Tico´s
track career kicked off with 16.88 and 29.30 wins at Clonmel. He joined Slough´s Arthur
Hitch and won first time out at Harringay in 28.47. After a 24.13 win at Romford, he was
entered in the 1985 Laurels. Unfortunately, he was knocked over at the first bend - it
would be the only race where he failed to finish in the first three.
After a winter break, he returned for
Harringay´s Pall Mall. Just caught first time out, he went unbeaten through the remainder
of the competition. In the final, he clocked 28.45 and beat his "cousing" Hot
Sauce Yankee by 2 3/4 lengths.
Tico´s next appearance was in the qualifying round of the 1986 Mirror Derby. He reached
the final with one defeat on his card - going down by half a length to Fearless Action in
the second round.
Tico turned the tables in the semis when clocking his fastest run of the competition,
28.72. In the decider, Tico led home kennelmate Master Hardy by 5 1/2 lengths in 28.69.
Eight weeks later, Tico arrived at Shelbourne for the Irish Derby. he again reached the
final with only one defeat, in the second round.
His three winning times of 30.37, 30.48 and an incredible 30.06 (three spots outside the
track record) in the semis, guarantied that Tico would start at 4-5 to become the only dog
ever to win both English and Irish.
From trap three - he was a wide seed in Britain but drew the inside three boxes throughout
the Irish Derby - Tico was left cod as Kyle Jack shot clear. Tico set off in pursuit but
first and second bend skirmishes with Murlens Slippy ruined both their chances.
Tico finished third, six lengths behind the 30.41 winner. After the race, it was
discovered that Tico had picked up a wrist strain. There was nothing left to prove, but
connections were determined he would go out on a winning note.
A month later he won a Harringay 475 m invitation in 28.45 (.10), more than four lengths
faster than the Oaks final on the same night. He was retired with a race record of 23
races 17 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third and 1 K.0.
A real enigma as a stud dog and in some
ways so very similar to his sire. His enthusiasm for racing was not matched in the
breeding paddocks though, to be fair, he has more matings than many other dogs in entire
careers.
Tico´s offspring are an interesting
bunch. Although he has thrown a St Leger winner, the vast majority of the fast ones, have
good early pace. When you hit the jackpot with Tico, the sky´s the limit. Unfortunately,
the quality does not appear in abundance and Tico has only once reached the sire´s top 20
chart (number 10) - in 1990. |
