Monet's Garden
Encyclopedia
Monet's Garden is a retired racehorse. Born in April 1998, he was a winner in 17 of his 32 starts, being placed second four times and third on two other occasions, earning £683,265 total prize money. This popular grey gelding
was owned by David Wesley Yates and trained by Nicky Richards
; he was bred by William Delahunty.
and Huntingdon
, he is perhaps best known for his wins at Aintree
: Of his 32 career starts, 9 of them were at Aintree, producing 5 wins. He finished runner-up to Garde Champetre in the 2004 Mersey Novices' Hurdle
, notably beating Inglis Drever
into fourth place with Court Shareef in third. His next appearance at Liverpool was in the Liverpool Hurdle
of 2005, then only a Grade 2 contest. Monet's Garden went one better this time however in a dramatic race- with the well fancied Rule Supreme unseating Ruby Walsh
after being hampered by the refusing Westender at only the second flight.
Monet's Garden would next appear at Aintree for the 2007 renewal of the Grade 1 Melling Chase
, when he recorded a sound victory over Taranis and Well Chief.
His next start at Aintree was also a winning one- on his 2007-08 National Hunt Season reappearance in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase
. He beat the then Gold Cup
hero Kauto Star
, although the latter was conceding weight all-round to his three rivals on his reappearance. Monet's Garden wouldn't then win at Aintree again for a clear two years- he was well beaten in the Totesport Bowl
in 2008 and was beaten again in the 2008 renewal of the Old Roan by Knowhere. However, in the 2009 renewal, he made most of the running en-route to convincingly reversing that 2008 form, with Tidal Bay
in second, said 2008 victor Knowhere coming home in third and subsequent Grand National
winner Don't Push It
in fourth.
Perhaps Monet's Garden saved his best until the end- his final two career starts both coming at Aintree. He ran with credit in the 2010 Melling Chase, finding only Alberta's Run and Forpaddydeplasterer too good on the day. However, he won on his final start in the 2010 Old Roan Chase, beating Poquelin in a thriller while Tartak, the favourite, was well beaten.
when it was staged at Windsor
in November 2004, with Ascot being closed for rebuilding at the time- beating Monkerhostin by a clear 4 lengths.
http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=360480&r_date=2004-11-19&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS
His first win at Ascot was achieved in great fashion in the Ascot Chase
of 2007, when beating Thisthatandtother, River City, Fota Island and Central House.http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=424174&r_date=2007-02-17&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS
His next start at Ascot would be in the 2008 renewal of the Ascot Chase, although this time Kauto Star convincingly extracted his revenge for his Old Roan defeat earlier that Season. He would be well beaten again when contesting the Amlin 1965 Grade 2 Chase in November 2009, although Monet's Garden rolled back the years in his final start at Ascot in the Ascot Chase of 2010- beating subsequent Ryanair and Melling Chase victor Alberta's Run by a length and a half.
winner Snoopy Loopy by a gallant half-a-length.
. He had sustained an abscess on his foot and was hoped to be aimed at another tilt at the 2011 Ascot Chase. However the problem became life-threatening and news of his immediate retirement broke in January 2011. Monet's was treated at Oaklands Veterinary Centre, where he had a specialist hoof fitted. Happily, the efforts were not in vain and the famous grey returned home to Greystoke, the Nicky Richards yard in February.
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
was owned by David Wesley Yates and trained by Nicky Richards
Nicky Richards
Nicholas Gordon Richards is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Greystoke, near Penrith, Cumbria, England...
; he was bred by William Delahunty.
Aintree Record
Although Monet's Garden was a winner of big races at AscotAscot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
and Huntingdon
Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.It is also the venue for the annual Mascot Grand National, a race between the mascots of various football and other sports teams....
, he is perhaps best known for his wins at Aintree
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
: Of his 32 career starts, 9 of them were at Aintree, producing 5 wins. He finished runner-up to Garde Champetre in the 2004 Mersey Novices' Hurdle
Mersey Novices' Hurdle
The Mersey Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree, Merseyside, over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...
