By Brian Fleming
ISTABRAQ WINDS DOWN
Champion hurdler Istabraq was gleaming in the Spring sunshine at Ballydoyle on Monday morning, showing no ill-effects of his recent Cheltenham Festival exertions which yielded a third Smurfit Champion Hurdle success in the hands of Charlie Swan.
Housed in box 100 at Anita's yard, named after his hard-working lass Anita Harvey, in the palatial surrondings of his south county Tipperary base, he looked a picture as he was paraded before the gathered press corps by both his enthusiastic minder and the master of Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien.
'He will just walk for another ten days before cantering for nearly three weeks - all part of the winding down process before he goes home to J.P.'s (McManus) Martinstown Stud,' said O'Brien. ' It could be six weeks before he's fully relaxed.'
Referring back to ' the trickle of blood scare' on the eve of recording that third Champion Hurdle success earlier this month - the fifth horse to achieve this marvellous feat - the Ballydoyle maestro remarked:
'We had him scoped when he came home and everything was o.k.- the blood at Cheltenham will always remain a mystery ', before he reflects for a moment and emphasises in no uncertain manner - 'Hopefully.'
Looking ahead to next season when his National Hunt stable-star bids to enter the history books and record his fourth successive Champion Hurdle victory in twelve months time, Aidan O'Brien reveals:
'I wouldn't be at all surprised if J.P. (Mc Manus) shortened Istabraq's season next year, probably starting at Christmas instead of in the race (John James McManus Memorial Hurdle) which he sponsors at Tipperary in October.'
Interesting, but make no mistake about it, whatever route this great horse takes next season he is going to take all the beating along the way.
Judging by the way he looked at a sun-kissed Ballydoyle on Monday morning, he simply dished out the message - ' I'M THE BOSS'.
Brian Fleming
Irish Racing Services
