Imperial Call

{{Infobox racehorse | horsename = Imperial Call | image_name = [[File:Owner Lisselan Farms Ltd.svg|120px]] | caption = Racing silks of Lisselan Farms | sire = Callernish | grandsire = [[Lord Gayle]] | dam = Princess Menelek | damsire = Menelek | sex = [[Gelding]] | foaled = 21 February 1989 | country = Ireland | colour = [[Bay (horse)|Brown]] | breeder = T. A. O'Donnell | owner = Lisselan Farms | trainer = Fergus Sutherland Raymond Hurley Augustine Leahy | record = 32: 16-4-5 | earnings = £414,663 | race = [[Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase]] (1995) [[Clonmel Oil Chase|Morris Oil Chase]] (1995) [[Hennessy Gold Cup (Ireland)|Hennessy Gold Cup]] (1996) [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]] (1996) [[Lexus Chase|Ericsson Chase]] (1997) [[Munster National]] (1998) [[John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase]] (1998) [[Punchestown Gold Cup]] (1999) | honours = [[Imperial Call Chase]] at Cork Racecourse | updated = }}

'''Imperial Call''' (21 February 1989 – 29 November 2014) was an Irish racehorse. He was a specialist [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechaser]] who ran thirty-two times and won sixteen races under [[National Hunt]] rules. After showing promise as a hurdler and [[Novice (racehorse)|novice]] chaser, Imperial Call emerged as a top-class jumper with a win in the [[Hennessy Gold Cup (Ireland)|Hennessy Gold Cup]] in February 1996. A month later, he became the first Irish-trained horse for ten years to win Britain's most prestigious steeplechase, the [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]]. His subsequent career was disrupted by injury problems<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Limerick%3a+Imperial+Call+is+back%3b+Former+Gold+Cup+winner+puts+in+fine...-a060712348 |title=Limerick: Imperial Call is back; Former Gold Cup winner puts in fine round of jumping to win Munster National. |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> but he won further major races including the [[John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase|Punchestown Chase]] in 1998 and the [[Punchestown Gold Cup]] in 1999. Unlike most modern racehorses, Imperial Call was not a [[Thoroughbred]].

==Background== Imperial Call was a "leggy, sparely made"<ref name="timeform1">{{cite web|url=http://www.timeform.com/show_article.asp?num=50 |title=Gold Cup 1996 Imperial Call |publisher=Timeform|access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> brown horse bred in [[County Wexford]],<ref name="independent3">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/imperial-call-strikes-gold-413258.html |title=Imperial Call strikes Gold |work=Irish Independent |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> Ireland by T. A. O'Donnell. He was sired by the successful National Hunt stallion Callernish<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/300376/callernish |title=Callernish Stud Record |publisher=Racing Post |date=2012-02-15 |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> out of the mare Princess Menelek. As Princess Menelek's great-grandmother Friend Galee was of unknown parentage, neither she nor any of her offspring were Thoroughbreds.

As a three-year-old [[gelding]], Imperial Call was consigned by the Redpender Stud to the [[Tattersalls]] sales in June 1992, where he was sold for a cash bid of 6,000 [[guinea (coin)|guineas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/sales/results/individual_home.sd?tab=&st=8&l=&i=1&ob=ln&od=ASC&page=1&fv=131072&df=1992-06-25&dt=1992-06-26&venue_id=21&hn=&s=&a=&sin=&dn=Princess+Menelek&sdn=&vn=&b=&mip=&map=&lm=#individualResultsTabs=catalogue_21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080606/http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/sales/results/individual_home.sd?tab=&st=8&l=&i=1&ob=ln&od=ASC&page=1&fv=131072&df=1992-06-25&dt=1992-06-26&venue_id=21&hn=&s=&a=&sin=&dn=Princess+Menelek&sdn=&vn=&b=&mip=&map=&lm=#individualResultsTabs=catalogue_21 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-03-04 |work=[[Racing Post]] |title=Tattersalls Ireland sales |date=2012-07-13 |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> A year later,<ref name="timeform1"/> Imperial Call was sold by the bloodstock dealer Tom Costello<ref name="independent4">{{cite web|last=McGrath |first=Chris |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/dressingroom-inspires-leap-of-faith-by-oleary-1657873.html |title=Dressing-room inspires Leap of faith by O'Leary |work=The Independent |date=2009-03-31 |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> to Lisselan Farms Ltd and was sent into training with [[Fergie Sutherland]] at his stables at [[Killinaridish]], [[County Cork]]. Sutherland was a sixty-year-old [[Scot]] who had lost a leg in the [[Korean War]].<ref name="independent1">{{cite news|last=Dugan |first=Emily |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/call-heralds-an-irish-feast-1340961.html |title=Call heralds an Irish feast |work=The Independent |date=1996-03-08 |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> He had trained winners at [[Royal Ascot]] in the 1950s before moving to his family estate in Ireland to train jumpers.<ref name="Harman">{{cite book | last = Harman | first = Bob | title = The Ultimate Dream: The History of the Cheltenham Gold Cup| publisher=Mainstream Publishing | year = 2000| isbn = 1-84018-381-0}}</ref> Imperial Call was ridden in most of his early races by Gerry O'Neill.