, notably beating Inglis Drever
Inglis Drever
Inglis Drever was a champion racehorse trained in the North of England by Howard Johnson. He was one of the most successful hurdle racing horses to date and the only horse to have won the World Hurdle three times...
into fourth place with Court Shareef in third. His next appearance at Liverpool was in the Liverpool Hurdle
Liverpool Hurdle
The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped...
of 2005, then only a Grade 2 contest. Monet's Garden went one better this time however in a dramatic race- with the well fancied Rule Supreme unseating Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...
after being hampered by the refusing Westender at only the second flight.
Monet's Garden would next appear at Aintree for the 2007 renewal of the Grade 1 Melling Chase
Melling Chase
The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
, when he recorded a sound victory over Taranis and Well Chief.
His next start at Aintree was also a winning one- on his 2007-08 National Hunt Season reappearance in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase
Old Roan Chase
The Old Roan Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Mildmay Course at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
. He beat the then Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
hero Kauto Star
Kauto Star
Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....
, although the latter was conceding weight all-round to his three rivals on his reappearance. Monet's Garden wouldn't then win at Aintree again for a clear two years- he was well beaten in the Totesport Bowl
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
in 2008 and was beaten again in the 2008 renewal of the Old Roan by Knowhere. However, in the 2009 renewal, he made most of the running en-route to convincingly reversing that 2008 form, with Tidal Bay
Tidal Bay
Tidal Bay is an Irish bred Bay gelding Thoroughbred race horse foaled on 12 May 2001. He is the winner of two Grade 1 jumps races, the Arkle Challenge Trophy and the Maghull Novices' Chase in 2008...
in second, said 2008 victor Knowhere coming home in third and subsequent Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
winner Don't Push It
Don't Push It
Don't Push It is a Grand National-winning thoroughbred racehorse.- Debut :Don't Push It began his career on the 5th December 2004 at Warwick Racecourse in a National Hunt Flat race . He finished 3rd.- 2005-2006 Season :...
in fourth.
Perhaps Monet's Garden saved his best until the end- his final two career starts both coming at Aintree. He ran with credit in the 2010 Melling Chase, finding only Alberta's Run and Forpaddydeplasterer too good on the day. However, he won on his final start in the 2010 Old Roan Chase, beating Poquelin in a thriller while Tartak, the favourite, was well beaten.
Ascot & Windsor
Monet's Garden had a good record at Ascot, winning twice and finishing second out of four starts. He also won the Ascot HurdleAscot Hurdle
The Ascot Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 3½ furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...
when it was staged at Windsor
Windsor Racecourse
Windsor Racecourse, also known as Royal Windsor Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Windsor, Berkshire, England. It is one of only two figure-of-eight courses in the United Kingdom, the other being at Fontwell Park. It abandoned National Hunt jump racing in December 1998,...
in November 2004, with Ascot being closed for rebuilding at the time- beating Monkerhostin by a clear 4 lengths.
http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=360480&r_date=2004-11-19&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS
His first win at Ascot was achieved in great fashion in the Ascot Chase
Ascot Chase
The Ascot Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
of 2007, when beating Thisthatandtother, River City, Fota Island and Central House.http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=424174&r_date=2007-02-17&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS
His next start at Ascot would be in the 2008 renewal of the Ascot Chase, although this time Kauto Star convincingly extracted his revenge for his Old Roan defeat earlier that Season. He would be well beaten again when contesting the Amlin 1965 Grade 2 Chase in November 2009, although Monet's Garden rolled back the years in his final start at Ascot in the Ascot Chase of 2010- beating subsequent Ryanair and Melling Chase victor Alberta's Run by a length and a half.
Peterborough Chase
Monet's Garden won the 2008 Totesport Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, narrowly beating 2008 Betfair ChaseBetfair Chase
The Betfair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
winner Snoopy Loopy by a gallant half-a-length.
Retirement
Monet's Garden returned lame after his win in the 2010 Old Roan Chase and missed his intended target of competing in the 2010 Peterborough ChasePeterborough Chase
The Peterborough Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Huntingdon over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
. He had sustained an abscess on his foot and was hoped to be aimed at another tilt at the 2011 Ascot Chase. However the problem became life-threatening and news of his immediate retirement broke in January 2011. Monet's was treated at Oaklands Veterinary Centre, where he had a specialist hoof fitted. Happily, the efforts were not in vain and the famous grey returned home to Greystoke, the Nicky Richards yard in February.