Niche (foaled 1990) was a British
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are co ...
racehorse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...
best known for winning the Group 3 classic trial the
Nell Gwyn Stakes
The Nell Gwyn Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) on the Rowley Mile at N ...
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.
Racing career
Trained by
Richard Hannon, Sr., and ridden in all her races bar one by the (then) 57-year-old
Lester Piggott
Lester Keith Piggott (5 November 1935 – 29 May 2022) was an English professional jockey and trainer. With 4,493 career flat racing wins in Britain, including a record nine Epsom Derby victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest f ...
, 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 carrying a penalty. 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
The Lowther Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each ...
over 6f.
At 3yo, Niche met
Sayyedati in the classic trial the
Nell Gwyn Stakes
The Nell Gwyn Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) on the Rowley Mile at N ...
, 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 when Lester Piggott reputedly felt that she became unbalanced in the Dip. Sayyedati would go on to win the
Sussex Stakes
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and ...
and the
Prix Jacques le Marios.
Niche went on to win the Group 2
Falmouth Stakes
The Falmouth Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1 ...
beating Dancing Bloom (
Princess Royal Stakes) and Culture Vulture (
Premio Emilio Turati,
Prix Marcel Boussac
The Prix Marcel Boussac is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is sch ...
,
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
The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mil ...
, Niche unseated her rider on the gallops, running into the road and collided with a van. She died almost immediately. Her trainer,
Richard Hannon, Sr. 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
The Prix Jean Prat is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs), and it is sch ...
,
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and ...
,
Greenham Stakes
The Greenham Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs () at Newbury in ...
and the
National Stakes
The Vincent O'Brien National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metre ...
. He is also the sire of popular sprinter
Branston Abby.
Cubby Hole, is a half sister to Ascot Gold Cup winner
Little Wolf
Little Wolf (''Cheyenne'': ''Ó'kôhómôxháahketa'', sometimes transcribed ''Ohcumgache'' or ''Ohkomhakit'', more correctly translated Little Coyote, 18201904) was a Northern Só'taeo'o Chief and Sweet Medicine Chief of the Northern Cheyenne. ...
, but never raced. Niche is half sister to three winners: Wolf Mountain; Holetown; and, Ravine.
References
{{reflist
Independent report on Niche's deathPedigree of Niche
1990 racehorse births
1993 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom