Horse of the Decade

Horse of the Decade

  • Altior

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Hurricane Fly

    Votes: 4 21.1%

  • Annie Power

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sprinter Sacre

    Votes: 13 68.4%

  • Faugheen

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Someone else

    Votes: 2 10.5%
  • Total voters
    19
Kauto Star winning the Lancashire Chase in 2011 after many were calling for his retirement (myself included) was the greatest moment.

From a form and specimen perspective, Sprinter Sacre is well ahead of anything else.
 
For me, for versatility and just because they were both favourites of mine it would be between Cue Card and Sizing Europe
 
Someone could do one for flat horses, but any title besides "Which horse this decade was called Frankel?" would be pointless.
 
as much as i love the Fly, Sprinter gets the nod. a truly incredible racehorse in his pomp.
 
Sprinter Sacre for me, though I only got into racing proper around the time Annie Power fell at the last fence in the mares. It was then onwards I proper started to watch racing.
I’d also make a case for Apples Jade, coming to the end of her time now, but my god what a mare she’s been.
Also an honourable mention to Tiger Roll

Race of the decade would be either Sprinters second champion chase, that brought a lump to my throat. Or the 2011 Gold Cup. The one in which Denman and Kauto turned in toe to toe only for the young buck Long Run take away their crown.

Sprinter Sacre
Apples Jade
Tiger Roll
 
granger said:
I'd happily give Kauto the horse of the century award but his decade his moment whilst great, was too fleeting
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I would say that's fair given he was so strong in the 2000s. Moment of the Decade probably deserves its own poll but what would be the nominations?

Top of my head
Kauto Star - 2011 Lancashire Chase
Sprinter Sacre - 2013 Champion Chase
Frankel - 2011 2000 Guineas
Frankel - 2012 Champion Stakes
American Pharoah - 2015 Belmont Stakes
Tiger Roll and Frodon wouldn't get my vote but I could see why they'd be nominated.
Annie Power's Champion Hurdle could be there although her fall is probably more memorable.

Also, would moment of the decade be interchangeable with race of the decade or are they two different things? This presents another problem in itself as Many Clouds/Thistlecrack could be a very worthy contender but does the death of the former add to the gravitas or make it a circenses non grata?

swedish chef said:
And then won the King George after that, both as an 11yo.
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When he won the King George, I was at a non-league football match for a friend's birthday. I had the race recorded and it was the only thing I was thinking about. At half time in the bar, some complete and utter wanker was telling his disinterested companions that Kauto won just won him twenty quid so that day has always been tarnished for me. I can accept that both races together are glorious but for me, the Lancashire Chase win was a standalone because it was so unexpected. The fact I was there also helps but I had never been to a race day like that beforehand and will probably never see anything like it again.
 
Moment of the decade, when Sprinter regained his crown. Scenes that I've never witnessed at the course, grown adults reduced to tears it was spine tingling.
 
tiggers1972 said:
Moment of the decade, when Sprinter regained his crown. Scenes that I've never witnessed at the course, grown adults reduced to tears it was spine tingling.
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Was there that day and remember that very clearly - a rare moment for a crowd.
Frodon this year I have to say was similar - fabulous reception when they came in, and people kept applauding.
 
Trainer of the decade: Willie Mullins
Jockey of the decade: Ruby Walsh
Horse of the decade: Hurricane Fly

I'm so glad Hurricane now has a statue at Leopardstown, which puts him on a par with the great Snow Fairy.

Sprinter was a most extravagantly talented horse, and so is Altior for that matter, but the Fly was defiance personified.
 
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