South African racing industry bid farewell today to reigning Horse Of The Year Rainbow Bridge, following the announcement of that gelding’s retirement.His trainer Eric Sands made the announcement on Facebook on Thursday:
“I was very pleased with his effort in the L’Ormarins Queens Plate on Saturday. A perfect run in preparation for the upcoming Met.But it is not to be. He jarred his near fore knee in the race and it has got progressively worse throughout the week. After consultation with Mr and Mrs Rattray, we have decided it is in the best interest of Rainbow to retire him. He has done us proud and his well-being is first and foremost.A tough decision for many, but not so in the case of the Rattrays. They would never risk their Horse of the Year being seriously injured. It is an honour and a privilege to train for such owners.After them, I spoke to Mary Slack, who bred RB at Wilgebosdrift Stud. Sad, yes, but the decision was unanimous. Rainbow deserves the best.He will stay in my yard until he is ready to travel back to his “nirvana” at Wilgebosdrift. In the yard we will embrace his well deserved retirement.I “found” him on the farm, as I did with my previous Horse of the Year Flobayou, and I must go searching again.”
A son of Ideal World and outstanding broodmare Halfway To Heaven, Rainbow Bridge was named South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in 2020-2021 following a season which saw the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred bay capture all of the G1 Cape Town Met, G2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes and G1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.
A half-brother to multiple G1 winners Hawwaam and Golden Ducat, Rainbow Bridge retires having won 11 of his 26 starts including two runnings of the G1 Met and three other G1 races.