Owner of Serenade Rose was 79, bloodstock agent Adrian Nicoll pays tribute

Lord Vestey, a familiar figure in global racing, has died at the age of 79. 

Vestey was best known as the chairman of Cheltenham racecourse, he was also took keen interest in racing across the world and raced horses in Australia, headed by star filly Serenade Rose (Stravinsky), whose three Group 1 wins came in the 2005 VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m), 2006 Arrowfield Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and 2006 Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m). 

Serenade Rose was purchased by BBA Ireland’s Adrian Nicholl for a syndicate, which included Vestey, for $400,000 at the 2004 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and Nicoll paid tribute to Vestey following the announcement of his death on Thursday. 

“It is a big shock,” Nicoll told Racing & Sports Bloodstock. “We had great fun in Australia and I should think I bought horses with Sam for over 30 years ago. 

“We started in the early 90s buying two or three fillies every year and then in 2005 we obviously had an absolute champion in Serenade Rose. She won the two Oaks’ and the Arrowfield, which is a feat that hasn’t been completed since. 

“I stayed with him every year for the Cheltenham Festival for the last 15 years - He was a great friend too and I will miss him a lot.”

Vestey also owned the likes of 2009 Tasmanian Oaks (Listed, 2100m) winner Marchelle Belle (Anabaa) and had not raced a horse in Australia for a few years, but Nicoll said he was one of the first people to sign up to a filly’s syndicate he put together in 2020. 

“He actually hadn’t had a few horses in Australia for a few years, but I put a syndicate of fillies together at the Magic Millions last year and he was the first man in,” said Nicoll. “I was only thinking the other day which one he would like to have in his colours. It’s just very sad. 

“He was very enthusiastic about the whole thing and when Serenade Rose won the Oaks in Sydney he was there and absolutely loved it. He was also a tremendous character and his enthusiasm for racing and everything was infectious, we will miss him tremendously.”