The 19-year-old Aintree favourite and 2016 winner of RoR Horse of the Year, Monet’s Garden, heads the line-up for the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Parade at the Randox Health Grand National Festival.
The parade also features fellow Grade One winners Denman, Cinders And Ashes and Peddlers Cross, as well as the popular and now reformed character, Mad Moose.
The RoR Parade, generously sponsored by the Peter O’Sullevan Trust, has a new slot this year, taking place before racing on the second day of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, Ladies Day, Friday, April 7 at around 12.40pm in the parade ring.
The diverse 10-horse line-up includes four Grade One winners and several Aintree regulars. Each of the 10 horses has found a fulfilling second career after retiring from racing, whether it be showing, dressage, showjumping, eventing, hunting or team chasing.
The winner of five races at Aintree, Monet’s Garden has excelled in his second career in the show-ring. Ridden by Joey Richards, daughter of his former trainer Nicky, the pair have enjoyed great success, including victory at the RoR National Championship Show at Aintree last year when they were crowned RoR Ridden Veteran Champion.
The grey horse was subsequently awarded the prestigious title of RoR Horse of The Year at the 2016 RoR Awards in December. Following their successes last year, Joey has since given birth to a daughter, Lily, and the Aintree parade will be her first first public appearance on Monet’s Garden this year.
Joey Richards said of Monet’s Garden: “He’s 19 now but you’d think he was a five-year-old, he’s never changed, he’s never aged. He’s always been a real showman, even throughout his racing career, and that’s why I thought showing would suit him.
“I was five months pregnant when we won the class at Aintree and so he was carrying two passengers that day. He’s amazing, the horse of a lifetime. He would have done any job, he’s very talented and he’s got that enthusiasm to want to be the best in whatever he does.”
Another horse in the parade who built up a following during his racing career was Mad Moose, albeit for rather different reasons.
The talented former Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding became renowned for refusing to start. However, as yet, there have been no such problems in his second career and the 13-year-old was the epitome of obedience for rider Sophie Burkin when the pair won a dressage class on their first outing this year.
The other former RoR Horse of the Year in the line-up is Jo Mason’s Liverpool, who won the award in 2015 on account of his sheer versatility and the role he played in helping Jo recover from a serious injury.
Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of RoR, said: “Both Monet’s Garden and Liverpool have been such fantastic ambassadors for the charity by promoting the versatility of the racehorse, so it’s great to have two winners of the RoR Horse of the Year title in the parade.
“Aintree and the team are wonderful supporters of RoR. Not only do they do a great job staging the RoR Parade, but they also host the RoR National Championship Show in August in the Equestrian Centre, an event which is growing each year.
“We would also like to thank the Peter O’Sullevan Trust for their most generous sponsorship of the parades. Sir Peter’s voice will forever be associated with the Grand National so it is great to maintain his connection with Aintree and he was a fervent supporter of horse welfare and would have enjoyed seeing these horses parade.”
The parade is due to take place at 12.40pm, on Friday, April 7. Details of the 10 horses participating, together with their riders and their current activities, are listed below.
2017 RoR Aintree Parade, sponsored by the Peter O’Sullevan Trust:
1. CINDERS AND ASHES (Dressage and Showing) – Ridden by Charlotte Bunting
10-year-old by Beat Hollow, formerly trained by Donald McCain
The winner of the 2012 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, Cinders And Ashes retired from racing in 2015. He has since enjoyed success showing and is working his way towards doing some unaffiliated dressage competitions with a view to eventually graduating to British Dressage.
2. DENMAN (Team Chasing and Hunting) – Led by Charlotte Alexander
17-year-old by Presenting, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls
The winner of the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Denman retired from racing in 2011 after a career that saw him win 14 of his 24 races. Since moving to Charlotte Alexander’s yard, he has enjoyed hunting regularly and going team-chasing. He will shortly be going into full retirement at his owner Paul Barber’s farm.
3. JUNIOR (Dressage and Hunting) – Ridden by Abi Frith
14-year-old by Singspiel, formerly trained by David Pipe
A winner at both Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival, Junior ran in the 2012 Grand National. Since his retirement Junior has done dressage and some eventing. His rider Abi Frith is now working for the Holderness Hunt and so Junior will be making his debut on the hunting field next season.
4. LIVERPOOL (Showing and Hunting) – Ridden by Jo Mason
15-year-old by Platini, formerly trained by Mick Easterby
Liverpool ran under rules and in point-to-points, winning twice. A regular in the hunting field, in the summer Liverpool turns his hoof to showing and his rider Jo Mason rates his greatest achievement as being a finalist at the Horse Of The Year show. In 2015 Liverpool won the prestigious RoR Horse of the Year award.
5. MAD MOOSE (Dressage) – Ridden by Sophie Burkin
13-year-old by Presenting, formerly trained by Nigel Twiston-Davis
A talented racehorse, Mad Moose acquired notoriety on account of his refusing to start and he was retired from racing in December, 2014. Under the care of Sophie Burkin, he has adapted really well and enjoys going hunting regularly. Mad Moose has also taken up dressage, landing his first win this spring.
6. MIDNIGHT CHASE (Hunting and Eventing) – ridden by Sally Hayward
15 year-old by Midnight Legend, formerly trained by Neil Mulholland
A five-time winner at Cheltenham, Midnight Chase retired in 2013 and has since gone on to excel in a range of activities. Under Sally Hayward, he is a Field Master’s horse for the Cheshire Forest. In the show-ring, he qualified for the Horse Of The Year Show and he has also completed several British Eventing affiliated events.
7. MONET’S GARDEN (Showing) – Ridden by Joey Richards
19-year-old by Roselier, formerly trained by Nicky Richards
An Aintree favourite, Monet’s Garden won the Old Roan Chase three times. In 2010, Monet’s Garden overcame a life threatening illness and was nursed back to health by Joey Richards. Since then the pair have had great success in the show ring, including victory at Aintree last year when crowned RoR Ridden Veteran Champion. He was also awarded 2016 RoR Horse of The Year.
8. OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (Team Chasing) – Pandora Bailey
17-year-old by Oscar, formerly trained by Tracey Bailey.
A regular at Aintree, where his performances included a third in the 2011 Foxhunters Chase. Since retirement he has struck up a fantastic partnership with Pandora Bailey, daughter of trainer Tracey, going team chasing and hunting. Recent winners of the Isle of Wight Grand National, the pair will continue team chasing this year as part of a RoR team.
9. PEDDLERS CROSS (Showjumping) – Ridden by Brian Storey
12-year-old by Oscar, formerly trained by Donald McCain
The winner of the 2010 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and of a Grade Two race the same year at the Grand National Festival, Peddlers Cross retired from racing in 2013. He is now based with Brian and Jackie Storey and his kind nature has helped him to adapt to a range of activities, including showjumping, arena eventing and hunter trials.
10. TRANQUIL SEA (Eventing) – Ridden by Clemmie Shipp
15-year-old by Sea Raven, formerly trained by Warren Greatrex
Tranquil Sea retired in 2015 following his seventh in the Grand National. He started his eventing career at the end of last season and has taken to it really well. He has spent the winter doing British Showjumping and his rider Clemmie Shipp’s ambition is to step up the eventing and try to qualify for a CCI* International three-day event.