Those special horses.
Every trainer dreams of those special horses.
The honest ones, the kind ones, the ones braver than lions, and the ones with hearts of gold. The tough ones, the talented ones, the laid back ones, and the ones who’d run through brick walls. The wise ones, the happy ones, the willing ones, and the ones who bring joy through it all.
But we were lucky enough to find all of that, in our Cap Du Nord.
Saturday marked Cap’s last day on a racecourse, and as he did his final lap of honour around the Bangor parade ring to a loud applause from racegoers, and his Owner Ian Marmion stood alongside, we couldn’t help but be immensely proud as we reflected on all he has achieved.
Bought privately from our good friend Pat Doyle - Cap didn’t have the best confirmation, he was only just big enough, he undoubtedly had less ability than stable mates Kitty’s Light, Win My Wings and Potters Corner - but he still took out the big prizes, wore his heart on his sleeve and played a huge part in getting us to where we are today.
To watch him still have the same enthusiasm for racing, and his daily routine at 12 years old as he did at 6 years old fills us with pride, and he is the perfect example of the longevity we aim to instill in every horse who walks through our barn doors.
In stats he earned £329,547 in prize money. He ran 71 times, won 10 times, and was placed on a further 13 starts. He showcased both Christian and Jack’s talents on the biggest stages when taking out Kempton’s Coral Trophy in 2022 and Ascot’s LK Bennett Swinley Handicap Chase in 2023 - and there is no doubting how important he has been for both of them.
We shared many great days with Owner Ian Marmion, Siofra and their group of friends, he took us all over - from Kempton to Perth, and France to Galway. He had an entourage of a dozen people alongside every time he ran, we all appreciated him and will treasure those days forever.
We thank Marmo for his support and friendship throughout Cap’s career - he has proven what can be achieved with patience, loyalty and trust. He’s always believed in us, and the journey would’ve looked very different without him.
We hope Cap’s next chapter will be as fun as his last, and wish him a very long, happy and healthy retirement.
Thanks for everything Cap x
We hope you enjoy his career highlights below.