==Racing career==

===1993–1995: early career=== Imperial Call began his racing career as a four-year-old in 1993. After finishing seventh on his debut, he recorded his first win by taking a [[Novice (racehorse)|Novice]] [[Hurdling (horse race)|Hurdle]] race at [[Greenpark Racecourse|Limerick]] by fifteen lengths.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/188/limerick/1993-04-01/51678 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Shannon Maiden Hurdle |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref>

After the summer break, Imperial Call competed against experienced hurdlers in the 1993/1994 season. He ran five times, winning races at [[Greenpark Racecourse|Limerick]], [[Gowran Park]], and [[Leopardstown Racecourse]]. In January, he finished second by a short head in a [[Handicap (horse racing)|handicap race]] at [[Naas Racecourse]] in which he carried ten [[Pound (mass)|pounds]] more than the winner, [[Dorans Pride]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/192/naas/1994-01-29/55790 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Cellbridge Handicap Hurdle |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref>

In the 1994/1995 season, Imperial Call tackled larger obstacles as he competed in [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]]s. He won three more races, including the Grade III [[Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase]] at Naas. Sutherland chose not to send Imperial Call to the 1995 [[Cheltenham Festival]] as he felt that the horse needed more time to develop.<ref name="independent1"/> On his final appearance of the year, he contested the Grade I [[Powers Gold Cup|Power Gold Cup]] at [[Fairyhouse Racecourse]]. Racing against some of the leading Irish novice chasers, he finished third of the nine runners behind Strong Platinum and [[Sound Man (horse)|Sound Man]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/182/fairyhouse/1995-04-18/63424 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Power Gold Cup |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref>

===1995–1997: Gold Cup years=== Imperial Call began the 1995/1996 at Clonmel in November. He took the lead two fences from the finish of the Grade III [[Clonmel Oil Chase|Morris Oil Chase]] and drew clear of the opposition to win easily.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/177/clonmel/1995-11-09/65934 |title=Morris Oil Stakes |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> His challenge for the Grade I [[John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase|Punchestown Chase]] later in the month was short-lived as he fell at the first fence. In January, carrying 156 pounds, he won a handicap at Leopardstown, beating Strong Platinum, who was carrying twelve pounds more. Imperial Call's third attempt at Grade I level came in the [[Hennessy Gold Cup (Ireland)|Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup]] in February, a race for which the British-trained Cheltenham Gold Cup winner [[Master Oats]] was made favourite. Ridden for the first time by [[Conor O'Dwyer]], Imperial Call led from the start and recovered from a bad mistake at the last fence to win by six lengths from the British champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/187/leopardstown/1996-02-11/67214 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Hennessy Gold Cup |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref>

At [[Cheltenham Racecourse]] on 14 March, Imperial Call started 9/2 second favourite for the Gold Cup in a field of ten runners. The [[Northern England|Northern]]-trained grey [[One Man (horse)|One Man]] was made 11/8 favourite despite concerns that he would be ineffective over the distance of three and a quarter miles. O'Dwyer restrained the Irish gelding in the early stages before moving up to join the leaders on the second circuit. He took the lead four fences from the finish and turned into the straight with One Man challenging on the outside. The grey soon weakened and dropped away as Imperial Call stayed on strongly to win by four lengths from the future [[Grand National]] winner [[Rough Quest]]. Couldn't Be Better was nineteen lengths further back in third, whilst One Man finish a tired sixth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/1996-03-14/200088 |publisher=Racing Post |title=1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> The win was the first for an Irish horse since [[Dawn Run]] in 1986 and provoked scenes of wild celebration, with the crowd waving flags and singing the Cork anthem ''[[The Banks Of My Own Lovely Lee]]''.<ref name="independent2">{{cite news|last=Dugan |first=Emily |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/imperial-call-sweeps-to-victory-1342183.html |title=Imperial Call sweeps to victory |work=The Independent |date=1996-03-15 |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> O'Dwyer waved an [[Irish Tricolour]] as he rode the horse to the winner's enclosure where he was tossed into the air by wellwishers. When asked for his comments, Sutherland at first struggled for words but then said: "He put them in their place didn't he. I've thought this horse could win a Gold Cup since he was five and he has improved every day this year."<ref name="independent2"/>

