See You Then

See You Then (1980 - 2011) was an English bred

Prior to making his hurdling debut at Naas, in January 1984, See You Then had run eight times on the flat in Ireland, winning on four occasions. He was successful in the Naas race, then followed up with another victory in a seventeen runner race at Punchestown. He was visually impressive in this race, travelling with ease before quickening past the leaders and winning comfortably. Shortly before the Punchestown race, he had been purchased by the Stype Wood Stud Ltd, with the intention of continuing his career in Italy. He temporarily moved to Nicky Henderson's Lambourn stable in England. During this first stay with Henderson, he ran once when starting favourite for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, the main championship race for juvenile hurdlers. In a thirty-runner field, See You Then finished second, beaten two lengths by Northern Game after holding every chance. See You Then was then transferred to Italy where he won a hurdle race in Milan. It was then announced that he would be returning to England to continue his career with Henderson.^[4]

1984/85 Season

See You Then won three of his five starts during this season. On his first outing in November, he finished third to Ra Nova in the

See You Then ran only three times during this season, winning twice. He did not reappear until February, when he won the Oteley Hurdle at Sandown Park, beating the 1983 Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle winner Sabin Du Loir who was returning from a long absence. His next race was a defence of his Champion Hurdle crown. In a twenty three runner field, See You Then started the 5/6 favourite, ahead of the Martin Pipe-trained Corporal Clinger who started at 11/1. Kesslin and Gaye Brief came next in the betting. See You Then's stable companion First Bout, who had won the 1985 Triumph Hurdle, also made the line up. Missing was Browne's Gazette, who had collapsed and died in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, back in November. See You Then won easily again, beating Gaye Brief by seven lengths, with the Peter Easterby-trained Nohalmdun a further length and a half away in third. His now regular rider Steve Smith Eccles recounted, "The race gave me no worries at all. I managed to keep See You Then clear of the pack, cruised up behind Gaye Brief going to the last and let him sprint away up the hill with that devastating turn of foot that marks him as a true champion".^[7] See You Then's last run was his only career appearance at Aintree. Stepping up in distance to two miles and five furlongs in the Sandeman Aintree Hurdle, he could not overhaul Aonoch and was beaten a length. The winner had previously finished well behind in the Champion Hurdle. See You Then ended the season as Timeform's top rated hurdler, with a rating of 173.^[8]

1986/87 Season

See You Then appeared just twice, winning both races. A series of physical problems resulted in him reappearing only a week and a half before the Champion Hurdle. This came in the De Veres Hotel Hurdle at

Connections of See You Then had begun the season with hopes of having the first horse to win the Champion Hurdle four times. He appeared only once, when pulling up lame in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. After the race it was announced that he had been retired.

1989/90 Season

See You Then's first retirement ended when he reappeared in February 1990, finishing sixth of eight runners behind Royal Derbi in the Listed City Trial Hurdle at Nottingham. He subsequently fell in the Kingwell Hurdle, before finishing 16th in the 1990 Champion Hurdle won by Kribensis. See You Then's final racecourse appearance came in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April 1990, where he finished ninth behind Sayparee.

Retirement

See You Then enjoyed a long retirement at his owner's premises in Italy. He died at the age of 31, in December 2011.^[10]

Pedigree

References