Monet's Garden

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.^[1]

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Aintree Record

Although Monet's Garden was a winner of big races at Ascot 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.

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 Hurdle 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. ^[2]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.^[3]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 Chase 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 Chase. 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.

References

1. ^ "Monet's Garden". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home.sd?horse_id=573513#topHorseTabs=horse_race_record&bottomHorseTabs=horse_form. 
2. ^ Ascot Hurdle 2004 Result
3. ^ Ascot Chase 2007 Result