John Sutcliffe, trainer of top miler Right Tack, dies aged 81

John Sutcliffe, who landed a host of big-race wins in a 31-year training career at Epsom, died peacefully at the age of 81 on Saturday.

Sutcliffe was renowned as a trainer to follow in big handicap prizes and won the Royal Hunt Cup three times, as well as collecting the Ebor, Wokingham and Ayr Gold Cup.

By far his best horse was Right Tack, who developed into a top miler in 1969 when successful in the British and Irish 2,000 Guineas and then the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Only Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Henrythenavigator (2008) and Gleneagles (2015) have completed that rare treble since.

In the same season he trained Jimmy Reppin to win the Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and other significant horses from the yard include Mummy's Pet, The Brianstan and Hard Water.

Sutcliffe's father, also called John, trained 1971 Grand National winner Specify and a number of top jumpers came from his Epsom base including high-class hurdlers Elan, Sky Pink and Kildavin.

Sutcliffe trained a total of 690 winners with his final victory coming in October 1993. He then relocated to Shrewsbury and lived with partner Jude Leighton. From there he ran a racing advisory service.

Before starting training in 1962, he was a successful rider and champion amateur over jumps in the 1958-59 season. He rode 58 winners in total.

He died at home after a short illness. He is survived by daughters Nichola, Kate, Melanie and Julia and seven grandchildren.

His daughter Nichola said: "He totally loved racing. There's lots of references to him being quite a shrewd trainer and he was a great character.

"He was best man at Lester Piggott's wedding and trained for the likes of Albert Finney, Robert Sangster and lots of others. He was great mates with Geoff Lewis, Jack Ramsden and Neville Callaghan.

"He had loads of great achievements. I also remember he had the favourite for the Derby one year but the horse had a nosebleed the day before and didn't run. That was a nightmare.

"He was much loved and will be greatly missed – he'll always be remembered on the Downs with the dogs."

JOHN SUTCLIFFE

Full name John Robert Earnshaw Sutcliffe
Born January 3, 1940
Father John Sutcliffe senior (trainer of Grand National winner Specify)
First winner as rider Palissy, Hurst Park, February 8, 1957
Champion NH amateur rider 1958-59 (18 wins)
Total wins as rider 58 including 1957 Coronation Hurdle on Palissy
Stables as trainer Woodruffe House, Epsom 1962-93
First winner as trainer Little Smokey (ridden by Fred Winter), Huntingdon, October 20, 1962
First winner on Flat Wayward Cous Cous, Kempton, May 11, 1963
Classic winner Right Tack (1969 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas)
St James's Palace Stakes winner Right Tack (1969)
Sussex Stakes winner Jimmy Reppin (1969)
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Jimmy Reppin (1969)
Middle Park Stakes winner Right Tack (1968)
Other Group-class wins Hard Water (1968 Duke of York Stakes), Jimmy Reppin (1968 Hungerford Stakes, Goodwood Mile, 1969 Hungerford Stakes, Prix Perth), Right Tack (1968 Imperial Stakes), Mummy's Pet (1970 Norfolk (Flying Childers) Stakes, 1971 Temple Stakes), The Brianstan (1971 Duke of York Stakes), My Drifter (1973 Craven Stakes), Oscilight (1978 Temple Stakes dead-heat), Tender King (1981 Richmond Stakes)
Cheltenham Festival winner Elan (1964 Gloucestershire Hurdle, Div 2)
Other notable wins over jumps Sky Pink (1964 Mackeson Hurdle), Elan (1965 Schweppes Gold Trophy), Kildavin (1965 Imperial Cup)
Notable Flat handicap winners Tempest Boy (1972 Royal Hunt Cup), Le Johnstan (1972 Wokingham), Jumpabout (1974 & 1975 Jubilee Handicap), Anji (1974 Ebor Handicap), My Hussar (1975 William Hill Gold Cup, 1977 Royal Hunt Cup), Il Padrone (1976 Extel Handicap), Last Tango (1976 Ayr Gold Cup), The Adrianstan (1979 Victoria Cup), Tender Heart (1980 Royal Hunt Cup), March Bird (1990 Golden Mile)
Last winner Gadge, Tattersalls Sales Nursery Final, Newmarket, October 14, 1993
Most wins in a Flat season 32 in 1970
Most wins in a jumps season 23 in 1963-64
Total wins as trainer in Britain 690 (603 Flat, 87 jumps)

Compiled by John Randall

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