THE real Blackbeard was a terrifying pirate who plundered ships in the 1700s – but his namesake horse is only interested in dancing.
Meet Blackbeard, the Aidan O’Brien-trained superstar who can’t stop winning – or misbehaving before races.
Blackbeard was sweating up down at the start of the 6f race… but that was soon to prove the least of his worries
The stall handlers back off as Blackbeard does his thing, which includes throwing his head down to the turf
Jockey Moore knows now this is all part of the act with the horse – but it still doesn’t stop scary moments like this
Blackbeard showed off some of his already infamous moves before the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville in France last Sunday.
Poor old Ryan Moore had the thankless task of trying to control the wild two-year-old colt down at the starting stalls.
One stall handler tried to lead the horse forward but quickly had other ideas when he started prancing around.
Moore knew it was all part of the show with Blackbeard, so the top class jockey just let him do his thing.
Blackbeard ducked his nose down to the ground and dug his hooves into the turf.
Then, as the handlers scampered off, he lunged in the opposite direction of the track and jumped high into the air.
Again all Moore could do was let his boy have his customary pre-race dance before going into the gate.
The good news for backers is that the theatrics seem to make no difference to him running, as he gained his first win at the highest level comfortably from runner-up Persian Force.
But yet again the main talking point with the horse was his pre-race behaviour.
One stunned punter said it was like the horse was ‘taking the p**s’ out of the poor stall handlers.
Another commented: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse do that in 45 years of following horse racing.
“Moore sat on him as if he was waiting for a bus. Some horseman.”
One post read: “Blackbeard gives us some serious entertainment before a race.”
One observer said: “Horse was an emotional wreck and ran well below it’s best here but was still good enough. What a machine.”
Another wrote: “He’s so naughty. I love him.”
A punter who has watched the horse a few times commented: “This fella gets so excited every time, it’s part of his character.
“The way Ryan handles him, just sits, let’s him have his ritual performance, handler loads him and he wins. He’s a good horse.”
While another said: “Blackbeard is the present that keeps giving. Just love his ‘my way or the highway’ attitude.
“Give me a quirky horse with talent over a quiet horse with no talent all day long.”
It’s clear Blackbeard has some lofty targets in the future and connections clearly think a lot of him.
He’s currently priced up 4-1 to win the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 24.
While he’s a best-price 6-1 to land Dewhurst, also at Newmarket, on October 8.