The 1996/1997 season proved a major disappointment for Imperial Call's supporters. On his seasonal debut, he fell at the last fence of the Punchestown Chase in December, although he was not hurt and was remounted to finish a remote fourth to Royal Mountbrowne.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dugan |first=Emily |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-imperial-call-is-fall-guy-1313594.html |title=Imperial Call is fall guy |work=The Independent |date=1996-12-08 |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> In February, he was beaten more than twenty lengths when third to [[Danoli]] in the Hennessy Gold Cup. He was made 4/1 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after reportedly delighting Sutherland in a training gallop at [[Tralee]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Dugan |first=Emily |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-confidence-restored-as-imperial-call-impresses-1271173.html |title=Confidence restored as Imperial Call impresses |work=The Independent |date=1997-03-05 |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> He was never in contention, made a bad mistake at the eighteenth fence, and was tailed off when O'Dwyer pulled him up before the next obstacle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/1997-03-13/233343 |publisher=Racing Post |title=1997 Cheltenham Gold Cup |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref>

===1997–1999: later career=== The early part of the 1997/1998 season saw improved form from Imperial Call. After finishing second in his first two races, he easily defeated [[Merry Gale]] in the [[Lexus Chase|Ericsson Chase]] at Leopardstown in December to record his first win in 21 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/187/leopardstown/1997-12-28/247346 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Ericsson Chase |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> According to ''[[The Independent]]'', the gelding jumped impeccably and was strongly fancied for a repeat win at Cheltenham in March.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dugan |first=Emily |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-imperial-call-back-on-gold-cup-double-trail-1290984.html |title=Imperial Call back on Gold Cup double trail |work=The Independent |date=1997-12-29 |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> His season ended in February, however, when he was virtually pulled up and finished lame behind Dorans Pride in the Hennessy Gold Cup.

Fergus Sutherland retired in 1998, and the training of Imperial Call was taken over by the twenty-three-year-old Raymond Hurley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hurley+is+hoping+to+Call+the+shots.-a060658138 |title=Hurley is hoping to Call the shots. |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, it was reported that Imperial Call would be auctioned at Doncaster in July,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Imperial+Call+put+on+the+market%3B+Gold+Cup+hero+for+Doncaster+sales.-a060722744 |title=Imperial Call put on the market; Gold Cup hero for Doncaster sales |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> but he was subsequently withdrawn from the sale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/sales/results/individual_home.sd?tab=&st=8&l=&i=1&ob=ln&od=ASC&page=1&fv=131072&df=1998-06-29&dt=1998-06-29&venue_id=1&hn=Imperial+Call&s=&a=&sin=&dn=&sdn=&vn=&b=&mip=&map=&lm=#individualResultsTabs=catalogue_1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026195418/http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/sales/results/individual_home.sd?tab=&st=8&l=&i=1&ob=ln&od=ASC&page=1&fv=131072&df=1998-06-29&dt=1998-06-29&venue_id=1&hn=Imperial+Call&s=&a=&sin=&dn=&sdn=&vn=&b=&mip=&map=&lm=#individualResultsTabs=catalogue_1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-10-26 |work=[[Racing Post]] |title=Doncaster bloodstock sale 1998 |date=2012-07-13 |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref>

