Four decades on, Nashwan remains a benchmark of brilliance, captivates racing fans

By Harsh Thakor*

On March 1, the racing world marks the birth anniversary of Nashwan (1 March 1986 – 19 July 2002), the American-bred, British-trained colt whose four-year-old campaign in 1989 remains one of the most remarkable in modern flat racing. Owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and trained by Dick Hern, Nashwan combined speed, stamina and composure in a manner that set him apart from his contemporaries.

By Blushing Groom out of the outstanding broodmare Height of Fashion, Nashwan was bred for excellence. Yet pedigree alone does not explain the authority with which he dominated the European turf in 1989. In a single season, he became the first horse in history to win the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes — a quartet that demanded brilliance over a mile, resilience over a mile and a half, and the tactical speed to defeat older horses at weight-for-age level.

As a two-year-old, Nashwan hinted at promise with victories at Newbury and Ascot. However, it was at three that he ascended to greatness. A setback before the 2,000 Guineas meant he arrived at Newmarket without a preparatory run, an unusual path for a Classic contender. Nevertheless, he captured the Guineas in a time of 1:36.44, the fastest recorded since electronic timing was introduced, defeating Exbourne and Danehill with authority. Winning a Classic first time out underscored his natural class.

Doubts surfaced ahead of the Derby at Epsom. The undulating track was often considered better suited to nimble, compact types rather than long-striding colts like Nashwan. His principal rival, Cacoethes, arrived with strong credentials. Yet under jockey Willie Carson, Nashwan settled mid-field before accelerating inside the final two furlongs to win decisively by five lengths. The performance dispelled concerns about his stamina and adaptability, and it confirmed his capacity to dominate over the Classic distance.

A month later at Sandown, Nashwan produced one of the most visually striking performances of his career in the Eclipse Stakes. Facing high-class older horses including Indian Skimmer and the leading miler Warning, he displayed devastating acceleration to overhaul a bold front-running effort from Opening Verse, drawing clear by five lengths. The performance prompted comparisons with earlier greats of the turf.

In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot, Nashwan encountered a sterner test. Cacoethes, again his rival, engaged him in a sustained duel. Showing resolve as well as class, Nashwan prevailed by a neck in one of the most memorable renewals of the race, evoking comparisons with the celebrated 1975 contest between Bustino and Grundy. The victory confirmed his versatility and courage against elite opposition.

Plans for the St Leger were abandoned, ending hopes of a Triple Crown attempt — a feat last achieved in 1970 by Nijinsky. Later that season, Nashwan was beaten in the Prix Niel and subsequently withdrawn from the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Illness also ruled him out of the Champion Stakes. Those setbacks meant his career concluded with six wins from seven starts, earnings of just under £800,000, and a Timeform rating of 135 — joint-highest three-year-old in Europe in 1989 alongside Zilzal.

Retired to stud at Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud, Nashwan sired 25 stakes winners, including Swain, a dual winner of the Irish Champion Stakes and the King George, and Bago, who captured the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He died in 2002 following complications from a routine operation.

Assessments of Nashwan’s place among the all-time greats continue to generate debate. Timeform rated him slightly below legends such as Mill Reef and Dancing Brave, and below some contemporaries in official figures. Yet those who knew him best expressed unequivocal admiration. Willie Carson described him as the finest horse he ever rode, praising his effortless stride and instant acceleration. Dick Hern, who also trained Brigadier Gerard, considered Nashwan the best he handled in a distinguished career.

Statistics and ratings provide one measure of greatness, but Nashwan’s appeal extended beyond numbers. His fluid action, tactical intelligence and ability to quicken decisively created performances that resonated aesthetically as well as competitively. Whether ranked among the absolute pantheon or just beneath it, Nashwan’s 1989 season endures as a benchmark of equine excellence — a rare blend of grace and power that justified his reputation as poetry in motion on the racetrack.

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*Freelance journalist

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