Florida Pearl
Encyclopedia
Florida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins
. His major race successes included the Champion Bumper
, Royal & SunAlliance Chase, King George VI Chase
, and a record four Irish Hennessy's (Hennessy Gold Cup (Ireland)), among other races.
Florida Pearl made his debut when winning a 4YO Maiden at Lismore in March 1996. He did not reappear then until December of that year, where he followed up by winning a National Hunt Flat Race at Leopardstown. He was then stepped straight up to Grade 1 class, for the 1997 Cheltenham Festival
, where he was an impressive 5-length winner of the Champion Bumper
, which turned out to be his final appearance of that season.
He reappeared in December 1997, where he won a Beginners Chase at Leopardstown. Following that, he was stepped up in class for the Grade 2 Dr.P.J. Moriarty Memorial Novice Chase, for which he was an odds on favourite and obliged with a 1-length victory over Boss Doyle. Following that victory, he was sent off the 11/8 favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, where he defied his relative inexperience over fences to record an impressive 1½ length victory over Escartefigue, under Richard Dunwoody
, maintaining his unbeaten record in the process.
He made his first start of the 1998/99 season at Leopardstown in December in the Ericsson Chase
, where he was sent off an odds on favourite. Travelling strongly in the race, he made a mistake three out which resulted in him falling, leaving Doran's Pride to win. Despite this fall, he was still sent off an odds on favourite for the Irish Hennessy in February 1999, where he recorded a 2-length victory over old rival Escarefigue. He was then sent off the 5/2 favourite for the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup
, but failed to justify favouritism under Richard Dunwoody
, finishing a 17-length 3rd behind the winner, See More Business
. Florida Pearl made his final appearance of that season in April in the Punchestown Gold Cup, where he was once again sent off the odds on favourite, but could only finish a 14-length 2nd to Imperial Call.
He began the 1999–00 season in the Grade 1 James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase, he won comfortably from Doran's Pride by 2½ lengths. He then contested Ericsson Chase
for the second season in a row, where he again failed to justify odd on favouritism, when finishing 2nd to Rince Ri. He then came back to Leopardstown to contest his first Handicap, where he only just defied top weight when running out a short winner from Amberleigh House
. He then contested the Irish Hennessy for the 2nd successive season and was a comfortable 5½ length winner over old foe Doran's Pride. Florida Pearl then came back to contest the Cheltenham Gold Cup
, where he was sent off the 9/2 joint 2nd favourite beind last years winner and favourite, See More Business
(9/4). In a race, which was marred by the subsequent death of the then race leader Gloria Victis. Florida Pearl, however was again unsuccessful in his bid to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
, finishing a 5-length second to fellow 9/2 joint favourite, Looks Like Trouble.
In the 2000/01 season, Florida Pearl made five appearances, all at Grade 1 level. He had no luck in his first three races of the season, starting in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase, where he finished a distant fourth to reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup
Champion, Looks Like Trouble. He then went on to be denied by just a short head by Native Upmanship in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. Florida then made his first appearance at Kempton
in the King George VI Chase
, where he finished a 10-length 2nd to impressive winner, First Gold
. He then regained the winning thread, when winning the Irish Hennessy for the 3rd successive season, beating stablemate Alexander Banquet by 2 lengths. He was unable to run at the Cheltenham Festival because it was abandoned due to the 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis
. In his final appearance of the season, Florida Pearl finished a 6-length 2nd to Moscow Express in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
The 2001/02 season proved to be a lot more successful for Florida Pearl, although it began with a 2½ length 3rd behind Foxchapel King in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase. But more victories were not far away, when he exacting revenge on Native Upmanship from the previous season, with a short head win in the John Durkan Memorial Chase. Florida Pearl then returned to Kempton for the King George VI Chase
in December, where he again exacted revenge on last years winner, First Gold
, with a 3/4 length victory over Best Mate
. He then went back to Leopardstown to contest the Irish Hennessy for the 4th successive season, where he was sent off the 6/4 favourite, but could only finish a 25-length 4th behind the winner and stablemate, Alexander Banquet. He then went back to contest the 2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup
, where he could only finish 11th of 18 behind the impressive winner, Best Mate. He returned to England for his next start in the Grade 2 Martell Cup Chase
, where he cruised to an 11 length victory over Cyfor Malta. He was still to make one more successful appearance that season, when winning the Punchestown Gold Cup by 3 lengths over Native Upmanship.
