Hall Of Fame - Such Great Heights

Original article written by Danny Warren posted 12 years 2 weeks ago

In recent times there have been many players who have announced their need for a break from SIM life for a while.
Some go and return refreshed, some players sadly just leave for various reasons.
The story of Such Great Heights is also the story of a SIMTrainer, one who was forced to leave due to real life tragedies and who has been terribly missed by the SIMCommunity.

Mallory Claire was the breeder and owner of the great mare, but over a period of time had been mostly known as one of the great sprinting breeders of all time, with Steward’s Cup Winners, Embrace, Villain, Shetalkstoangels and Happy Ending amongst her top quality horses. Mallory was involved in the SIM from 2001, but after a series of horrible real life events, seemingly vanished off the face of the known world in 2010 and to the sadness of everyone who was within The SIM, has not been able to return. Her operation was one of the very most highest regarded and it speaks volumes of her contribution here that she is one of just 26 trainers currently in the Hall Of Fame. One day hopefully she will return, but if that day never ever comes, we can still at least recall her memory through the deeds of her horses who like her have left an invaluable mark in an ever evolving SIMWorld.

Such Great Heights was named with lofty ambitions, but with her parentage and trainer, the great heights of her name was hoped to be quite attainable.
Her Dam was Worth Every Moment, a strikingly good looking bay by Fighting With Wit, who had been guided expertly to win seven races and earn just under a million dollars. At the time of foaling Such Great Heights, Worth Every Moment had already made a name for herself as the Dam of the great Fighter Jet, who would go on to become an outstanding Sire of horses of the calibre of East, Desert Nomad, Crime Fighter, Saharan Ace, Promise Not To Cry and Clearly Best, the dam of superstars Amber and Imperious.
Worth Every Moment, at the time also had Rock and Roll in early education and would eventually cement her place as a blue hen, foaling Gr.1 Arcadia Millions winner Dogfight and newish stallion Avalon Bay. She is also the Grand Dam of another horse who has forged his name into the imagination recently, the brilliant Gr.1 Long Island Classic winner Messiah.
If having all that wasn’t impressive enough amongst your pedigree, her Sire was a name that every SIMster knows, Loki Dynasty.
Loki Dynasty was quite simply put, one of the very best of all the great horses ever seen. The winner of twelve of his 13 races, including the Gr.1 Louisville Derby, his only defeat came at his final start, when in an encounter still spoken of in stunned reverence, he and fellow undefeated star Atlas fought each other in a breathtaking display in the Gr.1 Steward’s Cup Classic, with horses of the quality of Saga and Chinese Bandit chasing them home.
If at all possible, his record at stud has been ever greater, with an 87% winners to runners and average earnings of $191,000 with 113 stakes winners. His foals are some of the biggest names around in Awake As I Am, High Flyer, Notorious, Asleep As I Am, West, Boise, Babe Ruth and Ramses II.

The aggressive, muscular young filly always let everyone know who was the new boss of her pasture and she enjoyed nothing more than chasing off any of her fellow fillies who had designs on her feed bin and delivering a well placed nip on the withers of any who dared challenge her authority. With Mallory though, butter wouldn’t have melted in her mouth, her demeanour changing into a teddy bear, wanting cuddles and all the attention her owner was willing to give her.
The early days of her training showed that Such Great Heights was just as aggressive on the track, running herself into the ground as she tried to prove that she was faster than her stablemates. A shadow roll kept her mind on what her jockey was asking of her and a lasix shot also helped her in finishing off her work. Suddenly Such Great Heights showed that her ability matched her persona and Mallory beamed with the smile that only high expectations can bring.

Such Great Heights turned two and Mallory was at peace with the world when a pained almighty whinny shattered the everyday sounds of the mornings training regime. Mallory’s jockey Ben Kelly walked back into view, with a clearly sore, limping filly stumbling behind him. The vet was called immediately and she had the news that Such Great Heights had fallen victim to the bane of many young racehorses. She had bucked shins, that frustrating and painful malady which equates roughly to repetitive strain injury in humans, leaving micro fractures in the cannon bone as the young leg struggles with the rigours of training as the bone has not formed fully yet. There was nothing for it, the filly needed significant rest and treatment. Mallory had to weigh up whether to fire Such Great Heights’ legs or go with the cold water hosing, ice and anti-inflammatory drugs and decided that the latter methods would be a lot less upsetting for the horse. Such Great heights improved well enough after awhile and seeing no signs of any recurrence, Mallory entered her for a late season maiden race in Florida over a mile.

