Native River
Native River | |
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Hennessy Gold Cup (2016) (2021)Welsh Grand National (2016) Denman Chase (2017, 2018, 2020) Cheltenham Gold Cup (2018) Many Clouds Chase (2019) Cotswold Chase |
Native River (foaled 4 May 2010) is an Irish-bred, British-trained, retired
Background
Native River is a chestnut gelding, with a white
He was sired by Indian River, a top-class jumper in his native France, where his wins included the Prix du Président de la République. As a breeding stallion, the most notable of his other offspring has been the Hennessy Gold Cup winner Madison du Berlais.[2] Native River's dam, Native Mo was an unraced daughter of Be My Native. As a descendant of the Irish broodmare Rose Cygnet (foaled 1927) she was distantly related to Milady Rose (Irish 1,000 Guineas), Dragonara Palace (Richmond Stakes) and Brondesbury (Norfolk Stakes).[3]
Racing career
2014/15 season
Native River began his racing career on the amateur
2015/16 season
In the 2015/16 season Native River was campaigned in Novices' steeplechases, starting with a third place at
After finishing third to Blaklion and Definitly Red in the Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby Racecourse in February, the gelding was sent for a second time to the Cheltenham Festival to contest the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup and finished runner-up behind Minella Rocco. On his final appearance of the year Native River was sent to Aintree Racecourse in April for the Mildmay Novices' Chase in which he started the 11/2 third favourite behind Un Temps Pour Tout and Blaklion, both of whom had won at Cheltenham. Ridden by Richard Johnson, who was to become his regular jockey, he led for most of the way and stayed on strongly to win by three lengths from Henri Parry Morgan.[8] After the race Tizzard said "One of his main attributes is staying. The horse runs a bit lazy but there's nothing wrong with that, they last a bit longer. Richard had to wake him up once or twice but he was straight back into his stride. He obviously loves that ground with his lovely, low action."
2016/17 season
Native River began his fourth campaign by finishing second to Silsol in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby Racecourse in October before returning to steeplechase fences. For the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on 26 November he was assigned a weight of 155 pounds and started the 7/2 favourite in a nineteen-runner field. Racing in first or second place for most of the way he took a clear lead after the final fence and held off the late challenge of the outsider Carole's Destrier to win by half a length.[9] Colin Tizzard commented "It looked like he would win by five lengths, but when Carole's Destrier nearly got to him, he went again. It is a sign of a good, honest stayer. We expected a big run, but he travelled better than ever before and jumped beautifully".[10] A month later Native River carried top weight of 165 pounds in the Welsh Grand National over three and three quarter miles at Chepstow. Starting the 11/4 favourite he took the lead before halfway and won by one and three-quarter lengths from Raz de Maree with fifteen lengths back to Houblon des Obeaux in third.[11]
In the Denman Chase at Newbury on 11 February in which Native River was opposed by Bristol de Mai (Finale Juvenile Hurdle, Scilly Isles Novices' Chase) and Le Mercurey (Future Champion Novices' Chase) he led from the start and won by three and a quarter lengths.[12] On 17 March the gelding started the 7/2 second favourite behind Djakadam for the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup and disputed the lead for most of the way before finishing third, beaten two and three quarter lengths and a short head by Sizing John and Minella Rocco.
2017/18 season
After an absence of almost eleven months, Native River returned to action in the Denman Chase on 10 February 2018. Starting the 8/11 favourite he repeated his 2017 success as he led from the start and won by twelve lengths from Cloudy Dream.
2018/19 season
Native River's first race of the season was the Betfair Chase at Haydock on 24 November. He finished second, four lengths behind Bristol de Mai. A month later he finished third behind Clan des Obeaux in the King George VI Chase at Kempton. Attempting to win a second Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March 2029, he finished fourth behind Al Boum Photo. It was Native River's first season without a win.[16]
2019/20 season
Native River returned to his winning form on his first outing of the season with a victory in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on 7 December. Ridden by Richard Johnson and starting odds-on favourite in a field of four, he won by 33 lengths after his main rival Might Bite unseated his rider early in the race. After a break of two months, he secured his third victory in the Denman Chase. Ridden by Jonjo O'Neill junior, he again started as odds-on favourite and won by two and three-quarter lengths from Secret Investor with Might Bite in third place.[16] He missed the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup after suffering a tendon injury.[17]
2020/21 season
Returning from injury to attempt a second consecutive win in the Many Clouds Chase, Native River was beaten into third place behind outsider Lake View Lad and favourite Santini.
