Special Tiara

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Special Tiara
Desert Orchid Chase (2014, 2016)
Celebration Chase (2015)
Queen Mother Champion Chase
(2017)

Special Tiara (31 March 2007 – 2 February 2019) was a British-bred, Irish-trained

euthanized after sustaining an injury in the 2019 Dublin Chase
at Leopardstown.

Background

Special Tiara was a bay gelding with no white markings bred in England by his owner David Young. He was sent into training with Henry de Bromhead at Knockeen, County Waterford.

Special Tiara was sired by

Hennessy Gold Cup).[2] Special Tiara's dam Special Choice was an unraced, Irish-bred, daughter of Bob Back and a member of the relatively obscure Thoroughbred family 4-e.[3]

Racing career

2011/2012 National Hunt season

Special Tiara began his racing career on the amateur Point-to-point circuit, finishing second at the Boulta meeting on 27 November 2011. He then moved to professional competition and was campaigned in novice hurdle races. He finished second at Killarney in May and Clonmel in June before recording his first success at Kilbeggan Racecourse in July, beating Tobar Na Gaoise by five lengths.[4]

2012/2013 National Hunt season

In the 2012/2013 season Special Tiara was campaigned in novice

Ryanair Novice Chase
at Punchestown, but after leading for most of the way he was overtaken four fences out and finished a distant third behind Arvika Ligeonniere and Ocars Well.

2013/2014 National Hunt season

After unseating his rider on his seasonal debut Special Tiara finished third to Kid Cassidy in the

Flat racing rules and finished second to the Aidan O'Brien
-trained three-year-old Tigris River at Killarney.

2014/2015 National Hunt season

Special Tiara was beaten at odds-on on his first two starts of the 2014/2015 season, finishing fifth in a hurdle at Cork and third in a steeplechase at Ballinrobe. After running fourth to Twinlight in the Fortria Chase at Navan Racecourse he was sent to England to contest the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park on 27 December. Ridden by Barry Geraghty he started the 5/1 third choice in the betting behind Balder Succes (Maghull Novices Chase) and Hinterland (Henry VIII Novices' Chase). He went to the front from the start as usual, built up a clear advantage and held on over the last two fences to win by two and a quarter lengths from Balder Succes.[7]

The gelding then made his second bid for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March and improved on his 2014 effort as he finished third behind

Ryanair Novice Chase) and Vibrato Valtat (Henry VIII Novices' Chase). Although he was briefly led by Mr Mole, Special Tiara made most of the running, went clear of the field approaching the penultimate fence, and won by six lengths from Sprinter Sacre.[8]

2015/2016 National Hunt season

Special Tiara began his 2015/2016 campaign with a poor effort in the Fortria Chase, but returned to form at Sandown in December when he finished three quarters of a length second to Sire de Grugy in the Tingle Creek Chase after being hampered at the final fence.[9] Another attempt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase saw him finish third for the second consecutive year as he was beaten three and a half lengths and a nose by Sprinter Sacre and Un de Sceaux. On his only other run of the season he faded badly in the closing stages and came home last of the six finishers behind God' Own in the Punchestown Champion Chase.

2016/2017 National Hunt season

On his first appearance of the 2016/2017 season Special Tiara started favourite for the Cheltenham Chase but tired after the second last and finished a distant third behind Fox Norton and Simply Ned. The gelding was without a win in twenty months when he appeared at Kempton on 27 December and attempted to repeat his 2014 success in the Desert Orchid Chase and was made the 8/11 favourite. His task was made considerably easier when his chief rival in the betting, Sire de Grugy fell at the second fence. He led from the start and was never headed, holding off the sustained challenge of the Haldon Gold Cup winner Sir Valentino to win by half a length.[10]

In the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham on 28 January he led for ten fences but then tired and came home last of the six finishers behind Un de Sceaux. On 15 March 2017 Special Tiara lined up for the fourth time in the Queen Mother Champion Chase in which he was sent off at odds of 11/1 in a ten-runner field. His old rivals God's Own, Fox Norton, Don Valentino and Simply Ned were again in opposition but the overwhelming favourite was Douvan who went off at odds of 2/9 after winning his last fourteen races. After taking the lead at the second fence, Special Tiara, ridden by Fehily, established a clear advantage over the field and jumped the last two lengths in front. Fox Norton launched a strong challenge on the run-in but Special Tiara "held on gamely" and won by a head. There was a gap of six lengths back to Sir Valentino in third while Douvan finished lame in seventh.[11] After the race Fehily said "I got into a great rhythm down the back straight and my horse jumped better than he has ever done before. He’s a wonderful horse and deserved that because he’s been knocking on the door a few times. It’s difficult to make all in the Champion Chase, especially going at that speed, and you’re worried you’re a sitting target for something else. When I jumped the ditch at the top of the hill, I thought Douvan might come past me but I didn’t think anything else would".[12]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Special Tiara (GB), bay gelding, 2007[1]
Sire
Kayf Tara (GB)
1994
Sadler's Wells (USA)
1981
Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Fairy Bridge Bold Reason
Special
Colorspin (GB)
1983
High Top Derring-Do
Camenae
Reprocolor Jimmy Reppin
Blue Queen
Dam
Special Choice (IRE)
2002
Bob Back (USA)
1981
Roberto Hail To Reason
Bramalea
Toter Back Carry Back
Romantic Miss
Mammy's Choice (IRE)
1990
Mandalus Mandamus
Laminate
Liffey's Choice Little Buskins
Nenagh Belle (Family 4-e)[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Special Tiara pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ^ "Kayf Tara - Stud Record". Racing Post.
  3. ^ a b "Fair Helen - Family 4-e". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  4. ^ "Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Maiden Hurdle result". Timeform. 20 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Maghull Novices' Chase result". Timeform. 6 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Celebration Chase result". Timeform. 26 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Desert Orchid Chase result". Timeform. 27 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Celebration Chase result". Timeform. 25 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Tingle Creek Chase result". Timeform. 5 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Desert Orchid Chase result". Timeform. 27 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Queen Mother Champion Chase result". Timeform. 15 March 2017.
  12. ^ Greg Wood (15 March 2017). "Douvan found lame as Special Tiara wins Champion Chase at Cheltenham". The Guardian.

External links