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I’m all for running horses if they’re fit and well but there has to come a point where longevity is a concern, and that point has been and gone in the case of Pigeon Island.
He’s run 26 times over hurdles and is still only five years of age. After the catastrophic decline of the likes of Marcel in recent years, following such a busy schedule, don’t connections feel the least bit inclined to give the poor bugger a rest?
Looking back through his race history, Pigeon Island hasn’t had an appreciable break (of any more than 2 months) since May 2006 and has run a total – bearing in mind his flat exploits – of 33 times in that period.
I know we cry foul when horses aren’t campaigned aggressively enough, but Pigeon Island is neither top class (which is when we generally have an issue) nor a machine.
Why does longevity ‘have’ to be a concern? If the purpose of a racehorse is to race while he’s fit and well, then Pigeon Island is fulfilling his purpose. And he clearly is still fit and well, since he won last time out beating Listed and Graded winners. Like people, horses are all different. Some thrive on work and sulk or lose condition when turned away.
If the connections had said after his first win "we see him as a long-term National prospect" then fair enough, he might be considered to have been taken to the well a bit too often as a youngster, but he’s a Flat-bred precocious type. Turn him out for the summer tomorrow and he could get kicked and injured, and then his owners would probably regret not having made the most of his zest and talent while he was sound and in form.
Assuming they are prepared to do right by him and find him an alternative career when he does start to decline, accepting that that may happen sooner than if he were a traditional NH-bred who had taken the bumper route, then I think his connections are entitled to run him as often as they wish while he’s clearly in good heart.
Some horses can take more hard races than others – it’s the job of the trainer to find out which horse can.
Zip
would horse’s not run better or with more consistency if they had an appropriate amount of rest and preparation, some of these horse’s seem to me to be running for the sake of it or for the prize money, Pigeon Island would surely benefit and comeback stronger from a well earned break. that’s just my opinion, i dont pretend to know more than trainer/owner etc.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I think his campaign this season is a tribute to NTD and his team in Gloucestershire. To send a horse out to run well in that many starts is a fantastic achievement- he was 9/4 fav for a 25 grand race yesterday and had every chance 2 out. Who says how many races a horse should have? Surely an experienced trainer like Nigel is the best judge.
If he’d trained Best Mate he’d have won the Channel 4 trophy 3 years running.
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