Synchronised (horse)
Synchronised | |
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Lexus Chase (2011) (2012)Cheltenham Gold Cup |
Synchronised (7 March 2003 – 14 April 2012) was an Irish-bred, British-trained
Background
Synchronised, considered a small horse by steeplechasing standards, was a bay
Racing career
2008–2009: Hurdle racing
Between February 2008 and March 2009, Synchronised was campaigned over hurdles and won three times from six starts. His most important success came at
2009–2010: Novice chasing
Synchronised began his career as a steeplechaser by winning a minor race at
2010–2012: Senior chasing
Synchronised won only once from five races in the 2010/2011 season, but that win was his most important so far. After starting the season with two runs over hurdles, he again showed his aptitude for extreme stamina tests as he carried 160 pounds to victory over 3 miles, 5+1⁄2 furlongs in the
The 2011/2012 season began with two more hurdle races before Synchronised was moved up to Grade I class for the first time in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown Racecourse in December. The gelding established himself as a top-class steeplechaser by taking the lead at the last fence and pulling clear in the closing stages to beat Rubi Light in "impressive style"[10] by 8+1⁄2 lengths at level weights.[11] The race also showed that Synchronised did not need slow, heavy ground to show his best form. McCoy praised his horse's performance but was not over-enthusiastic about his prospects against the best steeplechasers saying "I don't think Kauto Star and Long Run will be too worried".[12]
The betting for the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup was dominated by the former winners Long Run and Kauto Star, but Synchronised was also quietly fancied and started the 8/1 joint-third favourite with Weird Al in a field of fourteen runners. His task was made easier when Kauto Star injured himself and was pulled up at the tenth fence. Synchronised was still only sixth as the field approached the straight, but his stamina proved decisive as he stayed on strongly to dispute the lead at the last fence before pulling away to win by two and a quarter lengths from the 50/1 outsider The Giant Bolster.[13] The win gave a first Gold Cup to J. P. McManus as an owner and was the first for O'Neill as a trainer.[3] After the race the winner's connections were reported to be considering a run in the Grand National, in which Synchronised would carry top weight.[14]
Death
Synchronised was euthanised after he incurred a leg fracture during the 2012 Grand National. Despite being the market leader in the weeks leading to up the race, he had started the race as third-favourite, behind Seabass and Shakalakaboomboom. He appeared nervous at the start when he unseated his jockey, Tony McCoy, as the horses were preparing to line up for the race. The start was delayed until the loose horse was caught.[15]
He fell at Becher's Brook, the sixth fence on the first circuit, unseating McCoy, who suffered a soft-tissue injury, but the horse did not appear to have sustained serious injury. He continued running riderless until attempting to jump the 11th fence where he incurred a fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right-hind leg and racecourse vets had to euthanise him.[16]
Three days after the National, J. P. McManus issued a statement in which he described his "deep sadness and sense of devastation" at the death of Synchronised. He explained that, "losing any horse is very sad but one as brave as Synchronised is a very big loss for all involved." He also revealed that the horse had been buried at Jackdaws Castle.[17]
Speaking several weeks after the race, McCoy said that "Synchronised is a horse that I won't ever forget... it is one of those terrible things that you wish will never happen."[18] When he retired in 2015, McCoy described Synchronised as his favourite racehorse saying that "he probably wasn't the greatest horse I'd ridden but he had the greatest will to win." Remembering the horse's death, he said "I cried for days afterwards. That affected me more than any other horse."[19]
Pedigree
Sire Sadler's Wells |
Northern Dancer | Nearctic | Nearco |
---|---|---|---|
Lady Angela | |||
Natalma | Native Dancer | ||
Almahmoud | |||
Fairy Bridge | Bold Reason | Hail to Reason
| |
Lalun
| |||
Special | Forli | ||
Thong | |||
Dam Mayasta |
Bob Back | Roberto | Hail to Reason
|
Bramalea | |||
Toter Back | Carry Back | ||
Romantic Miss | |||
Sarahcee | Prominer | Beau Sabreur | |
Snob Hill | |||
Celestial Gold | Golden Cloud | ||
Cellular (family 11-a) |
- Synchronised was inbred 4 x 4 to the stallion Hail to Reason, meaning that the latter appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.
References
- ^ "Synchronised". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ J A McGrath (17 March 2012). "Cheltenham Festival 2012: how Synchronised came good in the Cheltenham Gold Cup". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Synchronised delivers lifelong dream for JP". Irish Independent. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Sadler's Wells Stud Record". Racing Post. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Oscar Stud Record". Racing Post. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Mayasta". Racing Post. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 2.05 race at CHELTENHAM – 12 March 2009". Racing Post. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 3.15 race at UTTOXETER – 20 March 2010". Racing Post. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 1.45 race at CHEPSTOW – 8 January 2011". Racing Post. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Synch motors to Lexus glory". Irish Independent. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 2.35 race at LEOPARDSTOWN (IRE) – 28 December 2011". Racing Post. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Home defence routed in Lexus". Irish Independent. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 3.20 race at CHELTENHAM – 16 March 2012". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Synchro team mull National bid". The Press Association. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "Neptune Collonges wins thrilling National but fatalities mar race again". The Guardian. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- ^ "Synchronised and According to Pete die in Grand National". BBC. 14 April 2012.
- ^ By Andrew king 10:55AM 18 APR 2012 (2 June 2011). "McManus we feel deep sadness and devastation". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ GMT (1 May 2012). "AP McCoy trying to forget Grand National'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ "AP McCoy: Jockey reveals the 10 favourite horses he has ridden". BBC Sport. 5 March 2015.
External links
- Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart – Synchronised