2021/22 season and retirement
Native River began the season with a second place in the Many Clouds Chase, 25 lengths behind Protektorat. His next race was the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, in which Brendan Powell pulled him up after the 16th fence. It was the first time he had failed to complete since unseating his rider in his first race, a point-to-point in March 2014.[16] Later that evening, assistant trainer Joe Tizzard announced that the decision had been made to retire Native River, saying: "He's been an absolute legend for us all. His wins in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Hennessy and the Coral Welsh Grand National were all massive, memorable days for Garth and Anne [Broom, the owners] and the whole team. He's a lovely character, and has been a special horse to train. He will now enjoy a happy and well deserved retirement." Owner Garth Broom said: "We don't want to see him struggling so we thought this was the best thing to do.... He'll go back to Tom Malone, who bought him for us. He only lives down the road from us."[19]
Cheltenham Gold Cup record
•2017 - third, 7yo, 7-2. (Official rating 168)
•2018 - first, 8yo, 5-1. (Official rating 166)
•2019 - fourth, 9yo, 6-1. (Official rating 173)
•2021 - fourth, 11yo, 12-1. (Official rating 172)
Pedigree
Sire Indian River (FR) 1994 |
Cadoudal 1979 |
Green Dancer (USA) | Nijinsky (CAN) |
---|---|---|---|
Green Valley (FR) | |||
Come To Sea (IRE) | Sea Hawk (FR) | ||
Camarilla (FR) | |||
The Fun 1979 |
Funny Hobby (IRE) | Meadow Mint (USA) | |
Zakyna (GB) | |||
The Lark | Lanark (GB) | ||
Norman Lass | |||
Dam Native Mo (IRE) 1996 |
Be My Native (USA) 1979 |
Our Native | Exclusive Native |
Our Jackie | |||
Witchy Woman | Strate Stuff | ||
Witchy Norma | |||
Milford Run 1985 |
Deep Run | Pampered King (GB) | |
Trial By Fire (GB) | |||
Belle of the West | Royal Buck (GB) | ||
Shelly River (GB) (Family: 31)[3] |
References
- ^ a b c "Native River pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ "Indian River – Progeny". Racing Post.
- ^ a b "– Dick Burton's Mare – Family 31". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
- ^ "French Furze Novices' Hurdle result". Racing Post. 29 November 2014.
- ^ "32RedSport.com 3/1 Mullins Cheltenham Win Novices' Hurdle". Racing Post. 8 February 2015.
- ^ "Worcester Novices' Chase result". Racing Post. 26 November 2015.
- ^ Wood, Greg (26 November 2015). "Colin Tizzard a winner again as his Native River scores at Newbury". The Guardian.
- ^ "Mildmay Novices' Chase result". Racing Post. 8 April 2016.
- ^ "Hennessy Gold Cup result". Racing Post. 26 November 2016.
- ^ "Hennessy Gold Cup: Favourite Native River clings on to seal victory". BBC Sport. 26 November 2016.
- ^ "Welsh Grand National result". Racing Post. 27 December 2016.
- ^ "2017 Denman Chase result". Racing Post. 11 February 2017.
- ^ "2018 Denman Chase result". Racing Post. 10 February 2018.
- ^ "Cheltenham Gold Cup result". Racing Post. 16 March 2018.
- ^ Wood, Greg (16 March 2018). "Native River leads all the way to win Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c d e "Native River". Racing Post. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ Cook, Chris (19 February 2020). "Talking Horses: Native River ruled out of Cheltenham Gold Cup". The Guardian.
- ^ "Native River is magnificent again as the white-faced warrior dazzles at Sandown". Racing Post. 6 February 2021.
- ^ "'Absolute legend' Native River retired after Welsh Grand National no-show". Racing Post. 27 December 2021.