Horses for Sale

   Tuxedo Junction (GB) 


Exciting dual purpose prospect,
click here for details!

 

    Fighter Allen (FR)  


Exciting new horse with proven form, 
click here for details!

 

 


                     Ashkazar
        (Photo courtesy of Bill Selwyn)

Ashkazar was a 2004 born bay gelding bred by the Aga Khan.  Thank you to Sally Oliver who got in contact with us about him, she enjoys reading about our former inmates and Ashkazar was one of her favourite past horses.  He was by Sadler’s Wells and his dam was called Asharna.  He began his career in France in training with A De Royre-Dupre in November 2006 as a two year old at Fontainebleu over 1m1f with Christophe Soumillon riding.  He finished last of the six runners after missing the break.  The winner of that race was none other than future Champion hurdle winner Binocular and in third place was Thousand Stars who was also high class and a future Cheltenham Festival winner.  Not a bad race to make your debut in I guess!

After a little break he had five runs on the flat in France in 2007.  Stepping up in distance he showed improved form and included a win at Longchamp and two second places after which he was bought privately to run in the colours of Champion owner David Johnson and came over to England that summer.

He made his Pond House debut in a juvenile hurdle at Wincanton in December 2007 with Sam Thomas on board.  He was a nine length winner this day making a very good impression.  He finished fourth behind Franchoek at Chepstow on his next start before returning to winning ways quite impressively at Sandown in February. It was then back to the Esher track for the Imperial Cup at the beginning of March.  Off a mark of 135 he led all the way under Timmy Murphy and quickened clear from a competitive field after a huge leap at the second last.

It was then onto Cheltenham to try for the Imperial Cup/Festival Bonus.  The Fred Winter juvenile handicap hurdle was the race of choice carrying a four pound penalty for the Sandown success just three days later (although he did in fact escape this as he was top weight already and was not allowed to carry the penalty).  He was trying to emulate stablemate Gaspara who had previoucly achieved this exact double.  He ran a cracker but was just denied the famous double, finishing second to Crack Away Jack, beaten 2½ lengths.

After a summer holiday his comeback race was the Ladbroke handicap hurdle at Ascot in December where he finished down the field.  It was back to winning ways in his next run in the Grade 1 Kingwell hurdle at Wincanton in February 2009. He took his chance in the Champion hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March but was below form and finished well beaten. 

Following a summer at grass he embarked on a novice chase campaign that autumn.  Although he won on his chasing debut at Stratford he seemed not to take to fences as well as we might have hoped for such big chasing type of horse.  He finished fourth at Cheltenham on his second start over the larger obstacles but it was then decided to send him back hurdling after this.  He contested a lot of the top handicaps and ran okay but ultimately failed to trouble the judge.  When the handicapper relented and his handicap mark dropped a little however he did finish off that season with two wins over hurdles.  Off a rating of 135 he won at Cheltenham’s April meeting and then won again at Sandown on the final day of the 2009/10 National Hunt season off a mark of 145.

When he returned to action after a summer break in November 2010 he remained over hurdles but once again now rated 155 he struggled in his first three runs back in very competitive races.  He did however get a deserved win at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day 2011.  He lead home a Pond House trained 1-2-3 in a handicap hurdle beating stablemates Junior and Charteux staying on strongly over three miles, his first try at the trip.  He then ran in the Stayers hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March but finished well behind winner Big Bucks.

It was then time for another break and when he returned once again he was not at his best.  He ran okay at the 2012 Cheltenham festival before returning to form back at the track at their April meeting when winning returned to fences.

As he got older he began to suffer a few health issues which affected his performances on the track.  He only actually had three more runs after his latest win before he was retired.  He was unable to show his best and did not seem to be enjoying his racing so he had his last race at Cheltenham in April 2013 where he pulled up.  Although only nine years of age and relatively young, it was an easy decision to retire him after this.

Ashkazar was looked after at Pond House by David’s better half, Leanne.  You could not meet a more laid back, kind and lovely horse.  He was a gentleman in the stable and brilliant to ride also.  Like many of David Johnson’s horses he was retired to the care of Timmy Murphy.  He was a huge hit with Timmy’s children and all the family and has enjoyed a wonderful active retirement.

Ashkazar won ten races from 36 career starts and was placed six times as well. Rated 161 at best he won just shy of £200,000 in prize money.  He was amazing in his younger days and nearly pulled off the famous Sandown/Cheltenham Festival double but he is remembered fondly at Pond House off the track for being a wonderfully kind horse as well.   

Watch his win in the 2009 Kingwell hurdle at Sandown here: https://www.racingtv.com/racecards/wincanton/220331-bathwick-tyres-kingwell-hurdle-grade-2?show_all=true&non-runner_display=false