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#1
09-21-2010, 01:05 AM
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His name was The Hornet...
... and he was one of the stars of Singapore racing.
I'm not stupid, I know most people don't look at the Singapore thread but for the couple or so who do it's a very familiar name. He was one of the reasons people like me follow racing over there. This is so incredibily sad. I'm painfully sorry for his connections. Singapore Turf Club The Hornet dies after surgery Michael Lee Monday, September 20, 2010 Popular Kranji galloper The Hornet sadly died on Friday afternoon while recovering from a knee surgery. The former Group 2 winner of the third Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge underwent surgery to flush out a knee which was infected inside the joint, but broke his hind leg post-surgery and had to be euthanased. “While recovering from the anesthetic, and getting up in the recovery, he severely fractured a hind leg and thereafter had to be put down,” said trainer Michael Clements who recently took over the six-time winner from trainer Douglas Dragon, saddling him to only four runs without success. “I recently took over the horse from Douglas who previously trained the horse with a lot of success, earning close to $1 million with him.” The veteran Singaporean trainer, who once declared The Hornet as the “best horse” he has trained in his 26-year-old career, applied the polish to the Australian-bred son of High Yield during his best season as a three-year-old in 2008. The precocious youngster then racked up four impressive wins which culminated to his crowning moment in the third Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge (1600m) under jockey Gavin McKeon. Touted as top shelf material, The Hornet quickly became a staple in Group races as a four-year-old, producing his trademark powerful finish to run a brilliant third and second in the first two legs of the Singapore Triple Crown Series, the Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup respectively, before being found out by the 2200m of the Singapore Gold Cup. Dragon decided to cap his trips at 2000m at his next campaign. Ridden for the first time by Perth jockey Peter Knuckey, The Hornet cracked it for another Group success when he scored second-up after a freshen in the Group 3 Group 3 Singapore Four-Year-Old Mile in February 2009 - which was to be his last win. His form subsequently tapered off in another 12 appearances, mostly in feature middle-distance races, including the 2009 Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge during the Jolie’s Shinju juggernaut and a tilt at the 2009 Singapore Airlines International Cup (eighth to Gloria De Campeao). In a bid to resurrect The Hornet’s career, owner Choo Thiam Huat eventually transferred the bay gelding to Clements in the wake of two unplaced runs under Dragon’s care this year. After a disastrous debut in the Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes (1400m) on Singapore Derby day when he dumped jockey John Powell at the start, The Hornet turned in an encouraging fourth to Thundering Jet in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m) on July 30, hinting at a return to form. But it was not to be as The Hornet finished at the tail of the field at his next two starts for the Zimbabwean conditioner, his latest being only last Sunday week when he ran last to Always Certain in the Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m), rounding out his record to six wins and eight placings from 29 starts for prizemoney only $27,000 short of the million mark. “It's a sad day for the owners and me, as the horse had a great character and had done so well on the race track,” said Clements. “The Hornet had four race starts for me, the most notable of which was a close-up fourth in the Chairman's Trophy. He was on the comeback trail to campaign in the forthcoming staying races in Singapore.” http://www.turfclub.com.sg/DesktopMo...=85&PortalId=0 Happier days... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AXvWpHxwpo Good night, good boy.  
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#4
09-21-2010, 11:59 AM
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You know,Gooey...the Triumph Bonneville along with the Lightning and Sportster were once the rulers of the street.
It was when horseys were horseys and all the young dudes were pounding young female flesh like there was no tomorrow and certainly no AIDS. All the more reason to mourn the loss of Hornet. I love you; you are in my prayers...even though I don't say them anymore. That's saying a lot.
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#7
09-22-2010, 12:28 PM
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Thank you for, in your own way, expressing your sorrow as well.
The world lost a good one. He didn't deserve to go ths way but alas..... sometimes the great ones are the most tragic.
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#9
09-23-2010, 11:13 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlA7Z...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y3yQ...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PznOWZRtibA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJahwTDf1d8..couldn't find one from that era They're called "iron horses"....so...
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