On 18 October Imperial Call returned in the Munster National Handicap Chase. He carried top weight of 168 pounds and won easily despite conceding at least twenty-six pounds to his opponents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/188/limerick/1998-10-18/258222 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Munster National |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> He was beaten when odds-on favourite for the Cork Grand National, but then defeated the leading racemare Opera Hat (winner of the [[Melling Chase]]) at Naas, winning by fifteen lengths. In December, he won the Punchestown Chase at his third attempt, leading from the start and jumping "quickly and accurately" to beat Dorans Pride for the first time in four meetings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/imperial-delight-for-fans-423288.html |title=Imperial delight for fans |work=Irish Independent |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> At the end of the year, he was sent to England to contest the [[King George VI Chase]] at [[Kempton Park Racecourse|Kempton Park]], but after disputing the lead for much of the way he tired badly in the closing stages and finished a distant third of four finishers behind Teeton Mill and Escartefigue. Imperial Call missed the Cheltenham Festival but returned in April for the inaugural running of the [[Punchestown Gold Cup]]. Ridden by [[Ruby Walsh]], he started at odds of 8/1 in a five horse field against [[Florida Pearl]], Dorans Pride, Opera Hat and Escartefigue. Imperial Call led from the start and recorded his biggest win in three years as he finished fourteen lengths clear of Florida Pearl.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/195/punchestown/1999-04-28/266617 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Punchestown Gold Cup |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> The ''[[Irish Independent]]'' described Imperial Call's victory as a "majestic display".<ref name="independent3"/> whilst the ''[[Racing Post]]'' reported that the winner was given a rapturous reception form the large crowd after one of the best ever performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Imperial+Call+lords+it+over+the+big+two.-a060188251 |title=Imperial Call lords it over the big two. |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref>

On his first start of the 1999/2000 season, Imperial Call started favourite for the Powers Gold Label Champion Chase at Gowran Park in October. He was never travelling well and finished the race lame in his right foreleg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/ferbert-junior-calls-the-shots-393764.html |title=Ferbert Junior calls the shots |work=Irish Independent |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> He remained in training until 2001<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/winners-pay-heavy-price-for-success-360404.html |title=Winners pay heavy price for success |work=Irish Independent |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref> but never recovered fitness and did not race again.

==Retirement== Imperial Call spent his retirement in West Cork and was reportedly still living there in 2009.<ref name="independent4"/> He died at the age of twenty-five in late November 2014.

==Assessment and honours== In their book ''A Century of Champions'', based on the [[Timeform]] rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Imperial Call a "superior" Gold Cup winner and the twenty-fourth best steeplechaser of the 20th century.<ref name="Guinness">{{cite book | last1 = Morris | first1 = Tony |last2=Randall|first2=John|title=Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions|edition=Third| publisher=Guinness Publishing | year = 1990| isbn = 0-85112-902-1}}</ref>

On the horse's death in 2014, O'Dwyer said "His strengths were he had no weakness. He jumped, travelled, had speed and had guts to burn. He was very straightforward mentally and you could make the running or hold him up. There was no hole in him, only he might not have been the most sound and Fergie did a great job with him".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/1996-gold-cup-winner-imperial-call-dies-aged-25/1782430/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204150140/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/1996-gold-cup-winner-imperial-call-dies-aged-25/1782430/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2014|work=[[Racing Post]]|title=1996 Gold Cup winner Imperial Call dies aged 25|date=29 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>

The [[Imperial Call Chase]] is run at [[Cork Racecourse]] in honour of the local champion.

==Pedigree== {{Pedigree |name = Imperial Call (IRE), brown gelding, 1989<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=2422525&registry=T&horse_name==Imperial%20Call&dam_name==Princess%20Menelek%20(IRE)&foaling_year=1989&nicking_stats_indicator=Y |title=Imperial Call pedigree |website=Equineline|date=2012-05-08 |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> |inf = |f = Callernish (IRE) 1977 |m = Princess Menelek (GB) 1977 |ff = Lord Gayle 1965 |fm = Azurine 1957 |mf = Menelek 1957 |mm = Arctic Sue 1967 |fff = [[Sir Gaylord]] |ffm = Sticky Case |fmf = [[Chamossaire (horse)|Chamossaire]] |fmm = Blue Dun |mff = [[Tulyar]] |mfm = Queen of Sheba |mmf = Arctic Slave |mmm = Corrangloss |ffff = [[Turn-To]] |fffm = [[Somethingroyal]] |ffmf = [[Court Martial (horse)|Court Martial]] |ffmm = Run Honey |fmff = [[Precipitation (horse)|Precipitation]] |fmfm = Snowberry |fmmf = Blue Train |fmmm = Dunure |mfff = Tehran |mffm = Neocracy |mfmf = Persian Gulf |mfmm = Ojala |mmff = Arctic Star |mmfm = Roman Galley |mmmf = Iceberg |mmmm = Friend Galee (non-thoroughbred) }}

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category:1989 racehorse births]] [[Category:2014 racehorse deaths]] [[Category:Racehorses bred in Ireland]] [[Category:Racehorses trained in Ireland]] [[Category:Cheltenham Festival winners]] [[Category:National Hunt racehorses]] [[Category:Cheltenham Gold Cup winners]]