Oats (horse)

In 1975, Walwyn made no secret of the high regard in which he regarded Oats, describing him as "a real beauty". When the colt made his racecourse debut in September, he started favourite for a maiden race over six furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse but finished seventh behind the Clive Brittain-trained filly Petalca. On his only other appearance of 1975, Oats started the 9/4 favourite for the second division of the Westley Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse in October. He was among the leaders from the start and drew away in the closing stages to win by five lengths from the Henry Cecil-trained filly Helcia.[3]

Oats began his three-year-old season by finishing second to the Irish-trained Malinowski in the Craven Stakes over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket in April. Two weeks later in the Group Three Blue Riband Trial Stakes over eight and a half furlongs at Epsom Downs Racecourse he took the lead two furlongs from the finish and won from Navigator and All Hope. On 2 June, Oats started at odds of 10/1 for the 197th running of The Derby. Ridden by Pat Eddery, he was in sixth place on the final turn and made steady progress in the straight without ever looking likely to win and finished third, beaten three lengths and a head by Empery and Relkino.[4]

After an eight-week absence, Oats returned in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in late July. Ridden again by Eddery, he was under pressure throughout the closing stages, and although he made progress in the straight he narrowly failed to catch the Dick Hern-trained Smuggler. In August, the colt was matched against older horses in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes over thirteen and a half furlongs at Newbury Racecourse. He finished second, beaten a head by the five-year-old gelding Swell Fellow after a prolonged struggle over the final quarter mile. In the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse in September, Oats started the 6/1 co-favourite, alongside Crow and General Ironside. He finished fourth of the fifteen runners behind Crow, Secret Man and Scallywag.[4]

On his first appearance as a four-year-old, Oats won by ten lengths[5] from weak opposition over ten furlongs at Doncaster and then started at odds of 11/4[6] for the Jockey Club Stakes over one and a half miles at Newmarket. His opponents for his second race included Smuggler, Swell Fellow, Malinowski and Grey Baron. Oats tracked the leaders before going to the front three furlongs from the finish and maintained a narrow advantage to win from Smuggler. In the Ormonde Stakes over thirteen furlongs at Chester Racecourse in May Oats started the 7/4 favourite.[6] Eddery adopted new tactics, sending the colt into the lead from the start. and Oats won by three lengths from Decent Fellow, with Gunner B in third place. Undefeated in three races in 1977, Oats was regarded as potentially the best older horse in Britain over middle distances, but sustained a serious leg injury when being prepared for the Coronation Cup and did not race again.[1]