Monet's Garden makes showing debut

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The prolific racehorse Monet’s Garden has made his showing debut at Aintree, the course which helped make him a household name.

The 14-year-old retired from the track in 2010 following a foot infection, which nearly killed him. During his eight years he won in excess of £680,000, and 17 of his 32 starts.

Monet’s was best known for his wins at Aintree, so it was fitting that he returned here for his first appearance as a show horse. During his racing career he won five times at the course in Liverpool, three of which were in the Old Roan Chase, which he won in 2007, 2009 and 2010. The race has since been named Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase in honour of the old-timer.

Unfortunately Monet’s didn’t make it a sixth win at Aintree in the retrained racehorse class. He was placed around half way out of a field of 30, which his rider, Joey Richards, said was a good result for his first show.

In at the deep end

“It was Hickstead qualifier so I was pleased with him and he behaved really well,” Joey told H&C. “We had to throw him in at the deep end as all our local shows were cancelled due to bad weather.”

Joey is the daughter of racehorse trainer Nicky Roberts, and has been Monet’s groom and rider throughout his racing years.

“I’ve always looked after him and it was my dream to have him one day,” she said. “When he retired the main thing was that he was looked after and had a good home, so his owner David Wesley Yates said he could stay at our yard and in my care.”

Big softy

Despite being “spoilt rotten”, Joey says the flea-bitten grey is a big softy and easy to do. He’s adapted well to his new career and she plans on doing some dressage with him this winter.

“He goes nicely and has a good, natural head carriage, so reschooling him was always going to be a pleasure,” she said. “But it’s not going to be at the top level as I don’t have the time.”

The Aintree national showing event was the first of its kind at the racecourse. It was held in the middle of the track and had six rings, more than 250 classes and around 1,200 entries.

It was Lynn Russell who claimed the £1,000 prize in the retrained racehorse championship with Stealth Project, while supreme champion went to Lovaine Rooney, ridden by Megan Cookson from Cheshire, who also went home £1,000 the richer.