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Pedigree

Sire: Sadler's Wells

Dam: Betty's Secret

Damsire: Secretariat

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Flat placings: 8/082121020/2/

Jumps placings: 211111/111112/1111111/12111/F1F/1P/

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Win and place prize money: £1,053,385

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Istabraq (born 23rd May 1992) is one of the greatest hurdlers of all time. He won at the Cheltenham Festival for 4 consecutive years including 3 Champion Hurdle victories. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien and owned by legendary gambler John Patrick McManus. Jockey Charlie Swan rode him in all of his 29 races over jumps. 

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Istabraq began his career on the flat, trained by John Gosden. He was bred to be good enough to win a Derby but was only a modest performer on the flat, winning 2 times from 11 starts. It was only when he was sent hurdling that his star quality shone through. He was bought to go hurdling for JP McManus by John Durkan, who had been assistant to John Gosden and planned to set up training himself. Unfortunately John was diagnosed with Leukemia, so Istabraq was sent to Aidan O'Brien to train with the agreement that when John recovered he would go back to John to train. However John passed away just before Istabraq won the 1998 Irish Champion Hurdle, so Istabraq stayed in the care of O'Brien. John did get to see his pride and joy win his first Cheltenham Festival race.

 

His first festival win came in the 1997 Royal & Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle which is now known as the Neptune Novice Hurdle. His first Champion Hurdle victory came the following year when he demolished the field to win by 12 lengths. Trainer Aidan O'Brien also had the runner up, Theatreworld. This was Istabraq's 10th win on the trot, but this streak came to an end at Aintree 3 weeks later. He was beaten a head by a typically strong AP McCoy ride on Pridwell which is still described as one of the greatest rides in history.

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His 2nd Champion Hurdle came the following year and he was once again chased home by his stablemate Theatreworld. It was his 3rd victory in 2000 which was more dramatic. Just the night before the big race his stable lad noticed a trickle of blood from one of his nostrils, and suddenly his participation was in doubt. He was checked over and there was no apparent reason for the bleed, and so he was allowed to take his chance. The result was never in doubt and he cruised throughout the race in his usual manner and quickly put the race to bed, becoming the 5th horse to win 3 Champion Hurdles.

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History was surely going to be made in 2001 with Istabraq a very strong favourite to become the first horse to win 4 Champion Hurdles, however Foot and Mouth disease resulted in the meeting being abandoned. He did come back the following year to try for his 4th but by now he was a 10 year old and didn't appear the dominant force he once was. He was in trouble after a few furlongs and was pulled up in front of the packed Cheltenham stands, who gave him a huge reception as he walked back, while the race was still running.

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Istabraq was retired and has spent his retirement years at his owners Martinstown Stud, where he still resides to this day.

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By the time he retired Istabraq had won 23 times from 29 starts over hurdles, with 14 of his victories coming in Grade 1 company. After being beaten a head on his hurdling debut Istabraq had started favourite in his next 28 starts (he was odds on in 23 of them).

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