Congrats to 12yo Caracciola

[Equilibrium]

This plucky 12yo won a listed race at York yesterday going 1 mile 6 furlongs. He's won on the flat, over hurdles, and over fences. He battled it out on the front end and really dug in towards the wire. He just loves being a racehorse! Congrats to Team Henderson and Mr. Pottinger, his owner.

Terri

[texang73]

AWESOME! I love those tough old racehorses!!! :D He sounds like a great, very versatile horse.

[OwingsTJ]

Almost as cool as Evening Attire. Now that was an impressive old horse.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Not sure that it got a mention in the Ascot threads, but our man Carraciola won the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Ascot on Sat, the final race of the Royal meeting, run over a stamina sapping 2m5f.
Here's a replay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Ugf2Y1rp4) of him winning it in style.

[vineyridge]

That is AWESOME, Drvm. When he retires, I hope he becomes someone's field hunter, as Kelso did.

[Equilibrium]

I've been meaning to add to this thread and haven't done so yet. He set 2 records last week. The oldest horse to win at Ascot and oh crap, I forgot the other record. It was in the racing post a couple of days ago and it's completely gone out of my head! Typical!

Terri

[vineyridge]

If PQ is correct, he's also a German bred--sire is Lando. He has one of the most international pedigrees I think I've ever seen, from Peru to Argentina to USA to France, Ireland, UK and Germany. Only thing he lacks are Italy and Australia, and I'll bet they are there somewhere.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

The old boy will try to make history today.


Caracciola bids for racing history in Goodwood Cup

CARACCIOLA bids to make racing history at Goodwood on Thursday by becoming the oldest horse ever to win a European Pattern race since the system was created in 1971.

The 12-year-old, were he to win, will outstrip a select group of ten year olds including Persian Punch, who won the Group 2 contest, first run in 1812, for a second time in 2003.

The history books will show that Caracciola was trained for the Coutts Goodwood Cup by Barry Hills, although it will be the first time that he has run for the yard, to which he has been transferred while Nicky Henderson serves a three-month ban from training.

"Barry [Hills] was telling me he's been working fantastically well and he does still look like a juvenile rather than an old boy," said owner Piers Pottinger.

"I'm just praying they just don't get too much rain there. There should be some wind which will help and I'm keeping everything crossed as the ground is important to us. I just hope the weather holds up."

[Drvmb1ggl3]

One year on and the now 13yo Caracciola holds an entry in the Goodwood Cup G2 over 2 miles this Thursday. Will have his work cut off against the young crop of stayers in the likes of Age of Aquarius, Kite Wood, Tatic, Purple Moon etc, but fair play to his connections for keeping him going in top company like this.

[danceronice]

Good lord, that horse must be made of iron.

[texang73]

AWESOME!!!:D

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Today was just too much for the old boy and he has been officially retired after finishing down the field.

The race was marred by the breakdown of the favorite Age of Aquarius, who was pulled up as they turned for home. Many had expected him to step into the shoes of his ex-stablemate Yeats and take over the stayer crown for the next few years.

The race was won in a very exciting finish by the 7yo Illustrious Blue, who is a course specialist, and it is quite the unique course Goodwood. The Cup starts in the straight going left to right, then a left hand turn, followed by a right hand loop, another left hand turn, then turn right handed back into the striaght where the finish going in the opposite direction they started. The replay... http://horses.sportinglife.com/Video/Racing/0,27770,386450,00.html

[Drvmb1ggl3]

That is AWESOME, Drvm. When he retires, I hope he becomes someone's field hunter, as Kelso did.

Looks like that will be the case. Comments below from trainer Nicky Henderson as he announced Caracciola's retirement.

NICKY HENDERSON called 13-year-old Caracciola 'very special' after it was announced that the stayer had run his lastrace in the Artemis Goodwood Cup on Thursday.

A winner 15 times during his career on the Flat, over hurdles and fences, Caracciola's career highlight was achieved in 2008 when winning the Totesport.com Cesarewitch by three lengths.
After two wins last year, the Piers Pottinger-owned veteran had finished fourth on his last start in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, but could only finish eighth of the nine runners in the Group 2 contest at Goodwood.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said: "I was pretty sure going into Ascot that we would probably be calling it a day but he ran such a good race that we decided to go again. He's loved it and he's been very special. He's done nine years with us and when you think what he's done over hurdles, fences, Flat, Listed races and Royal Ascot and it's only right we mustn't abuse him.

"Sarah Shreeve has looked after him all his life and Eddie Ahern has always wanted to go hunting with him so he will be doing something along those lines."