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Istabraq has died at JP McManus’s Martinstown home at 32 years of age. Great horse, great retirement. R.I.P. champ
Sad news he was a fantastic hurdler.
The things I want most in life are the things that I can't win.
Well, it had to happen one day. But, there is still a mixed feeling of sadness and happiness. He was the last (or one of the last) living legends of the late 90s.
Glad he had such a great retirement.
Rest in peace Istabraq
A print of him jumping the last at Cheltenham takes pride of place on our living room wall and will continue to do so. Farewell old friend and thanks for the memories.
Istabraq was arguably unlucky not to have won four Champion Hurdles as the Festival was cancelled in 2001 due to the foot and mouth outbreak.
He may not have been operating in a vintage era for hurdling, but he was a real class act, efficient and reliable.
I am so pleased he had such a long retirement where he was clearly well-loved.
RIP Istabraq
Farewell to a true racing legend, he was so full of his character even till the end.
VF x
Sad to see Istabraq on here , 32 some innings . One of my most treasured racing memories was being lucky enough to be at Leopardstown January 2000 and seeing him come into the winners enclosure , it was great !!! , he was some horse .
RIP Champ
He certainly was some horse and although it is a sad day it’s a comfort to hear that he lived a full and happy retirement.
RIP Istabraq – a true champion who will never be forgotten. 🏆 🌟Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Farewell Istabraq, a great hurdler. Condolences to JP McManus and his family and all the staff who looked after him so well at Martinstown.
He had a great life, as this clip shows:
Many thanks for posting Istabraq’s 32nd birthday celebration, Cork All Star. He looked really well, and recalled memories of such a wonderful career. Few top class jumpers live so long, although Spanish Steps reached 34. Delighted that he was looked after so well.
Genuinely heartbroken at this, he was one of my all time favourites, and the same age as my own horse who I lost a few years ago.
But what a wonderful retirement he had. Sleep tight fella and thankyou for the memories.Saw him live a few times; always electric and jumped like a cat. Underrated due to lack of challengers, but all he could do was win easily. This thread should really be on the front page, for such a legend
He must surely have been one of the last if not last horse standing to havd won at Cheltenham Festival in 90s , the winner of Triumph that year would be 29 if still alive .
I love to know if any others out there , or even just a rumner from meeting back it the 90s. 32 , wow the people caring for him deserve massive credit .Gold Cup winner Celeric trained by John Dunlop lived to be 31 years of age.
He beat Istabraq (2nd) on the flat at York over 2 Miles, ridden by Frankie Dettori in 1995.
Not sure if we have a memorial set up for him, hope so. By Mtoto he was a brilliant racehorse. He died on the same farm as he was born and it sounds as though he was much loved too.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Didn’t Moscow Flyer beat Istabraq one time and at the time no one realised how good he was. I can still remember being at Cheltenham when there was doubt about him running that day (some blood on his nose?) and the relief we all felt when it was announced that he would run. I’ve got all of his victories on video somewhere as my neighbour used to tape the days racing for me.
Istabraq fell at the last as a 1/4 fav and Moscow Flyer was the winner of the race. But, it would have been close.
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