Oh So Sharp

The last filly to perform the unique feat of winning the Fillies Triple Crown.

She was one of the first foals to be bred by Sheik Mohammed al Maktoum, the third son of the ruler of Dubai, at Dalham Hall Stud.

Henry Cecil schooled her at Newmarket. She was by the champion miler Kris, out of the Graustark mare Oh So Fair. Her pedigree is filled with wonderful horses such as Ribot, Nearco, Crepello and Native Dancer. She was from the first crop of Kris, only beaten twice, winning 14 of 16 races, losing the 2,000 Guineas to Tap On Wood and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, to Known Fact. He won the St. James's Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes among other races for owner, the late Lord Howard de Walden. He was champion sire with his first crop in 1985 and consistently sired group and stakes winners throughout his stud career. Known as an outstanding sire of fillies (like Diesis), Kris was also capable of siring good colts such as Sure Blade, Common Grounds, Flash Of Steel, Rivera and Shavian, although probably, his best runner was Oh So Sharp.

This attractive, lengthy filly with an old fashioned head, had tendencies of being idiosyncratic, and her stable lad George Windsor played a great role in tuning her. He rode her throughout the winter and spring of her 3 year old career. The love his stable lad had for her was like a man falling in love and having an affair.

Oh So Sharp made her debut at Nottingham.Starting 2 to 1 favourite and ridden by Paul Eddery she returned home a convincing winner. Lester Piggott was injured and thus Eddery was substituting him. In his next race, the Solario Stakes at Sandown with Piggott astride, she won by a comfortable 2-length margin from the colt Young Runaway, and in her last race, in her 2-year-old career, she beat Helen Street (who later won the Irish Oaks) by a length and a half in Ascot's Hoover Fillies Mile.

In her 3-year-old career, the American jockey Steve Cauthen replaced Lester Piggott as Cecil's stable jockey.

In the Nell Gwen Stakes under the capable hands of Steve Cauthen, the filly won by a length and a half from Bella Colora, with Helen Street third.

In the 1,000 Guineas, she started 2 to 1 favourite.In the last hundred yards of the race, she flew like a rocket propelling in the air to win by 2 short heads from Al Bahatri and Bella Colora. That day at Newmarket, racing fans witnessed one of the most spectacular or sensational finishes in the classics.

In the Oaks, pundits doubted her ability to stay. She answered winning the race in spectacular style by 6 lengths from Triptych, who subsequently became one of the great post-war racemares (winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Coronation and Champion Stakes twice and winning or being placed in a record 41 races at the international level).

Henry Cecil had plans for Oh So Sharp to take in the Nassau Stakes and the Champion Stakes as well as the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup. He had the Derby winner Slip Anchor entered in the King George and the St Leger but when he was injured he decided to run Oh So Sharp.

In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, she was made 5 to 4 favourite, but encountered her first ever defeat. In an exceptionally fast run race, she was overpowered by a neck by Petoski (winner of the Princess of Wales's Stakes). The quality of the opposition was outstanding as the third horse Rainbow Quest went on to win that year's Arc. Jockey Steve Cauthen felt that the filly had not seen or anticipated Petoski from behind. The ground which was too firm and the fast pace of the race went against her.

In the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup, Commanche Run with Lester Piggott defeated her. The filly seemed to have depleted a lot of her energy in the King George and thus was not her true self.

In her final race in the St Leger, she left racing like a true queen.She prevailed by ¾ of a length from Lanfranco. Steve Cauthen got her to the front a little earlier than she liked in the long Doncaster straight, and she began to idle.However after being pushed out by Steve Cauthen, like a true soldier, Oh So Sharp hung on to the lead. Her virtues of class and courage won her the day and she joined the select band of fillies that won the Triple Crown. She followed in the footsteps of Sceptre, Pretty Polly, Sun Chariot and Meld, the only five fillies this century to win three English classics, and she was also the first filly to secure the Triple Crown since Meld in 1955.

Oh So Sharp run 9 races with 7 first and placed 2nd in 2, obtaining 311,576 pounds in her career

At stud, Oh So Sharp bred seven winners from nine foals, including Blushing Groom's Gr.1 winner Rosefinch and Gr.2 winner Shaima, the Shareef Dancer mare who also produced the St Leger winner Shantou.

In the year 2001, the filly passed away due to complications arising from laminitis. Oh So Sharp was put down after becoming ill at Sheikh Mohammed's Dalham Hall Stud at Newmarket, her home since retired from racing.

Steve Cauthen described her as:

"She was, without doubt, the best filly I have ridden.She was a good 2 year old and she was probably unlucky to be beaten ever.Oh So sharp was one of my favourite horses."

And Lester Piggott, who partnered great fillies like Petite Etoile and Dahlia, felt Oh So Sharp could have been the best filly he had ridden if he had not lost the ride on her.

She will be one of the most remembered post-war filles. On the day of the Oaks she was a true superstar bringing back memories of Pretty Polly, Sun Chariot, and Meld.

She has a permanent place amongst the great British Fillies.

Oh So Sharp 1985	Kris	Sharpen Up	Atan
			Rocchetta
		Doubly Sure	Reliance
			Soft Angels
	Oh So Fair	Graustark	Ribot
			Flower Bowl
		Chandelle	Swaps
			Malindi