Brave Inca

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At the Start
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If that is the last we have seen of this great horse can I wish him a long and happy retirement. Seems like his battle with Muirhead in the Irish Champion has just diminished that last bit of spark he had left earlier in the season but such a success was worth it.

A truely great horse in terms of his ability, constitution and of course his attitude and success on the track. Colm Murphy and his owners have done wonders with him but I am sure they will be quick to point out he has done wonders for them.

Horse I have long held a soft spot for and one that live long in the memory.
 
Well said Gal. I am very fond of him myself and have also had a soft spot for him. Think he is a gorgeous horse. :<3:

Gave me some great memories as a punter, and a racing fan.

If he is to be retired, wishing him a long and happy life after racing and hope that we can continue to hear how he is.
 
I'm sure Cantoris said they'd let the horse decide, but at face value at least on today's evidence (from the not inconsiderable distance I was at, so obviously don't know the ins and outs) it looked like he has. I'm equally sure Cantoris will let us know in due course.

Although he was a horse I never caught right, it was certainly a pleasure to watch from a distance in cyberspace, as on one forum in particular his rise was well charted and he became something of an adopted cyber horse who I think we all bought into.

I still regard the exhanges between Cantoris and Elephantine (Hardy Eustace) leading up to Hardy's win and Inca's third as the best internet exchanges I've ever had the priviledge of witnessing. Pure theatre and something we were all able to share and take an adopted side in. In a funny way it was the nearest that many of us would ever come to the real thing I guess, and without the internet and the input from the said two, it wouldn't have been possible, so a big thanks all round to those who were so happy to put their views/ information into the public arena and share it so openly with a community who would otherwise never have had access to it.

I should also say a thankyou to Cantoris for the patience of putting up with my theory about how Macs Joy would beat him the following year:whistle: although thinking about it, I think it was the year after when he was then the defending champ?

Mind you, he hasn't been retired yet
 
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A wonderful horse, and one many of us here feel we have a personal stake in, and relationship with. He won me quite a bit of money, but he gave me and all of us pleasure and joy that money can't buy. Being in the Winners Enc at Leapardstown in January will ever be one of my favourite racing memories - it was awesome, as was the crowd's adulation.

Great too to know without any doubt that connections will do whatever is right by the horse
 
Well I'm back from Punchestown and we were all in agreement when he came back in that he is going out on his terms. So that's the end of our eight year journey.

It's amazing to think that in six weeks time it will be the eight anniversary of when we bought him as a three year old. Still remember the day........sure what did we know about buying horses. And what were we thinking going to a little known trainer. Well maybe we saw the talent in the set up of the yard, and that talent spotted another talent having a bad hair day at the sales. And by some sheer fluke, those owners and that trainer and this horse all ended up together. And I think we were all good for each other. We took our time with him, let Colm get to know him, and there was plenty to know. As Colm said today "I still remember the day I told ye he was no Istabraq". We could easily have sold him for some big money a number of times, but what is big money when you're chasing dreams or as colm puts it "I sell dreams". We've had our dream come true and the old boy did us proud every time he ran.

The commitment the stable have put into him. Every morning they massage his muscles for twenty minutes. Petra looks after his back. Colm won't let anyone else ride him out except himself. It's the reason he doesn't take holidays. Kieran Gaule showed him how to jump, PJ Colville showed him how to win, Barry Cash taught him how to fight, Tony McCoy gave him the Muhammed Ali attitude "I'm the Greatest" and Ruby Walsh taught him never to give up. And the stand-ins of Barry Geraghty, Davy Russell and dominic Elsworth always brought him home in one piece.

but time moves on and we become sentimental about these things. He's been a star and his durability will never be seen again. But this year his back has given him a lot of problems and the Irish Champion was the best condition he was in. As the season progressed, his aches and pains got harder to treat and even today, the old swagger was replaced by a stiff short walk at the back. So it was time to quit while we're ahead. At least we can do that when the Macs Joy lads only have the photos to look at. I hope Elephantine is looking in and they do the same with Hardy Eustace tomorrow. They were a great era of hurdlers but all good things.............
 
Indeed , that wonderful head to head battle in the 2006 Champion will live long in the memory - an Ali-v- Frazier race if you ever saw one .

A long and happy retirement to him.
 
An elegiac summation, Cantoris, of everything that's fine, noble, and right about racing. Well done to the whole team which has so professionally supported the horse, well done for taking the decision to let him go now, and here's wishing him a good few years of R&R.
 
Glad to know you enjoyed having him, I seem to sell everthing when I can see a prophit but that,s just me, there are more losers than winners. Well done
 
Super. I hope you have as much fun and even half of the success with the Winning Ways horses.
 
Thank you Brave Inca - some great memories and a few bills paid. Have a long and happy retirement.
 
What a fantastic horse to be involved with. Talented, durable, tough, consistent. Ten grade 1s and a euro millionaire.

We are at the end of a great era in hurdling which provided some of the most fantastic racing. Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace, Harchibald, Macs Joy and Sublimity I salute you all.
 
Seconded.

It has been fantastic following the career of the tough, genuine and classy, Brave Inca and Cantoris (and all other connections) are to be commended for the open and fearless way they campaigned him over the years - whilst at all times demonstrating that the horse always came first.

Both Brave Inca and connections deserved every success they got.
 
Cantoris's post says all a natural human being should say. I hope you and your friend -- for that's what he evidently is -- enjoy each other's company for a good while yet.
 
I echo the sentiments on here regarding a long and happy retirement for Brave Inca.

It's difficult to single out a favourite race but I'll always have a soft spot for his Supreme Novices win. I never tire of seeing that finish, and it's great to think that two years later both he and War of Attrition were crowned champions.

Fantastic horse.
 
Class seems to be an attribute of both horse and owners. I hope Brave Inca enjoys a long and deserved retirement.
 
Wonderful tribute to a wonderful horse. Here's to a long and happy retirement for the grand old boy.
 
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