Aidan O’Brien has hailed Istabraq as “the horse of a lifetime” following the passing of the remarkable hurdler on Thursday morning at the age of 32.
Istabraq, who was a dual winner in 11 Flat races under John Gosden, became a cherished figure in modern National Hunt racing. As a son of Sadler’s Wells, he achieved legendary status by winning 23 of his 29 hurdle races for the esteemed owner JP McManus, with jockey Charlie Swan in the saddle. He notably made history in 2000 by becoming the fifth horse to win three Champion Hurdle titles at the Cheltenham Festival.
In addition to his Champion Hurdles, Istabraq also claimed victory in the 1997 Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, four Irish Champion Hurdles, two Hatton’s Grace Hurdles, and an Aintree Hurdle.
Istabraq’s illustrious career began when Timmy Hyde purchased him for McManus for 38,000 guineas in the summer of 1996, the same year O’Brien took charge at Ballydoyle. Hyde acquired Istabraq on the advice of John Durkan, who had intended to train him but fell ill with leukaemia. After Durkan’s passing just days before Istabraq’s first Irish Champion Hurdle win in January 1998, O’Brien assumed responsibility for the horse.
Istabraq’s racing career concluded after he was pulled up while seeking a fourth Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham in 2002. He then enjoyed a long, fulfilling retirement at McManus’ Martinstown Stud in County Limerick, where he celebrated his 32nd birthday this past May.