Past Stars

Life after Park House Stables

People often ask what happens to horses when they leave Park House Stables. Some are sold privately or by public auction at the Horses In Training Sales and continue to race for new connections. Many horses have gone on from here to have successful careers in the National Hunt sphere (for example Cheltenham Festival winner Flaxen Flare, Aintree Festival winner Taglietelle, and Irish Champion Hurdle winner Supasundae), whilst others excel abroad (for example Master Of Wine, a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed in Australia, and Urban Aspect, a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed in Hong Kong under his new name Ka Ying Star). Many of the fillies trained here will retire to be broodmares – either for their original owners or having been sold at the end of their racing careers, whilst a few top male horses will go on to be stallions, such as Passing Glance, Phoenix Reach, and more recently Elm Park, Donjuan Triumphant and Kameko.

Some horses will reach the end of their racing careers whilst at Park House, whether due to age, injury, level of ability or simply having fallen out of love with the game. In these cases we will work with their owners to find them a good home out of racing. Rehoming and retraining a thoroughbred racehorse is not always easy and should only be taken on with full awareness of the demands that may be involved in terms of time, effort, skill and finances, but in the right hands many ex-racehorses go on to have wonderful second careers in a whole variety of different settings and disciplines, living long and happy lives and bringing much joy to their connections.

Here we look at some of Kingsclere’s past stars who have successfully transitioned to a long and happy life outside of racing.

SIDE GLANCE

Brown gelding, 15 Mar 2007, Passing Glance / Averami (Averti)

Bred at Kingsclere stud, Side Glance was a superstar on the track, netting two Group 3 races here before winning the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes in Australia and placing in a further nine international Group 1 races. He won over £1.7m in prizemoney. On his retirement in 2015 his owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani gave him to his groom and regular rider Leanne White. She now keeps him just down the road from the yard and the pair enjoy hacking, schooling, dressage and even the occasional jump!

CHIBERTA KING

Bay gelding, 27 Feb 2006, King’s Best / Glam Rock (Nashwan)

Chiberta King was a great stayer for the yard and his owners the Pink Hat Partnership. He won the Listed Coral Marathon as a five year old and was placed in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at six, before winning the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in his seventh year. He also won over hurdles, and in his retirement with Sarah Jenkins he initially did plenty of eventing, before turning his hoof to showjumping and dressage.

DISTANT PROSPECT

Bay gelding, 24 Mar 1997, Namaqualand / Ukraine’s Affair (The Minstrel)

Distant Prospect was an excellent stayer for his owners the Rae Smiths and the Gales, winning the Cesarewitch and placing in numerous prestigious handicaps including the November Handicap, the Mallard and the Chester Cup. He also won at Listed level over hurdles. Kept on by his owners after his retirement, he went on to have a very successful second career as an eventer with Clare Chambers.

TULLIUS

Chestnut gelding, 23 Apr 2008, Le Vie Dei Colori / Whipped Queen (Kingmambo)

Tullius was the winner of eleven races during his long and successful racing career, including three Listed races, two Group 3 races, and the Group 2 Bet 365 Mile and Group 2 York Stakes. On his retirement his owners Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds arranged for him to go to the HEROS charity where he has become one of their Club horses and a flagbearer for the organisation.

HIGHLAND COLORI

Bay gelding, 1 Feb 2008, Le Vie Dei Colori / Emma’s Star (Darshaan)

Highland Colori is best known for winning the Ayr Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious handicaps in the racing calendar, as a five year old. He raced until he was nine, winning ten races and placing at Listed level. When he retired his owner Evan Sutherland gave him to Kayleigh Stephens, who had been his groom and regular rider here, and he lives a happy life in her care in Lambourn.

HAINES

Chestnut gelding, 8 May 2011, Shirocco / Spring Dream (Kalanisi)

As a racehorse, Haines was an all-weather specialist for owners Rainbow Racing, winning seven races on artificial surfaces including two at Class 2 level. He retired from racing at seven and was re-trained by Clairey Bonner. He now lives with his half-brother Ballinderry Boy, who was also a winner from Park House, and both are fun horses for Laura Collins.

ABSOLUTELY SO

Bay gelding, 14 Jan 2010, Acclamation / Week End (Selkirk)

A real favourite on the yard, Absolutely So was a seven time winner on the track, netting two Listed races and the Group 3 John O’Gaunt Stakes at Haydock. Upon his retirement at the age of eight, his owners the Smith Family arranged for him to be retrained by the HEROS Charity and from there he has found a lovely home.

INTRANSIGENT

Bay gelding, 30 Mar 2009, Trans Island / Mara River (Efisio)

Bred here at the Kingsclere Stud, Intransigent was a flagbearer for the yard and the Kingsclere Racing Club for eight seasons, winning nine races including two at Listed level and earning over £250,000 in prizemoney. Upon his retirement from racing at the grand age of ten he has remained in the yard as a hack, leading the young horses on the gallops whilst they learn the ropes.

ISPHAHAN

Bay gelding, 29 Jan 2003, Diktat / Waltzing Star (Danehill)

Isphahan was a handy sprinter-miler as a racehorse, winning five races including a Class 2 handicap at Ascot, but it is in his retirement that he has really excelled. Since 2010 he has been the regular conveyance of Andrew’s father, Ian, and also does all our stalls training, providing the youngsters with company and reassurance. Blessed with an excellent temperament, he has also featured in several advertising campaigns!

RACE AND STATUS

Bay gelding, 3 Feb 2010, Raven’s Pass / Love Excelling (Polish Precedent)

Gorgeous and talented, Race And Status was an impressive winner at Newbury on his racecourse debut, but injury called time early on a promising career. He was rehomed by our vet, Simon Knapp, and his family and went on to have a marvellous life, hunting and eventing with Simon’s son Charlie. Race And Status sadly passed away in 2020.

VANDERLIN

Chestnut gelding, 11 May 1999, Halling / Massorah (Habitat)

Owned by the Hitchins family, Vanderlin won eight races during his racing career, including the Grade 2 Play The King Handicap at Woodbine in Canada. He was also beaten a neck in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in the USA. Upon his retirement from racing he went to the British Racing School, where he provided invaluable experience to novice young riders for many years.

TOP CEES

Bay gelding, 21 May 1990, Shirley Heights / Sing Softly (Luthier)

Top Cees had a long and illustrious career as a racehorse, winning two Chester Cups and the Coral Cup Hurdle when trained by Lynda Ramsden before joining Park House Stables and winning the Cesarewitch from here. He retired in 2000 and was taken on by his owner Rodger Sargent, in whose care he lived to the grand age of 31. He died in 2021.

Genetics

Bay gelding, 11 Feb 2014, Manduro / Garmerita (Poliglote)

A gorgeous horse with a lovely temperament, Genetics was the winner of four races whilst in training at Park House, including the Shergar Cup Challenge at Ascot. He also placed fourth in the Gran Premio de Madrid. Since retiring from racing in 2020 he has been re-trained as an eventer and has shown promise in his early competitive outings.