- Niche (horse)
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Niche (horse) Sire Risk Me Grandsire Sharpo Dam Cubby Hole Damsire Town and Country Sex Filly Foaled 1990 Country Great Britain Colour Chestnut Breeder Highclere Stud Owner Henry George Reginald Molyneux Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon Trainer Richard Hannon Record 10: 6-1-1 Earnings £171,726 Major wins Falmouth Stakes (1992)
Nell Gwyn Stakes (1993)
Lowther Stakes (1992)
Norfolk Stakes (1992)
2nd 1,000 Guineas (1993)Awards Timeform rating: 117 Horse (Equus ferus caballus) Last updated on May 14, 2009 Niche (foaled 1990 in Great Britain, Thoroughbred filly racehorse) is best known for winning the Group 3 classic trial the Nell Gwyn Stakes and coming 2nd in the 1,000 Guineas, before her career was cut short by a freak accident on the gallops.
Bred by Highclere Stud, Niche was owned by Lord Carnarvon - the Queen's racing manager, owner of top class fillies Lemon Souffle and Lyric Fantasy, and grandson of George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon who discovered the tomb of Tutenkhamun.
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Racing career
Trained by Richard Hannon, and ridden in all her races bar one by the (then) 57 year old Lester Piggott, Niche started her career with three wins in a row, including the Group 3 Norfolk Stakes.
In her fourth race, the Cherry Hinton Stakes (one of the top 2yo filly races of the season) she met Sayyedati for the first time, finishing fourth. These fillies would battle for honours throughout their two and three year old careers. Before the end of her first season, Niche also went on to win the Group 2 Lowther Stakes over 6f.
At 3yo, Niche met Sayyedati in the classic trial the Nell Gwyn Stakes, beating her rival and placing her at the top of the betting for the 1,000 Guineas. Sayyedati hit back in the one mile fillies classic, beating Niche into 2nd. Sayyedati would go onto win the Sussex Stakes and the Prix Jacques le Marios.
Niche went on to win the Group 2 Falmouth Stakes beating Dancing Bloom (Princess Royal Stakes) and Culture Vulture (Premio Emilio Turati, Prix Marcel Boussac, Fillies Mile), winning unchallenged in what would turn out to be her last race.
Untimely Death
Whilst in training for the Prix Jacques Le Marois, Niche unseated her rider on the gallops, running into the road and collided with a van. She died instantly. Her trainer, Richard Hannon said:
"'She caught the edge of the all-weather gallop, stumbled and went down, her lad going over the top. I went after her but then she crossed a minor road, which normally wouldn't see 10 cars between 7am and 4pm. It was a million to one chance. My blacksmith was travelling slowly up the road and the filly crashed into his van. She died within a minute. She was one of the best I've trained. I still cannot believe it's happened."
Lady Carolyn Warren, daughter of Lord Carnarvon, added:
"'She was such a gutsy filly, very brave and gave us a tremendous amount of pleasure. It is a major loss for us and must have been horrible for Richard Hannon to be at the scene."
Pedigree
Niche is by Risk Me, British-trained French Champion 2yo and winner of the Prix Jean Prat, Grand Prix de Paris, Greenham Stakes and the National Stakes. He is also the sire of popular sprinter Branston Abby.
Cubby Hole, is a half sister to Ascot Gold Cup winner Little Wolf, but never raced. Niche is half sister to three winners: Wolf Mountain; Holetown; and, Ravine.
Pedigree of Niche Sire
Risk MeSharpo Sharpen Up Atan Rocchetta Moiety Bird Falcon Gaska Run the Risk Run the Gauntlet Tom Rolfe First Feather Siliciana Silly Season Anippe Dam
Cubby HoleTown and Country Town Crier Sovereign Path Corsley Bell First Huntress Primera Welsh Huntress Hiding Place Doutelle Prince Chevalier Above Board Jojo Vilmorin Fairy Jane References
Categories:- 1990 racehorse births
- 1993 racehorse deaths
- Thoroughbred racehorses
- Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom
- Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom
- British racehorses
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