Such Great Heights sat midfield amongst the eleven runners and looked squeezed up along the rail as they turned for home. Neverending Story whipped past Cowboy Junkie II and was being hailed the winner, but Such Great Heights bulldozed her way through to get a clear run and then angled around Cowboy Junkie II. With nothing but air in front of her, Such Great Heights accelerated and rushed past Neverending Story for a comfortable win. Now a maiden winner doesn’t always gain a lot of attention, but when Such Great Heights returned, she took the eye of reporters when she stood flat footed and refused to enter the winners enclosure until she had had her fill of applause. It was a quirky trait that would soon win the hearts of what would become a legion of fans.

Given some time off to protect her forelegs, Such Great Heights gained height to go with her bulk and appeared as an Amazon on her return to work. Mallory was thrilled with her appearance and entered her in the listed Suncoast Stakes, again over the mile. Such Great Heights was fast from the gates, but was checked back along the fence as the leaders crossed her from out wider. She somehow managed to get hemmed in, despite the small field, but it was no contest once she had room to lengthen her stride. Such Great Heights cruised away from dual winner Battle Saga for her second win and this time she didn’t have to wait as long to wait her filly, the crowd applauding heartily as she trotted back.

Mallory began to suspect that Such Great Heights was a pretty smart racehorse and with her propensity to run on hard, entered her in the Gr.2 New Orleans Oaks over 1 1/16 miles. Here she was to meet the improving Frown and the talented A Source Of Light, but on arrival on course, something bothered Mallory about how Such Great Heights was behaving. Cautiously, Mallory made her way to a good spot to watch the race from and was relieved as Such Great Heights got away well. She was a lot less happy soon after though as the filly lagged about and dropped back sharply. Just hoping she was ok, Mallory watched on as Ben Kelly did all he could to get her mind back on racing, and Such Great Heights steadily improved. As the two leaders began to weaken, Frown surged into the lead with A Source Of Light and Such Great Heights coming strongly. As the Louisiana crowd rose for the run home, Mallory stood in awe as Such Great Heights stormed away to win by nearly two lengths from A Source Of Light.

Impressed with the dramatic victory, but concerned with the lagging, Mallory deliberately avoided the Gr.1 Louisville Oaks, waiting for the Gr.1 Baltimore Oaks and that decision proved to be a wise one when Such Great Heights easily handled the opposition to win by nearly four lengths to tumultuous applause.

Such Great Heights then travelled to Canada to face four rivals in the Gr.1 Toronto Oaks which was billed as a likely match race between her and Gr.3 Metropolitan Oaks winner Sparkle N Shine. Sparkle N Shine used her pace to try and lead all the way and swinging into the straight had established a big lead. The other three had no more fight left, but Such Great Heights, recovering after an early bump, scorched down the track along the rail to cruise past Sparkle N Shine and bolt away for an emphatic six length win.

Four weeks later, Such Great Heights went to Kentucky to finish her three year old season to take on the mares in the Gr.1 Falls City Handicap Stakes. Mallory was a bit worried about Kissable, Saudade and last year’s Gr.2 Arcadia Oaks winner Santa Anita but was content with how the race was panning out until the turn when Saudada hung outwards badly and crashed into Such Great Heights. Ben Kelly was able to steady her and with a ferocious burst of speed, Such Great Heights went out after Santa Anita who had avoided the trouble and had a two length break. Such Great Heights tore up the ground and surged past Santa Anita near the post, her pace such that the final margin was a length and a half.

Such Great Heights had now won all six of her races and Mallory considered retiring her, but at a media conference at the end of year SIMMY awards ceremony, she was asked by one reporter if it had been an insult that her filly didn’t win one. After brushing off the question, Mallory seethed inwardly that despite the fact that her filly had one all that had been asked of her, some people didn’t think that highly of her.
Mallory, just as determined as Such Great Heights, decided to prove to the world what Such Great Heights could do.

First up in Arizona for the Gr.1 Orange Blossom Handicap, Such Great heights was again faced with a small field, including Saudade. At the turn Saudade again veered towards the outside of the track, but there was no Such Great Heights to crash into this time as she was already gone. Jockey Ben Kelly had an armchair ride and never flinched a muscle as Such Great Heights cantered over the line the easiest of winners.

Back in Kentucky for the Gr.2 Flowers and Bows Stakes, just three others dared to challenge the great unbeaten champion. To the surprise of many, Such Great Heights was the fastest away and at the turn it was merely a question of how far she would win by. Expecting to be chasing, Such Great Heights felt that her job was done and lost concentration and in one almighty shock Superior Ran past her before she had time to react. A hushed silence fell over the crowd who had expected to show up, watch Such Great Heights win and then celebrate into the night. The only people making any noise were the bookmakers, even Superior’s owner Alysse Peverell was shocked beyond the ability to speak.

