New horse Clonard Abbey at Fairyhouse, Fairy Flute retired

Clonard Abbey is a two year old by Dragon Pulse who you can see here.  Sporting Life didn't think much of her pedigree. She is only 2 and this was her first run ever. Michael Hussey was the jockey. He had his hands full from the start as she stumbled out of the stalls and just when he'd got her back in the pack the 6 furlong race was half run. In truth, she never featured although for a brief second I thought she might go on. Her owner has donated her and any winnings to the club so hopefully she can improve enough this year that we see some money but interesting to see what sort of a career she can have.

At the other end of the career spectrum, the battle weary Fairy Flute has been retired. Like Colonel Maximus, Gordon felt she no longer wanted to be a race horse any longer and she is going somewhere in England to be a Happy Hacker, whatever that is. Apparently there is a contract in place that she can't be raced at any level again. Sad to see the first club horse I watched live end her career after such a poor final run. There were some promising runs and I still wonder what would have happened if she'd run over a longer distance. I have now asked why she wasn't as Smiling Eliza has been entered in 1m 7f race.