CHELTENHAM HALL OF FAME
Arguably one of the most popular Arabic names in every home in Ireland. Its meaning is ‘pure silk’ and Istabraq in his prime was all that. His Champion Hurdles in 1998, 1999 and 2000 are now the benchmark for fans of the sport. Trained by the astute Aidan O’Brien – a horse he admits to having started his career – the Ballydoyle genius always had Istabraq primed for his annual trip to Cheltenham.
By leading sire Sadlers Wells, Istabraq was bred with the flat in mind by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
But having failed to shine in the hands of trainer John Gosden, the colt was brought to the attention of JP McManus by Gosden’s assistant, the late John Durkan.
The rest is history as they say and the sight of Charlie Swan leading him home in the March sunshine at Cheltenham is now one of the most iconic images in Irish sport.
Istabraq is one of only five horses to win three Champion Hurdles in a row and was probably denied Arkle slipped at the water jump, all but ending his chances.
Some say Arkle’s stablemate Flying Bolt was nearer Arkle’s level but they never raced against each other. Arkle retired following injury in the 1966 King his greatest accolade of winning a fourth when the Foot and Mouth crisis forced the abandonment of the Cheltenham Festival in 2001.
He made one final effort George VI Chase at Kempton. He was put down aged only 13 because of advanced arthritis.
Arkle received fan mail from all over the world during his recuperation and never missed a day without his bottle of Guinness! in 2002 but was pulled up thanks to some good judgment by Charlie Swan.
Today, Istabraq enjoys a well-earned retirement at his owner’s Martinstown Stud. Whenever the question is asked ‘who was the hardiest Champion Hurdle winner of all time?’ Hardy Eustace’s name will be high on many people’s list. Hardy earned a reputation as a stout stayer but this tag often overlooked the class he had. Hardy he certainly was, but few champion hurdle horses jumped as solidly as he did, or had the injection of speed in a finish. Hardy’s odds of 33/1 in the 2004 Champion Hurdle were way wide of the mark. Even more so when one considers he had won the Royal and SunAlliance Chase under a brilliant ride from the late Kieran Kelly in 2003 – a race that forms part of a familiar route for Champion Hurdle horses. Many felt his win over Rooster Booster in ’04 was a fluke, but the following month at Punchestown Hardy put that argument to bed when beating Rooster Booster again.
Trainer Jessica Harrington might have more pressing issues on her mind right now as Sizing John prepares for his Gold Cup challenge. But have no doubt about it, the Co Meath trainer will always have a moment’s reflection to spare for Moscow Flyer. Affectionately known by his fans as ‘ the flyer’, this 2m specialist was the best of his generation and how we would could do with seeing his like’s upsides Douvan in this year’s Champion Chase.
Moscow Flyer’s promise over 2m was evident as a novice when he won the 2002 Arkle Chase. From here he graduated to become one of the best chasers in his division winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and 2005. He also flashed his magic in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in 2003 and 2004. This was considered a golden age for high-class 2m horses with the likes of Well Chief and Azertyuiop ready and willing to pounce on the slightest mistake by
Hardy’s Champion Hurdle win in 2005 is the most memorable of recent times as he was locked in a gripping finish with Harchibald and Brave Inca. It looked as though Harchibald was cruising under Paul Carberry, but the horse had given his all and Hardy held on doggedly. In 2006 Hardy’s bid for an historic three in a row was interrupted by a blood virus. However, he still finished a commendable 3rd in that year’s Champion Hurdle. Much of Hardy Eustace’s brilliance is owed to the Moscow Flyer.
A tally of 13 Grade 1 races speaks for itself and he was retired in 2006. Famously, he made one final farewell to his fans in 2007 when he won a charity flat race at the Punchestown Festival in which Harrington’s daughter Kate steered him to victory.
There’s been plenty of late Dessie Hughes whose use of blinkers managed to extract every last ounce of the horse’s talent.
Added to this were the soft hands of jockeys’ Conor O’Dwyer and latterly Paddy Flood who rode Hardy Eustace in his last Grade 1 win in 2008. Hardy Eustace also managed to beat the best up-and-coming stars of his age, including Sizing Europe. He was retired in 2010 having won over €1.2million in prize money. Today he’s enjoying retirement at the Irish National Stud. flare in the 2m division since Moscow Flyer’s days with Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Douvan etching their names on the leader board of all-time greats. But there will only ever be one Moscow Flyer.
He enjoyed a happy retirement at the Irish National Stud where he died in 2016.