With Ben Kelly taking the blame for her shock loss, Such Great Heights went north to New York for the Gr.1 Faith Unwavering Stakes. There was another small field to contend with, but what a field !
Superior was back hoping to show that her win wasn’t a fluke, Lore, who’s reputation was still to made later in the breeding barn, Gr.1 Louisville Oaks winner, Chequered Past and triple Gr.1 winner Sensation.
Lore led from Sensation, with Such Great Heights and Superior with Chequered Past at the tail, but really it was such a tight bunch throughout and with the New Yorker’s screaming voices shaking the ground, all five horse turned into the straight across the track. Anyone could win as the mares strained every sinew for the prize, the crowd barely drew breath as not one of the flying female’s dropped off, the post was reached with all five hitting it at once with everyone on course unsure whether they were holding a winning betting slip or if their hope had just run last.
The photo would eventually be mass produced and sold across the world as a poster for children’s walls, but for now the only interest was in the result.
The shriek of joy came from Jolene Danner as Lore’s number went into the frame as winner by a nose to Such Great Heights, who was a neck in front of Sensation who in turn was a head clear of Chequered Past with another nose to Superior.

Mallory had begun to wonder if she had done the right thing in keeping Such Great Heights in work for another season but with not long to go until years end and having gone down by a nose in a race which is an integral part of any great races video, Mallory decided to try something a little different and entered her frustrated filly in the Gr.1 Rags To Riches Stakes over 1 ¼ miles in Delaware.
Old rivals Lore, Superior and A Source Of Light were amongst the entries but this time the smile would return to Mallory’s eyes as Such Great Heights settled beautifully just behind the leaders, before exploding in the straight to take the lead and then ease over the line with nearly two lengths to spare to End Of The Stars.

Mallory wanted to send Such Great Heights out with a bang and entered both her and fellow four year old Skittish in the Gr.1 Steward’s Cup Distaff against Lore, End Of The Stars, Sensation and Chequered Past along with eight others all hoping to add their names to the list of Steward’s Cup Winners. In a race in which Mallory Claire would always have her fondest memories, Skittish kicked clear midway down the straight, with Such Great Heights charging late, the only danger. With her eyes darting from Skittish to the flying Such Great Heights, Mallory’s heart rate launched into unprecedented levels as with every stride Skittish seemed sure to get to the post first as just as surely, Such Great Heights would catch her. Almost as if sensing that this would be her final chance, Such Great Heights threw herself into the last half furlong, and to the roar of a crowd desperate to see her win, Such Great Heights dove for the line, reaching it a quarter of a length in front of her stablemate.
Garden State Racetrack had rarely seen scenes of pure emotion quite like it was that day.
The quirky little familiar trait of Such Great Heights was on full show, with the filly waiting for the applause and adoration to subside after five full minutes before nodding her head twice and walking into the winners circle and straight in for a congratulatory hug from Mallory Claire.
After reaffirming that this was Such Great Height’s final race to a sea of tear streaked faces peering in at her champion, Mallory, Such Great Heights and the far from shamed Skittish made their way back home.

Such Great Heights had retired as the winner of $2,022,000 after winning nine of her eleven races, with two second placings, six of those wins at Gr.1 level. Her Steward’s Cup Distaff victory ensuring that she would win the SIMMY as North American Champion Older Female.

The great mare is still wandering Trial By Summer Stables, now owned by The Steward after Mallory’s exit.
At stud, she has had twelve foals with two who particularly stand out. Yes, who won on both dirt and synthetic tracks, winning over 1 ¼ million dollars and just starting to have his own foals hit the racetrack and one of the true greats and surely a future Hall Of Famer himself in Triple Crown Winner Maelstrom who also finished his racetrack career with a famous Gr.1 Steward’s Cup Classic win and who commands $100,000 at stud at the moment.
Such Great Heights’ three year old filly, Crystal Quest ran second in the Gr.1 Louisville Oaks this year and she still has two year old Toujours Pur, who was purchased for $15,003,000 and yearling full brother to Maelstrom, Mirror Images in training with owners hoping that they have an inkling of their parents talent.
Such Great Heights has also just had a Magician colt, named Thoughts Like This who will be eagerly awaited and bidded on when the time comes.

Such Great Heights also won the SIMMY award for Broodmare of the Year after the exploits of Maelstrom and her name will be remembered for many years to come as a name you want to see in the pedigree of any racehorse, but for now she is content in her paddock watching on as her little gray colt frolics and dances around her.
But you can tell that she still recalls her days in the spotlight and every now and then she will stroll to the fenceline and peer out, giving a short sharp whinny, as if she was calling for Mallory to come once again for a snuggle and so she can show her her new baby.

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