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William Fox-Pitt’s five-star winner Seacookie TSF has been put to sleep aged 25 after a stellar profession – and virtually 10 years of pleased retirement.
The Trakehner gelding, who gained Pau and Blenheim, and got here second at Burghley and Kentucky, retired on the finish of the 2014 season, and loved the remainder of his days with proprietor Catherine Witt.
“It’s so unhappy to see him go – however what reminiscences he left us with,” Catherine instructed H&H.
Cookie had been produced by German Olympic rider Ingrid Klimke and William had seen and admired him at Boekelo, when Catherine was trying to purchase a horse for William to journey.
“That’s the way it began,” William instructed H&H.
“He was an actual athlete, who appeared like he discovered eventing really easy, so mild and indulgent. It was like using an elastic band. He had his little quirks; he was fairly spooky and had his personal little opinions – however very good ones; he didn’t have a nasty bone in his physique. And he gave me some wonderful rides at five-star stage.”
William and Cookie competed at Badminton in 2010 however didn’t full as a result of the horse tied up. However they got here second at Burghley that 12 months, gained Blenheim in 2012 and got here second at Kentucky in 2013, the 12 months in addition they gained Pau.
“Second at Burghley was very candy, however with a little bit edge as we got here so shut, and he was wonderful,” stated William. “He was such a fighter; he’d by no means quit. He perhaps wasn’t the very best galloper and didn’t have the very best stamina, however he was up for every little thing.
“And to have been so shut so many instances, to lastly win Pau; it was an enormous reduction as he actually deserved it.”
William paid tribute to Ingrid’s manufacturing, including: “I feel I by no means fairly bought the very best out of him on the flat; together with her he should have been fairly a couple of p.c higher however he nonetheless bought fairly good marks with me, so goodness is aware of what he’d have completed together with her!
“He was very particular and I’m very fortunate Catherine purchased him for me. We had good enjoyable, then he lived in luxurious together with her, Parklane Hawk and Bay My Hero, three five-star winners all out collectively.”
Catherine defined that Cookie was her first horse with William, so he began the partnership Parklane Hawk and Bay My Hero later joined.
“Cookie by no means gave me a day’s anxiousness,” she stated. “I’m some of the nervous homeowners ever; I don’t actually get pleasure from it until the Wednesday after the occasion! However I didn’t have a priority with him; I believed in William. He was an ideal horse
“He knew his job, by no means bought overexcited, he simply did every little thing, and we have been very fortunate. Then he retired sound, and I had him for almost 10 years extra.”
Catherine stated Cookie was a really light horse to have round, with a cheeky facet.
“The others in all probability bought all of the blame for something that occurred as a result of it couldn’t have been him!
“He didn’t appear like an occasion horse; he was too fairly, however he stored up with all of the others, and when he got here second at Burghley and Kentucky, we knew sooner or later he was going to have a win. William had three horses at Pau that 12 months nevertheless it was Cookie who gained, and it was good.
“He was lovely. I really feel very blessed to have had such good horses, and blessed to have had him so lengthy.”
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