Adolphe Rossio
Adolphe Rossio
Adolphe Rossio
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
German jump jockey Adolphe Rossio only had a few mounts in Britain but managed to ride three winners, including the 1957 Scottish Grand National.
German jump jockey Adolphe Rossio only had a few mounts in Britain but managed to ride three winners, including the 1957 Scottish Grand National.
His greatest triumph was achieved on his first British ride, at Bogside on April 27, 1957, when Bremontier, trained by Pat Taylor, beat 12 rivals to land Scotland’s most important steeplechase. The ten-year-old was usually partnered by either Peter Major or Jimmy FitzGerald, but Adolphe seized his opportunity, and Bremontier led from the seventh fence to beat Merry Windsor, the mount of Gordon W. Richards, by six lengths.
His greatest triumph was achieved on his first British ride, at Bogside on April 27, 1957, when Bremontier, trained by Pat Taylor, beat 12 rivals to land Scotland’s most important steeplechase. The ten-year-old was usually partnered by either Peter Major or Jimmy FitzGerald, but Adolphe seized his opportunity, and Bremontier led from the seventh fence to beat Merry Windsor, the mount of Gordon W. Richards, by six lengths.
It was on another of Pat Taylor’s horses that he recorded his second win, when Gold Flight made all to win the Caprington Hurdle for three-year-olds at Ayr on October 12, 1957, by two lengths.
It was on another of Pat Taylor’s horses that he recorded his second win, when Gold Flight made all to win the Caprington Hurdle for three-year-olds at Ayr on October 12, 1957, by two lengths.
Adolphe and Bremontier were reunited in the next race on that Ayr card, the Culzean Handicap Chase, and finished third, one place behind that great mare Kerstin, but at Catterick Bridge on November 2, they resumed winning ways when landing the Danby Handicap Chase, although they may have been slightly fortunate as their three closest rivals crashed out at the third last fence.
Adolphe and Bremontier were reunited in the next race on that Ayr card, the Culzean Handicap Chase, and finished third, one place behind that great mare Kerstin, but at Catterick Bridge on November 2, they resumed winning ways when landing the Danby Handicap Chase, although they may have been slightly fortunate as their three closest rivals crashed out at the third last fence.
That was Adolphe’s last win in Britain but he did have rides in two big races before he departed.
That was Adolphe’s last win in Britain but he did have rides in two big races before he departed.
On November 16, 1957, he and Bremontier contested the inaugural running of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Cheltenham (the race was moved to Newbury in 1960), finishing a creditable third behind Mandarin, ridden by Gerry Madden, and Linwell, the mount of Michael Scudamore.
On November 16, 1957, he and Bremontier contested the inaugural running of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Cheltenham (the race was moved to Newbury in 1960), finishing a creditable third behind Mandarin, ridden by Gerry Madden, and Linwell, the mount of Michael Scudamore.
Then on April 18, 1959, having finished second at Leicester two weeks earlier, they were reunited in a bid for a second Scottish Grand National victory, but this time Bremontier fell at the fifth fence when lying in second place. That was Adolphe’s last ride in Britain.
Then on April 18, 1959, having finished second at Leicester two weeks earlier, they were reunited in a bid for a second Scottish Grand National victory, but this time Bremontier fell at the fifth fence when lying in second place. That was Adolphe’s last ride in Britain.
Adolphe Rossio's biggest win came on the grey Bremontier in the 1957 Scottish Grand National.
