ROR Parade

BALTHAZAR KING – ridden by Michael Andrews

19-year-old by King’s Theatre, formerly trained by Philip Hobbs

Breeder- Sunnyhill Stud

During a long and distinguished racing career Balthazar King won 16 times, including the Cross-Country Chase at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival. After recovering from a life-threatening injury incurred at Aintree, he was retired and enjoyed several seasons hunting with Izzi Beckett, wife of trainer Ralph. He has now moved on to be a ‘schoolmaster’ for Michael Andrews, The Jockey Club’s social media manager, with a view to competing in low-level dressage and show jumping. Michael says: “He is the most charming, loveable and intelligent horse.”

BRISTOL DE MAI  – ridden by Clare Alexander

13-year-old by Saddlers Maker, formerly trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies

Breeder -Jean-Yves Touzaint

Bristol de Mai retired in February 2023 following a stellar racing career, he has been at his new home with his rider Clare Alexander since last March, settling in beautifully to his new life; he is a big character and very intelligent.  He has been out on hound exercise and autumn hunting with the Kent and Surrey Bloodhounds and Surrey Union Hunt which he really enjoys. Clare and Bristol de Mai have weekly lessons with a local event rider, and the plan for Bristol’s second career includes plenty of hunting along with hunter trials and one-day-events during the summer.

CHAMPAGNE FEVER – ridden by Harriet Colderick

16-Year-Old gelding by Stowaway, formerly trained by Willie Mullins

Breeder – John P Cahill

Champagne Fever has been a pleasure to retrain and has successfully competed at BE100 level. He has such a great trainable attitude and is an absolute cross-country machine, he loves it. Unsurprisingly given the amazing races he won, he has the most phenomenal gallop and has cantered round the BE100s with the handbrake on and was still well inside the time. Georgia Marsland who shares the ride on him is thoroughly enjoying learning the ropes Eventing on him.

Harriet Colderick says, “We love having him in the yard, he is such a character and is thriving on his active “semi-retirement”, doing a bit of everything, and hacking round the Ashdown Forest where we live, always being much admired as he is such a striking horse”. 

CONEYGREE - ridden by Sara Bradstock

16-year-old by Karinga Bay, formerly trained by Mark Bradstock

Breeder - Lord Oaksey

One of the leading staying chasers of his generation and the winner of the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Coneygree was retired from racing in February 2019. He adapted quickly to a life outside of racing and since being re-trained by Mark Bradstock’s wife Sara, Coneygree has won several RoR showing classes and twice qualified for the final of the Tattersalls RoR Show Series at Hickstead.

DUC DES GENIEVRES – ridden by Jess Westwood

11-year-old by Buck’s Boum, formerly trained by Tom George

Breeder – Mme Colette Serre

Duc Des Genievres retired from his outstanding racing career due to a tendon injury in 2021. He spent eighteen months with Jess Westwood recovering from his injury and was slowly rehabilitated back to work. With time and patience Duke won the Southwest RoR Intro Dressage Championship & took the National Intro Championship title at Aintree last year during his first competitive season. He has been given plenty of time and has started jumping which he thoroughly enjoys. The aim this year is to target the Jockey Club RoR National Championships where he has already qualified in the Novice Showing section. He enjoys most days out in the field after exercise, with his friends Monkerty Tunkerty and Coo Star Sivola, before coming into his king size stable, the task of grooming him is always interesting.

KEMBOY – ridden by Rachel Sharp

12-year-old by Voix Du Nord, formerly trained by Willie Mullins

Breeder-Joelle Morruzzi & Philippe Morruzzi

Kemboy, the legend, a superstar and general lovely horse who has fitted into his retirement very easily. He ran and won his last race, The Bobby-Jo, in February 2023, he was due to retire at Punchestown of 2023 but sadly, he sustained an injury on the gallop, so his retirement was brought forward. We collected Kemboy in June 2023, he was then turned out in the field all Summer and Autumn, as we felt he needed a longer break. He was brought back into work in December, mainly hacking, but he has attended two training clinics, which he enjoyed. The future is to do RoR showing and dressage on him, and some jumping, but we will see as it is still early days in his retirement. We are very privileged as a family to have Kemboy in his retirement and to take things slowly and carefully.

MELON – ridden by Sophie Candy

11-year-old gelding by Medicean, formerly trained by Willie Mullins

Breeder – Newsells Park Stud

Melon joined today’s rider Sophie last summer after a very successful career racing trained by Willie Mullins, including four seconds at the Cheltenham Festival. Melon has been an absolute star since he arrived, settling right in and is a gentleman to do anything with. He has taken to team chasing like a duck to water, and while he was a bit of a bridesmaid racing, he has already started racking up the wins team chasing, already taken part in his first Open and will be aiming for the Open Championships this spring with Team Ride Away. He is an absolute joy to have around and will hopefully be doing some hunting and showing in the off season from team chasing. 

NATIVE RIVER – ridden by Emma Vine

13-year-old gelding by Indian River, formerly trained by Colin Tizzard

Breeder – Fred Mackey

Following his retirement to Webb Hill Farm, Native River Aka Garfield initially enjoyed a few months out in the field. Since then, Native River has had a rather busy social calendar, he has attended a school prom, the 30^th Anniversary of the Rocking Horse Nursery at Newbury Racecourse, Boodles in Bond Street and starred in numerous racecourse parades to mention a few. Alongside this he has transitioned well from racehorse to riding horse and enjoys his hacking and schooling, he absolutely thrives in his work and is a quick learner. He has recently attended dressage clinics and an RoR training day, this season the aim for Emma and Native River is to take part in some RoR showing classes, RoR dressage and jumping.

PINEAU DE RE - ridden by Molly Johnstone-Ellis

20-year-old gelding by Maresca Sorrento, formerly trained by Dr Richard Newland

Breeder – Michel Hardy

Winner of the 2014 Grand National Pineau De Re retired from racing in 2016. Since then, after a period hunting, he has been competing in eventing at BE Novice level and in dressage, qualifying this year for the RoR Southern Dressage Championships at Blenheim. Pregnancy precludes his regular rider Lizzie Brunt from riding him today, but she says of him: “He is so intelligent, by far the brightest horse I’ve ever ridden. I think this helped him win the National, along with his huge heart.”

SAPHIR DU RHEU – ridden by Charlotte Alexander

14-year-old gelding by Al Namix, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls

Breeder - Claude Duval

A Grade 1 winner at Aintree, Saphir Du Rheu has been with Charlotte Alexander since he retired from racing in 2018. Very versatile, he has risen quickly through the eventing ranks to compete at Intermediate level, while in dressage he is about to start competing at medium level and is already doing well at Elementary. He is also doing some show jumping, as well as team chasing. Charlotte says: “Saphy loves life and particularly performing in front of a crowd where he grows another hand and knows everyone is admiring him.”

SMAD PLACE – ridden by Sarah Haydon

17-year-old gelding by Smadoun, formerly trained by Alan King

Breeder – Eric Aubtee and Mme Maryse Aubree

Winner of the 2015 Hennessy Gold Cup, Smad Place was entrusted to Sarah Haydon in 2019, although he is still owned by his wonderfully supportive owner, Mrs Peter Andrews. Smad Place has been a wonderful example of an RoR- he has fitted into family life and adapted more than Sarah could ever imagine. They attended clinics, RoR camps and are hoping to qualify for the Jockey Club RoR National Championships which take place at Aintree every August. He is a true gentleman who still reminds everyone that he is the boss.