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The story of Shergar inspires an award-winning film adventure
O wned by the Aga Khan, Shergar was hailed as the
greatest racehorse of all time in 1981 after it won the Derby by ten lengths, the classic’s biggest-ever winning margin. Valued at
over £20 million, Shergar - also winner of the Irish Derby - made even more sensational headlines when, less than two years on, he was abducted by a splinter group of the Provisional IRA and held to ransom in Ireland. After the British government intervened and refused to negotiate, Shergar disap- peared, never to be seen again.
These real-life events without a proper “third act” inspired British writer-director, and former cinematog- rapher, Denis Lewiston to conjure up his own version of the Shergar story – a “what if?” adventure about a young teenage runaway, Kevin, who risks his life to rescue the mighty nag from ruthless terrorist killers.
A spectator himself at that memo- rable Derby, Lewiston, a long-time racing enthusiast, said: “Having done a lot of research into Shergar’s disap- pearance, I then let my imagination take over. Shergar has entered folk- lore as a mythical figure and in the film he inspires the troubled young-
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ster who saves him to look forward to a happier future.”
Lewiston then went on a long search for production cash which eventually
came from four sources – Germany, Australia, the United States and, with the crucial 25 per cent of back-end finance, the Isle of Man Film Commission.
With the money falling into place, he pulled together a charis- matic senior cast includ- ing Ian Holm, David Warner and Mickey Rourke. But perhaps even more key was the casting of the film’s two young leads to play Kevin and Kate, a pretty teenage girl he meets on the road.
For the role of Kevin, Lewiston and his produc- ers decided early on to opt for an experienced horseman over an actor who would then have to be trained to ride. Casting directors John and Ros Hubbard scoured Ireland for someone who’d fit the bill and after seeing over 100 candi- dates, homed in on Tom Walsh, an accomplished
rider with no acting experience.
Like Tom, Laura Murphy, eventu-
ally selected to play 16-year-old Kate, had never been in front of a film camera but had
at least performed
Photos top inset: Tom Walsh; above from left: David Warner; Laura Murphy and Ian Holm; Mickey Rourke
EXPOSURE • 12 & 13