2019 Eclipse Awards: Winston C

Winston C loves Saratoga. For a jumper that is a brilliant attribute.

Winston C was unbeaten in two starts at Saratoga during the summer, sweeping the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Hurdle in July and the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup in August, putting the gelding among the finalists for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding steeplechaser of 2019.

In 2019, Winston C essentially had two campaigns – a winter and early spring season in Britain and a late spring and summer season in the United States.

:: Full list of 2019 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

When Winston C arrived at Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard’s stable, he had won 3 of 4 starts in England, including a $52,800 handicap hurdle at Kelso Racecourse in Scotland in March against 11 rivals. Winston C ended that segment of his year with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Betway Novices’ Hurdle at 2 1/16 miles at Aintree in early April.

For Sheppard, Winston C had his debut in the $100,000 Marcellus Frost Champion Hurdle, a restricted race at 2 1/4 miles, at Percy Warner Park in Tennessee on May 11. Ridden by Thomas Garner, Winston C closed from seventh of nine to finish third, beaten three-quarters of a length by City Dreamer.

Winston C, an Irish-bred who races for Hudson River Farms, did not start again until the $150,000 Smithwick, at about 2 1/16 miles. Sent off at 3-1, the gelding took his customary position at the back of the field. With a four-wide rally, Winston C took the lead in early stretch and won comfortably by 3 1/2 lengths.

Winston C followed with an even brighter performance in the $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup at 2 3/8 miles, the championship steeplechase event of the Saratoga meeting. The 1-2 favorite, Winston C ran like he did in the Smithwick, racing at the back of the field before taking the lead on the final turn. This time, Winston C pulled clear in early stretch and prevailed by 8 3/4 lengths in what was by far his best performance of the year.

“The horse did everything right,” an admiring Garner said after the race. “He’s such an honest, classy little horse.”

Winston C was the first horse to complete the Smithwick-Turf Writers double since Campanile in 1999 and gave Sheppard a 15th win in the Turf Writers.

“He’s a very serious horse,” Sheppard said.

Winston C made one start after Saratoga, finishing fourth of nine in the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Handicap at 2 1/2 miles at Belmont Park on Sept. 19. Winston C closed ground and finished 7 1/2 lengths behind Surprising Soul.

But Winston C had already made his mark in 2019 with a memorable Saratoga meeting.