second on debut for his new trainer and after another run on the flat he was tried over hurdles.  He finished third on hurdling debut at Hexham and on his second start over hurdles (ran on the flat in between) he won a seller at Newton Abbot.  MCP bought him at the subsequent auction for a record price at the time.

He was placed on two of his first three starts for Pond House but got his first win for the stable on his fourth start over hurdles at Wolverhampton in January 1989 with Rory MacNeice in the saddle.  He wore first time blinkers this day and they had a profound effect as he actually went on to win his next three starts as well, making it four in a row.  The victories came at Towcester, Huntingdon and Nottingham.  The funny thing is, is that he was claimed by R Champion after his win at Towcester but then claimed back by MCP after he won at Huntingdon!  He followed these wins with a second and a below par effort before going on a little holiday.

He returned to action at Newton Abbot in November 1989 with a second in an amateur riders handicap hurdle with Mr Alan Walters riding.  He won his next start at Cheltenham with Peter Scudamore on board, winning off a mark of 119.  He unfortunately picked up an injury after and was then off the track for over a year.

When he returned to action in January 1991 a couple of good placed runs were interspersed with a couple of poor runs but then he got back to winning ways by winning at handicap hurdle at Ascot in April.  He followed this with a third at Chepstow before he had a bit more time out and he was next seen back on the track in February 1992.  On his third start back he finished second in a competitive handicap hurdle off a mark of 130 with M Foster on board and he finished off that season by winning at Chepstow in May. 

Following a summer holiday he came back to win a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November, now rated 138.  He was very impressive winning by 20 lengths and returned to the track the following month and finished runner up.  The following week he lined up in the Grade 1 Long Walk hurdle at Ascot.  He put up the performance of his life and won beating Burgoyne by 2½ lengths.

He unfortunately pulled up lame on his next start at Haydock in January 1993 and had his final start of his career in the Stayers hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March 1993 where he pulled up as well.  He sadly died at home after his racing days. 

Vagog was a remarkable horse, showing so much improvement and going from a seller to winning a Grade 1 and being rated 153 at best.  He won eleven races from 38 career starts and he was placed 16 times as well so he was very tough and consistent throughout. 

Watch him win the 1992 Long Walk hurdle here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miNkCeZKfjI