2002–03 then proved to be a very disappointing season for Florida Pearl as he failed to get his head in front in five attempts. After being beaten a distance in both James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase and the King George VI Chase
, behind More Than A Stroll and Best Mate
respectively, he went on to be pulled up in the race associated with him, the 2003 Irish Hennessy. He was then dropped down to 2 miles at the Cheltenham Festival
, but could only finish 8th of 11 behind Moscow Flyer
in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
. In his final start of the season, he finished fifth behind old foe First Gold in the Punchestown Gold Cup.
The following season, 2003–04, proved to be Florida Pearl's final season racing, and he only made two appearances on the racecourse. He began the season in January 2004, where he made a successful return to action at Fairyhouse in the Grade 3 Norman Grove Chase, running out a 2-length winner over Rince Ri. In his final ever race, Florida Pearl returned to Leopardstown to contest the Irish Hennessy one last time, where he was sent off the 5/1 fourth favourite in the betting under jockey, Richard Johnson
. He defied these odds to win the race for the fourth time at the age of 12, with a 3-length victory over the 15/8 favourite Le Coudray.
Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
. His major race successes included the Champion Bumper
Champion Bumper
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in...
, Royal & SunAlliance Chase, King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
, and a record four Irish Hennessy's (Hennessy Gold Cup (Ireland)), among other races.
Florida Pearl made his debut when winning a 4YO Maiden at Lismore in March 1996. He did not reappear then until December of that year, where he followed up by winning a National Hunt Flat Race at Leopardstown. He was then stepped straight up to Grade 1 class, for the 1997 Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
, where he was an impressive 5-length winner of the Champion Bumper
Champion Bumper
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in...
, which turned out to be his final appearance of that season.
He reappeared in December 1997, where he won a Beginners Chase at Leopardstown. Following that, he was stepped up in class for the Grade 2 Dr.P.J. Moriarty Memorial Novice Chase, for which he was an odds on favourite and obliged with a 1-length victory over Boss Doyle. Following that victory, he was sent off the 11/8 favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, where he defied his relative inexperience over fences to record an impressive 1½ length victory over Escartefigue, under Richard Dunwoody
Richard Dunwoody
Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...
, maintaining his unbeaten record in the process.
He made his first start of the 1998/99 season at Leopardstown in December in the Ericsson Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
, where he was sent off an odds on favourite. Travelling strongly in the race, he made a mistake three out which resulted in him falling, leaving Doran's Pride to win. Despite this fall, he was still sent off an odds on favourite for the Irish Hennessy in February 1999, where he recorded a 2-length victory over old rival Escarefigue. He was then sent off the 5/2 favourite for the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
, but failed to justify favouritism under Richard Dunwoody
Richard Dunwoody
Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...
, finishing a 17-length 3rd behind the winner, See More Business
See More Business
See More Business was a top-class National Hunt chaser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase. He was trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald in two of those races...
. Florida Pearl made his final appearance of that season in April in the Punchestown Gold Cup, where he was once again sent off the odds on favourite, but could only finish a 14-length 2nd to Imperial Call.
He began the 1999–00 season in the Grade 1 James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase, he won comfortably from Doran's Pride by 2½ lengths. He then contested Ericsson Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
for the second season in a row, where he again failed to justify odd on favouritism, when finishing 2nd to Rince Ri. He then came back to Leopardstown to contest his first Handicap, where he only just defied top weight when running out a short winner from Amberleigh House
Amberleigh House
Amberleigh House was the horse that won the 2004 Grand National. He is now retired and living at the National Stud in Newmarket.-Staff:Amberleigh House was trained by legend Ginger McCain, and was usually ridden by jockey Graham Lee, amongst others...
. He then contested the Irish Hennessy for the 2nd successive season and was a comfortable 5½ length winner over old foe Doran's Pride. Florida Pearl then came back to contest the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
, where he was sent off the 9/2 joint 2nd favourite beind last years winner and favourite, See More Business
See More Business
See More Business was a top-class National Hunt chaser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase. He was trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald in two of those races...
