Smooth as silk

By Stephen Dwyer

One of the first bets I can remember was having twenty pounds on Istabraq to win the Deloitte Novice Hurdle. This was at the start of 1997 and I was fourteen at the time. When I put my money down I got an unexpected dirty look from the bookie. Even now I haven’t decided whether it was my age or the price I took, which was a prohibitive 1/2. In any case he duly won, albeit narrowly. Not knowing much about betting at the time I was delighted with my free tenner. That same day, when Istabraq scrambled home by a head, it was Finnegan’s Hollow, who was at best a useful handicapper, who almost beat him. Both horses were owned by JP McManus, the latter horse would never win a race and it was only Istabraq’s third attempt at hurdles. At that point neither I, nor the racing world, appreciated what seemed another well-bred flat recruit being tried over hurdles.

In March of 1997, during my Junior Cert mocks, exams I had little interest in compared to the real tests at Cheltenham, Istabraq was to run in the RSA hurdle. He won again at 6/5, this time I my bet returned more than the last day, it couldn’t be this easy could it? By the end of his first season he would win the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown and I was starting my own Istabraq fan club in Castlecomer Community School.

Istabraq was bred to be a staying flat horse, his owner, Dubai Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum believed him to be a genuine Derby contender and had him trained by John Gosden. Istabraq won just twice in ten starts on the flat and rider Willie Carson described the horse as “a slow maturing type”. He was foaled in May 1992, by Sadler’s Wells, out of a Secretariat mare, Betty’s Secret. Secretariat or “Big Red” was a US Triple Crown winner and set records in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, records which still stand today.

Many people might know that Istabraq is the Arab word for silk. What’s also interesting is that when Istabraq was still a flat horse and favourite for the Gordon Carter Stakes in Ascot, he was beaten by Fujiyama Crest. A year later, that horse would go on under top weight to complete the “magnificent seven” for Frankie Dettori in the same race at Ascot.

Following his career on the flat, Istabraq was sold by Hamdan al Maktoum for 38,000 guineas to JP McManus. He was originally to be trained by John Durkan before sadly, illness prevented this. Aidan O’Brien was entrusted to train the gelding, and Istabraq joined just a handful of national hunt horses stationed at the flat citadel of Ballydoyle. Noticing that Istabraq ran flat-footed, one of the first actions O’Brien took was to shave off the bottom of his front hooves to improve the stride of the horse.

Following a brilliant novice season which peaked in the RSA hurdle win at Cheltenham, he sailed through the 1997/1998 season with wins in the Hatton’s Grace, The December Hurdle and a phenomenal 12 length win over Theatreworld in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Although beaten a head by an imperious ride from Tony McCoy on Pridwell next time out in the Aintree Hurdle on heavy ground, the season had heralded the arrival of a hurdling great.

Istabraq went on to claim the Aintree Hurdle on better ground a year later, just after winning his second Champion Hurdle, beating Theatreworld once more. James Bowe’s Limestone Lad did beat Istabraq on soft ground in the renewal of the Hatton’s Grace in the 1999/2000 season when Istabraq was 1/7 but this did little to dampen the spirits of the hat-trick Champion Hurdle seeking Istabraq camp.

Before attempting his third successive Champion Hurdle win, Istabraq landed the December Hurdle and the AIG Champion Hurdle, both at Leopardstown. Now an eight year old, he was sent off at odds of 8/15 favourite for the Champion Hurdle. On March 14th 2000, Istabraq became the first horse of the new millennium to claim the race, winning by four comfortable lengths.

There were rumours on the eve of the race that the horse, by now a people’s champion, had broken a blood vessel. The droves of Irish supportors wearing the green and gold colours of South Liberties GAA club in Limerick were not to be denied however and following his win, there was the immediate talk of a never-before achieved fourth champion hurdle.

Aphtae epizooticae is the medical term given to a highly contagious viral disease that is spread among cloven-footed animals. Better known as foot-and-mouth disease, the virus causes painful blisters on the mouth and feet, weight loss and fever. Although not a human health hazard, there is no effective treatment aside from quarantine and slaughter of infected animals. On the 19th of February 2001 a major outbreak occurred at a pig farm in the United Kingdom, two days later the European Union imposed a worldwide ban on all British exports of livestock, meat and animal products. The disease would spread to the Netherlands and mainland Europe, 10 million sheep and cattle were killed and it would cost Britain £8 billion. In Ireland, the St. Patrick’s Day parade, international rugby, all field sports including horse racing was put on hold. Cheltenham in 2001 was a non runner.

By the time Cheltenham of 2002 was staged, Istabraq was a ten-year-old. He had fallen in twice of his last four starts and although he did win the AIG Champion and December Hurdles, the preparation was not ideal. He was attempting to do what only Sea Pigeon and Hatton’s Grace could do and become the third winner of the race at ten. He was sent off the 2/1 favourite but was pulled up before the second hurdle, the horse he beat in the 2000 hurdle, Hors La Loi would claim the race.

Those in the grandstands who gave him a rapturous applause that day knew he would now be retired. Aidan O’Brien’s said afterwards “it was a privilege for all at Ballydoyle to have a horse like him.” The master had become the pupil.

Now 18, Istabraq is happily enjoying his days lolling in the plush grass of JP McManus’ Martinstown Stud. He is in good company, Risk of Thunder, Baracouda, Youlneverwalkalone are all there. There are pubs named after him in Cheltenham, Tipperary, Limerick and beyond. His picture graces many walls and his name will forever be spoken as a true great.

To see him dancing over hurdles, his confidence and condition was a sight to behold. There is silk in China which is five thousand years old, Istabraq was named well.

By Stephen Dwyer