Rhinestone Cowboy (horse)
Encyclopedia
Rhinestone Cowboy was an Irish
bred racehorse. He was trained in England
by Jonjo O'Neill
.
race at Ascot
. His trainer them immediately stepped him up to the top level, where he contested the Champion Bumper
at the Cheltenham Festival
. Sent off the 5/2 favourite for the race, he finished second, when he was carried left in the closing stages of the race by the eventual winner, Pizarro.
as a novice. The reigning Champion Hurdle
winner, Hors La Loi was back in third place. In his next start, the novice was sent off the 5/2 favourite for the Champion Hurdle
at Cheltenham
, where he finished third behind Rooster Booster
.
, before finishing down the field in the December Festival Hurdle
. He then resumed winning ways in the Agfa Hurdle
at Sandown
in February, before returning to the Cheltenham Festival
, where he finished third in the Coral Cup
.
It was in his next two starts that Rhinestone Cowboy showed how good he was. First, he won the Aintree Hurdle
, where he overturned the previous season's Champion Hurdle
form by beating Rooster Booster
and Westender. More Grade 1 success followed 3 weeks later, as he won the Punchestown Stayers Hurdle
on his first try over 3 miles
. He had odds on stablemate Iris's Gift
back in second that day.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
bred racehorse. He was trained in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by Jonjo O'Neill
Jonjo O'Neill
Jonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...
.
Debut
He made his racecourse debut in February 2003, winning a National Hunt FlatNational Hunt flat race
National Hunt Flat races, informally known as Bumper races, are flat races run under National Hunt racing rules in Britain and Ireland....
race at Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
. His trainer them immediately stepped him up to the top level, where he contested 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...
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...
. Sent off the 5/2 favourite for the race, he finished second, when he was carried left in the closing stages of the race by the eventual winner, Pizarro.
2002/2003 season
He made his 2002/03 seasonal debut when winning a Listed Class Bumper at Cheltenham in November. He was then sent hurdling, where he went to complete a four - timer over the obstacles, which culminated in a victory in the Kingwell HurdleKingwell Hurdle
The Kingwell Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Wincanton over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in...
as a novice. The reigning Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
winner, Hors La Loi was back in third place. In his next start, the novice was sent off the 5/2 favourite for the Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
, where he finished third behind Rooster Booster
Rooster Booster (horse)
Rooster Booster was a British-bred thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2003 Champion Hurdle.-Background:Rooster Booster was a gelding whose grey coat and racing style made him easily recognisable. He was the only horse of any consequence produced by the unsuccessful racehorse...
.
2003/2004 season
The 2003/04 season proved by far to be Rhinestone Cowboy's best season. He started with victory in a handicap Hurdle at HaydockHaydock Park Racecourse
Haydock Park Racecourse is a racecourse in Haydock, Merseyside, England. The track is a mostly flat left-handed oval of around 1 mile 5 furlongs with a very slight rise on the run-in. There are courses for flat racing and National Hunt racing...
, before finishing down the field in the December Festival Hurdle
December Festival Hurdle
The December Festival Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
. He then resumed winning ways in the Agfa Hurdle
Contenders Hurdle
The Contenders Hurdle is a Listed National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
at Sandown
Sandown Racecourse
Sandown Racecourse is one of the four horse racing venues located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Built for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, it is the only metropolitan racecourse built in the 20th century and was opened before a crowd of 52,000, in June 1965.Sandown Racecourse is situated 25...
in February, before returning to 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...
, where he finished third in the Coral Cup
Coral Cup
The Coral Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped...
.
It was in his next two starts that Rhinestone Cowboy showed how good he was. First, he won the Aintree Hurdle
Aintree Hurdle
The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...
, where he overturned the previous season's Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
form by beating Rooster Booster
Rooster Booster (horse)
Rooster Booster was a British-bred thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2003 Champion Hurdle.-Background:Rooster Booster was a gelding whose grey coat and racing style made him easily recognisable. He was the only horse of any consequence produced by the unsuccessful racehorse...
and Westender. More Grade 1 success followed 3 weeks later, as he won the Punchestown Stayers Hurdle
Punchestown Stayers Hurdle
The World Series Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are fourteen hurdles to be jumped...
on his first try over 3 miles
Miles
Miles is the plural of mile.Miles may also refer to:- People :*Miles Brothers, American cinema pioneers* Miles ** Miles Browning, World War II admiral** Miles Davis, jazz trumpet player** Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver...
. He had odds on stablemate Iris's Gift
Iris's Gift
Iris's Gift was a National Hunt racehorse trained in Britain by Jonjo O'Neill.He made his racecourse debut in August 2001, where won a National Hunt flat race at Worcester Racecourse. He followed that up with another success at the same track the following month, before winning a Grade 2 National...
back in second that day.