We have never been big punters but when a horse that you love, or one of it's offspring is running it seems churlish not to back it. As if for luck - and loyalty.
Following the progeny of horses that I have loved has been a joy - and a most lucrative pastime.
We owe a lot to two special horses who have given us years of pleasure. Sadler's Wells, who is captured perfectly in our blog photo, and Ela Mana Mou who was the sire of our favourite stayer Double Trigger. Our love for Ela Mana Mou was so great that we went to Ireland just to meet him, and we followed all of his progeny, until the day when his name no longer appeared in the racecards and he had sired his last winner. He died retired to Airlie, the stud where he had stood all his life, much loved and like Sadler's Well, a great age.
Funny enough their sire line is not related in any way, but in our lives they were linked by the wonderful days they gave us.
One of those days was at the Cheltenham Festival when looking at the breeding of the runners for The Supreme Novices a Double Eclipse gelding caught the eye. Racing fans may remember that Double Eclipse was the full brother of Double Trigger, a little faster and a Bay. They had a magical moment in the Goodwood Cup when Trigger won and DE followed him home. After Trigger retired we made a pilgrimage to all of his favourite places, calling this trip 'the Double Trigger trail' and we met Double Eclipse who was having his last season with trainer Mark Johnson. He looked nothing like Trigger who was of course a flashy chestnut with a big blaze. Double Eclipse looked more like their sire, Ela Mana Mou. I was entralled and stood by his box giving him a little hero worship. For my troubles he bit me. I was not deterred, it just showed he had spirit.
He got a Royal Ascot winner at stud, Corrib Eclipse who won Brown Jack's race The Queen Alexandria Stakes for Jamie Poulton. I was certain he would have a Cheltenham Festival winner too, trumping Double Trigger who has had neither. (But I remain his biggest fan). That slightly faster may have helped Double Eclipse one up (or two up) his full brother at stud whereas on the racetrack Trigger held sway, magnificent in his staying power.
Go Native took after Ela Mana Mou and had the courage of the family. I had a large bet on him that day at Cheltenham and was moved to tears when he romped home. There is something mystical about horseracing in general, and really really magical when breeding which you love comes home for you.
Go Native should have won The Champion Hurdle, he did win The Christmas Hurdle, in great style. Sadly when he ran in The Champion he was injured and finished 10th. Who knows what might have been. He was off the track for an age and his patient owners never gave up on the horse with so much talent - and courage. Neither did we, his fans.
I missed seeing him. He stayed on my 'dare we be hopeful' list, of those life had been unfair to, who deserved better. But he was on the come back trail and after a wonderful win under Nina Carberry at the end of October it looked as if he might just make it back.
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| Picture: Stephen McCarthy |
"Native cruises back to top form
Tuesday October 30 2012
NOEL Meade's high-class hurdler Go Native (5/4 favourite) continued his recuperation with an effortless victory in the www.swordsecurity.com (Q.R.) Race at Galway. The nine-year-old can list a Supreme Novices' Hurdle, a Fighting Fifth and a Christmas Hurdle on his roll of honour but he missed over two years before returning to action at Navan earlier this month.
intact
He showed there his engine was still intact but got tired close home and finished third, however, there was never any dangers for Nina Carberry this time. Travelling wide throughout, she cruised into the lead and despite opposition of the quality of Forpadydeplasterer and Staying Article, Go Native sprinted clear to beat Cry For The Moon by six and a half lengths.
Carberry said: "Everyone was worried about him overcoming the bounce factor, but you couldn't ask for any better. "Hopefully he'll keep improving now. I wanted to look after him. That's why I had him outside. "Once I had hit the better ground coming up the hill he went quickly clear and it was like a piece of work for him."
It was not to be.
At Punchestown on Sunday he took the cruellist fall of all, at the final flight when he and Hurricane Fly were head to head in the Morgiana Hurdle.
intact
He showed there his engine was still intact but got tired close home and finished third, however, there was never any dangers for Nina Carberry this time. Travelling wide throughout, she cruised into the lead and despite opposition of the quality of Forpadydeplasterer and Staying Article, Go Native sprinted clear to beat Cry For The Moon by six and a half lengths.
Carberry said: "Everyone was worried about him overcoming the bounce factor, but you couldn't ask for any better. "Hopefully he'll keep improving now. I wanted to look after him. That's why I had him outside. "Once I had hit the better ground coming up the hill he went quickly clear and it was like a piece of work for him."
It was not to be.
At Punchestown on Sunday he took the cruellist fall of all, at the final flight when he and Hurricane Fly were head to head in the Morgiana Hurdle.
By all accounts he was fine afterwards and had begun to work again. We were devastated this morning to hear that he had to be destroyed after he had broken a hind leg on the gallops at Noel Meade's.
We never knew him, never met him, never touched him at all. But he touched us, we loved him, about that there is no doubt. Sympathy to all at the yard and to his connections the Docado Syndicate who we are told absolutely adored him.
It's a loss to all who knew him but also to his sire Double Eclipse who by all accounts, despite having both a Royal Ascot and a Cheltenham Festival winner still resides at Deelside Stud in Co Limerick, Ireland for the lowly fee of just £1,000.00. These are potent bloodlines from an old family, it is a shame they are largely ignored.
Go Native's Wiki Entry:
Ela-Mana-Mou's Wiki Entry: