Dubai: Hors De Combat, whose name translates to ‘out of the fight’, proved otherwise when becoming one of the welcome international winners at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
Given a perfect ride by Oisin Murphy the son of Mount Nelson was ending a four-year drought to record what was only his third career victory.
Though in all fairness, he had been consistently in the money through out that time.
A pretty chestnut he has been owned by Chris Van Hoorn since he was purchased at Tattersalls yearling sales for 40,000 guineas back in 2012.
He went into training with James Fanshawe and wasn’t long about showing his prowess, breaking his maiden on the first attempt at Newmarket no less and he followed up with a win in early 2014 as well as several in the money placings.
2015 saw the warrior try twelve times including Group 1 races and while getting placed he did not manage to win.
A change of scenery from Newmarket to Berkshire was then instigated by his owner and off he went to join Denis Coakley’s pretty little set up down the lane from Mick Channons swiftly followed by a trip on an air plane out to Dubai, a move which seemed to be a suit as he ran twice, finishing second to the high class but ill-fated Fanciful Angel and third to Godolphin’s Folkswood and Carnival stalwart Elleval concluding that the strong tempo of Meydan races were to his liking.
Following another UK season with placed efforts but no wins he returned here with a nice comeback effort in third behind Salsabeel (Godolphin/Appleby) in January and was then fully tuned up for a superb win in the Jaguar E Pace one mile handicap where his favoured conditions of a fast pace to aim at enabled Oisin Murphy to relax out the back and swoop down the straight for a very nice win - the first for four years - a long time between drinks indeed.
His erstwhile trainer Denis Coakley from County Cork, a part of Ireland that has sent so many top flight horseman, said: “He needs a good gallop to set the race up for him and everything needs to fall into place which doesn’t happen very often but thankfully it did on that day.
“His aim this year is the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and then I’d love to bring him back to Dubai next season.
“It’s so easy to train here compared to the wet and cold in England during winter and we are so well looked after in Meydan,” Denis added.
“Chris Van Hoorn has been with me since I started and is a great loyal owner”.
Coakley started training in 1999 following stints as a jump jockey in Ireland, England and America after which he became assistant to Lord Huntingdon [William Hastings Bass] staying with him when he moved to West IIlsley in Berkshire to the Stables now owned by Mick Channon.
Upon the retirement of the Boss Coakley purchased the Isolation yard at the end of the driveway and has been in this charming location ever since ably assisted by his delightful and astute wife Barbara and son Charlie. I hope its not so long for the next “drink” for this hard working family.