(9/4). In a race, which was marred by the subsequent death of the then race leader Gloria Victis. Florida Pearl, however was again unsuccessful in his bid to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
, finishing a 5-length second to fellow 9/2 joint favourite, Looks Like Trouble.
In the 2000/01 season, Florida Pearl made five appearances, all at Grade 1 level. He had no luck in his first three races of the season, starting in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase, where he finished a distant fourth to reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
Champion, Looks Like Trouble. He then went on to be denied by just a short head by Native Upmanship in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. Florida then made his first appearance at Kempton
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
in the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
, where he finished a 10-length 2nd to impressive winner, First Gold
First Gold (horse)
First Gold was a National Hunt racehorse that was trained by François Doumen.The horse won the 2000 King George VI Chase race by a distance of 10 lengths when ridden by Thierry Doumen, beating Florida Pearl into second place. At the time of the win the horse was owned by the Marquesa de...
. He then regained the winning thread, when winning the Irish Hennessy for the 3rd successive season, beating stablemate Alexander Banquet by 2 lengths. He was unable to run at the Cheltenham Festival because it was abandoned due to the 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis
2001 UK foot and mouth crisis
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 caused a crisis in British agriculture and tourism. This epizootic saw 2,000 cases of the disease in farms in most of the British countryside. Over 10 million sheep and cattle were killed in an eventually successful attempt to...
. In his final appearance of the season, Florida Pearl finished a 6-length 2nd to Moscow Express in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
The 2001/02 season proved to be a lot more successful for Florida Pearl, although it began with a 2½ length 3rd behind Foxchapel King in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase. But more victories were not far away, when he exacting revenge on Native Upmanship from the previous season, with a short head win in the John Durkan Memorial Chase. Florida Pearl then returned to Kempton for the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
in December, where he again exacted revenge on last years winner, First Gold
First Gold (horse)
First Gold was a National Hunt racehorse that was trained by François Doumen.The horse won the 2000 King George VI Chase race by a distance of 10 lengths when ridden by Thierry Doumen, beating Florida Pearl into second place. At the time of the win the horse was owned by the Marquesa de...
, with a 3/4 length victory over Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
. He then went back to Leopardstown to contest the Irish Hennessy for the 4th successive season, where he was sent off the 6/4 favourite, but could only finish a 25-length 4th behind the winner and stablemate, Alexander Banquet. He then went back to contest the 2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
, where he could only finish 11th of 18 behind the impressive winner, Best Mate. He returned to England for his next start in the Grade 2 Martell Cup Chase
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
, where he cruised to an 11 length victory over Cyfor Malta. He was still to make one more successful appearance that season, when winning the Punchestown Gold Cup by 3 lengths over Native Upmanship.
2002–03 then proved to be a very disappointing season for Florida Pearl as he failed to get his head in front in five attempts. After being beaten a distance in both James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase and the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
, behind More Than A Stroll and Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
respectively, he went on to be pulled up in the race associated with him, the 2003 Irish Hennessy. He was then dropped down to 2 miles at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
, but could only finish 8th of 11 behind Moscow Flyer
Moscow Flyer
Moscow Flyer was a top-class National Hunt horse over distances between 2 miles and 2½ miles . He won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and 2005, the Tingle Creek Chase in 2003 and 2004 and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2002...
in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
. In his final start of the season, he finished fifth behind old foe First Gold in the Punchestown Gold Cup.
The following season, 2003–04, proved to be Florida Pearl's final season racing, and he only made two appearances on the racecourse. He began the season in January 2004, where he made a successful return to action at Fairyhouse in the Grade 3 Norman Grove Chase, running out a 2-length winner over Rince Ri. In his final ever race, Florida Pearl returned to Leopardstown to contest the Irish Hennessy one last time, where he was sent off the 5/1 fourth favourite in the betting under jockey, Richard Johnson
Richard Johnson (jockey)
Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...
. He defied these odds to win the race for the fourth time at the age of 12, with a 3-length victory over the 15/8 favourite Le Coudray.
External links
- pedigreequery.com - Florida Pearl's pedigree
- racingpost.com - Florida Pearl's race record