Hussard Collonges (Video Rock – Araine Collonges [Quart de Vin]
25 March 1995
Bought as a 4 year old at the Goffs sales at St Cloud for 120,000 Francs he won his only point to point in Ireland at Inch in April 2000. He was then acquired by Peter Beaumont for 46,000 gns but did not show much in 3 bumpers. However when he tackled hurdles it was a different story as he galloped his rivals into the ground at Wetherby to score at odds of 33/1.
Tackling 3 miles for the first time at Perth he again showed signs that he was an above average performer and finished runner up to Tyneandthyneagain.
The Peter Beaumont-trained gelding, enjoyed his finest moment when winning the 2002 Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Chase under Russ Garritty at 33/1. This was a fine performance and he jumped soundly to account for Iznogoud and Chives.
He went on top finish second to Marlborough in the Charlie Hall Chase and fourth to Gingembre in the Hennessy Gold Cup the following season before being pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He then suffered a crashing fall at Wetherby in the Rowland Meyrick Chase in December 2003, which left him with a fractured pelvis and sidelined him for 14 months.
Sadly, he never got back to where he was and connections took the decision to retire him after he had trailed home well beaten at Ayr in February 2006.
“For over two miles, he looked as good as ever and was really enjoying it, but then he caught the top of a fence and that was it – it’s as though something is hurting is him when that happens,” explained Beaumont.
He went to his owner, who lives near Gargrave, will the plan that he might do a spot of hunting. A big old fashioned chasing sort, Hussard Collonges will be best remembered for that gutsy win at the Cheltenham Festival.
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