Garde Champetre
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| Garde Champetre | |
|---|---|
 Racing Colours of John P McManus | |
| Sire | Garde Royale |
| Dam | Clementine Fleurie |
| Damsire | Lionel II |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 27 March 1999 |
| Country | France |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Olivier Delegue |
| Owner | John P McManus |
| Trainer | E Bolger |
| Record | 45:16,14,0 |
| Earnings | £266,978 |
Garde Champetre (27 March 1999 – 13 March 2012) was a French-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse.
He is best known for winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival twice in the colours of owner J.P. McManus.
Career[edit]
After starting racing life in France, Garde Champetre was brought to the UK and owned by racing syndicate Million In Mind. Trained by Paul Nicholls, across 6 races in the 2003–04 season, winning two races and scoring three second-place finishes.
Million In Mind sold Garde Champetre [1] for 530,000gns in 2004 to prolific owner John P McManus making Garde Champetre the most expensive National Hunt horse to go through auction.[2][3] Following the sale, training was switched to Jonjo O'Neill. It wasn't until October 15, 2006, he would win again, in a minor race at Carlisle Racecourse ridden by AP McCoy.
In December 2007, training moved to Enda Bolger in Ireland.[4] Garde Champetre switched to cross country races and began to have an immediate impact, winning 3 races in a row under Nina Carberry at the Cheltenham Festival and at Punchestown.[5] He would return to Cheltenham in March 2009 to successfully defend his title and again at Punchestown in April. [6]
Garde Champetre went off as 7/4F for the 2010 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase but finished 5th.[7]
Returning to Cheltenham for the 2012 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Garde Champetre went off at 10/1 with regular jockey Nina Carberry. Sadly during this race, he suffered a fatal injury.[8][9]
References[edit]
- ^ Oakley, Robin (2017). Sixty Years of Jump Racing. Bloomsbury. p. 246. ISBN 9781472935120.
- ^ "SALES: Million In Mind dispersal's Grand Roi tops trade at £400,000". The Irish Field. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Champetre smashes sales record". TeessideLive. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Cheltenham Festival promise for Nina Carberry". The Daily Mirror. 13 December 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ O'Connor, Brian (2014). Kings of the Saddle. Google Books: Aurum. ISBN 9781781312124.
- ^ "Garde Champetre wins for McManus". Irish Times. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Cheltenham 2010: A New Story comes home first in Handicap Chase". The Daily Mirror. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Cheltenham Festival: Two more horses die on second day". BBC. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Fast ground 'not to blame' for three deaths on Cheltenham opening day". Irish Independent. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2022.