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That’s a pitty. The denman vs kauto first gold cup was the most interesting clash i’ve came across in just over the decade i’ve watched racing, in both flat and NH. It was prime time racing.
Such a shame. It’s hard to believe, that they are both now gone. It seems like only yesterday. To me personally, Denman was always the champ. The biggest shame in my opinion, was that injury stopped him showing what he was truly capable of, after that Gold Cup win. Without those heart problems and the surgery, I think he would have completely dominated the staying division for a few years, Kauto would have had to settle for the King Georges.
On true NH ground, 3m2f, he was nigh on unbeatable. I was there for his Gold Cup and his second Hennessy.
The best horse I’ve ever seen in the flesh. The best staying chaser in my lifetime.
Something which was really nice, I flicked on RUK to see a race from Kempton, they were running Denman tribute segments last night. I ended up watching them all. Brought a tear to my eye.
The Hennessy wins alone endeared him to me much more than his more celebrated stable companion – as it was much more reminiscent of a time when the top chasers actually ran in the top handicaps which truly showed their ability rather than taking on inferior rivals in races at level weights.
A brute in physique (somewhat of a throwback to the old fashioned type of staying chaser) with a no nonsense I’m just going to walk up to you and punch you straight in the mouth style of racing that took no prisoners and usually brutalised his rivals leaving them strung out like washing on a line all over a racecourse.
The Tank left an indelible mark on all racing fans who watched him race (be it in person or on TV) and the only real sadness I have was that he didn’t get to enjoy a much longer retirement his racing exploits deserved.
Adios
The biggest shame in my opinion, was that injury stopped him showing what he was truly capable of, after that Gold Cup win. Without those heart problems and the surgery, I think he would have completely dominated the staying division for a few years, Kauto would have had to settle for the King Georges.
As with the 2015 GC this was a brute of a race and most likely the reason for Denman’s heart problems. The difference to the 2015 race is the form of the first 3 after the race. Denman depite is heart problems went on to win the Hennessey in an extraordinary weight carrying performance and 3 had GC seconds. Kauto Star won numerous more G1 races including another GC whilst Neptune Collonges won that season’s Punchestown GC and 4 years later the GN. An incredible training performance from Paul Nicholls.
He was not the same horse IMO though Homer. The Hennessy performance was epic, but he was built to carry 20 stone. In those Gold Cups where he finished second, to me, he had lost something compared to 2008, before his problems. Sprinter came back from the same problem. But like Denman, the absolute brilliantness from before, had gone.
I honestly believe if the heart problems had not intervened, everything would have been different. He’d have won the next two or three Gold Cups. Denman 2008, was unbeatable IMO.
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