There should be no surprise about the retirement of an 11-year-old horse but Hurricane Fly was such a feature of the jumping landscape that many imagined he would go on forever. His career ended yesterday with 22 grade one victories, a world record that may last for generations.
The announcement, made by his trainer Willie Mullins, will be mourned and celebrated in equal measure in Ireland, where his status is greater than any horse since Istabraq. A series of ceremonial appearances is being planned, starting with a parade on Irish Champions’ Weekend later this month.
Hurricane Fly, a son of Montjeu who was initially trained in France, joined Mullins in the spring of 2008. From June of the same year, he was campaigned exclusively in grade one company, his enduring presence and implacable running style gathering an army of fans.
Trainers instinctively dislike admitting to favourite horses but Mullins had no compunction about Hurricane Fly, perhaps the only inmate at his Co Carlow yard that reliably made him nervous when he ran. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse battle like him,” he said admiringly.
He was ridden to 18 wins by Ruby Walsh, who plainly found it a wrench to desert him even for Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle in March. That was Hurricane Fly’s fifth consecutive year in the Cheltenham feature and, though he won it twice, the suspicion persists that he was never quite at his best at Prestbury Park.
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Leopardstown was his parish and his record there was astonishing — ten starts and never beaten. He recorded two more victories there last season but was beaten in his final three races, including an unsuccessful experiment over three miles.
Mullins said yesterday: “He’s really well in himself but the owners were keen to retire him while he’s still in great order. It’s great that we’re doing it on our terms rather than due to an injury.”