Cornrow bows out in fairytale ending
AN emotional Will Hulbert shed tears as retiring racehorse and two-time Group 1 placegetter Cornrow secured a fairytale finish to his career at the Gold Coast.
Brisbane-based trainer Hulbert, who trains in partnership with father Peter, was the only member of the team trackside on Saturday to watch Cornrow win his fifth race in what was the end of the gelding’s 52-run career.
“That was a 10 out of 10 ride from (jockey) Nathan (Day) and he got the job done for us,” Hulbert said after Cornrow began awkwardly before shifting out and flying home down the straight.
“That was his last run. We are going to retire him now. His breathing is nearly gone and he struggles to get oxygen in. It’s the right thing to do by the horse.
“We were hoping for a fairytale finish and we got it. Now we will find him a forever home.
“The owners have a property and all the girls love this horse so he would make a good hack for anyone who wants him. If I had a yard at the stable I’d keep him.”
Cornrow began his career in Melbourne with trainer Mick Price who celebrated two third-place finishes with the gelding in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and Group 1 Inglis Sires.
It was decided Cornrow wasn’t up to the grade in Melbourne and so he joined the Hulberts in Brisbane, where he became one of their most reliable runners.
“He was an ATM machine for us. He would always pick up a cheque at the races,” Hulbert said.
“He was an honest horse.” Hulbert said he rarely got emotional but couldn’t help but shed a tear at the Gold Coast. “I was getting emotional saddling him up before the race and once he won I cried,” Hulbert said. “I’m heartless and never cry but that was unreal and one of my best mates rode him.
“We decided to take him to the Gold Coast for his last because the start before he was in the same grade but at metropolitan level.
“He loomed up and the old Cornrow would have put them away but we put him back in the provincials to get that fairytale finish.”