Stable News
20.12.06 - Ouija Board - one of a kind
GONE BUT never to be forgotten. Ouija Board, one of the most famous racehorses of modern times has been retired but the memory of her thrilling days will live long in the memory of those people closely associated with her.
Ed Dunlop has had the privilege of training the daughter of Cape Cross for the past four seasons and recognises the impact she has made to his career – indeed, to his life.
“She was an international icon in our sport,” reflected Dunlop. “I will never forget her.
“She has been a life-changing horse to train. At a point in my life when I have been making the transition to public trainer, I have been very lucky to have had her as an advertisement.
“I will strive hard to find another one like her, but realistically those as brilliant as her don’t come along too often in a career. In fact, for some they might never come along at all.”
It all started on October 3, 2003, when she made a pleasing debut at Newmarket, finishing third of 23 in a seven-furlong maiden.
Less than three weeks later and she was a maiden winner, landing a minor six-runner event under Jamie Spencer at Yarmouth. From small acorns can mighty oak trees grow…
Her classic year saw her blossom in a fashion that few would have dared to wish for after that initial triumph at Yarmouth. Twin Oaks successes at Epsom and the Curragh, respectively, preceded Breeders’ Cup glory at Lone Star Park.
Kept in training at four, the path was certainly not a smooth one. She threw a splint early in the year before making a reappearance in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in which she lost a shoe.
In the aftermath, there were some keen to write her off. Of course, Ouija Board never read their scripts. She returned to win a Group 3 at Newmarket and went on to finish her year on a high with a marvellous win in the Hong Kong Vase.
Then, in 2006, it got even better. She recorded three more stunning Group 1 victories. For starters, there was an altogether happier conclusion than 12 months earlier when in June she won a star-studded renewal of the Prince Of Wales’s.
The finish of the year for many came in the Nassau Stakes where Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun slugged it out like two hardened prize fighters. When the bell sounded at the end of the final round, Ouija Board had just done enough: the verdict, a short head triumph.
A second Breeders’ Cup came her way in an impressively easy manner at Churchill Downs and the curtain was all set for her to close out her career in Hong Kong where she was to try and defend her Vase crown.
History shows that a minor setback would scupper plans of a last hurrah. But her withdrawal does nothing to diminish her standing in the pantheon of racing’s greats.
“You name it, she’s done it,” summed up Dunlop. “She has repeatedly run against the best in the world and there have been some great victories and some heroic losses. People travelled around the world to watch her.
“I would also like to add just how sporting her owners have been. In this day and age, a large number of the best horses don’t go on at four or above, but Lord and Lady Derby deserve a lot of credit for continuing to campaign her through to the end of her five-year-old career.
“Of course, I would have loved her to stay in training next year but totally understand the reasons why she has been retired. We would never forgive ourselves if she were to sustain a serious injury.
“All we hope for now is that she goes on to become a very successful broodmare for the Derbys.”
Ouija Board – truly one of a kind.
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