Sadness at Fayonagh’s death
THERE WAS much sadness last week in racing generally, and especially around Co. Wexford, at the death of top-class mare, Fayonagh, in a training mishap at Gordon Elliott’s yard.
Fayonagh began her career with Richie Rath in Screen and won second time out in a bumper at Naas in November last year at 33/1, having lost out in her opening race in Cork the previous May.
She was ridden in her first two races by J.J. Slevin from Caim in the colours of two local couples, Wexford auctioneer Claude Howlin and his wife Niamh (nee McDonald) from Rosslare, and Claude’s sister, Suzanne, and her husband, former Wexford hurler Joe Doyle, from Rathnure.
The mare then changed hands with Mayglass jockey Jamie Codd purchasing the horse for Maura Gittins who gave her to Elliott to train. Codd’s judgement was certainly vindicated and he rode Fayonagh to three bumper wins, including a championship Grade 1 double at Cheltenham and Punchestown.
Few will forget her Cheltenham success. She lost ground at the start and seemed out of it with a dozen horses in front of her with just a furlong to go. She came with a sweeping run down the outside to claim a thrilling victory.
She had made her jumping debut with a hurdles win at Fairyhouse under Davy Russell on October 7 and she was already installed as a hot favourite for the big novice hurdle races at Cheltenham next March.
‘Fayonagh was a very special mare and extra special to me as I bought her for her owner, Mrs. Maura Gittins,’ Codd said.
‘She gave me three great days, especially when winning her two Grade 1 bumpers at Cheltenham and Punchestown. For me it was a privilege to be part of her story. She will be a big loss for the Gittins family…and for Gordon and all his staff.’
The Wexford owners also had a very emotional attachment to Fayonagh. She was named after the couples’ daughters, Faye Howlin and Oonagh Doyle.
And Claude Howlin told me that the horse had been bought partly as a tribute to his parents, both of whom had died shortly before the purchase.
They had actually gone to the sales to buy another horse but ended up with four-years-old Fayonagh.
Luck is an integral part of any involvement with horses and people learn to be fatalistic about what turns out, but this one was special.
‘Fayonagh came along at a very important time in our lives and left us with some great memories,’ Claude said.