 Monet's Garden won the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October |
Popular chaser Monet's Garden has been retired and is "battling away for his life" says trainer Nicky Richards. The galloping grey, who turned 13 on New Year's Day, is critically ill after suffering an infection in a foot. Monet's Garden was at his bold-jumping best as he won the Old Roan Chase at Aintree for the third time in October but a foot problem was found later. "The old horse is battling away for his life," said Cumbria-based Richards of the gelding who has won 17 races. "Regarding his racing career though, that's over. We are just trying to save the old horse now, he's still at the vets. "I don't know if he's over the worst yet, even. We are having a hell of a job closing this infection down. "If we can do it, it will be absolutely fantastic." The three-time Grade One winner was found to be lame after winning at Aintree and is suffering from an infection which has spread to the bone in his hoof. His trainer has indicated the horse, who has earned more than £680,000 in prize money in his 32 races, has less than a 50 per cent chance of survival. Despite reaching the veteran stage, Monet's Garden won the Grade One Ascot Chase last February. His first Roan Chase win in October 2007 came at the expense of Kauto Star, who is considered to be one of the greatest steeplechasers of the last 40 years.  | 606: DEBATE |
The Roselier gelding began life in an Ayr bumper in 2003 and ran out a half-length winner. He then won his first two races when switched to hurdles the following season before finishing second in the 2004 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at the Grand National meeting. Monet's Garden returned to Aintree 12 months later to land the Liverpool Hurdle, but he excelled over fences. He won his first two starts in his novice campaign before finishing runner-up to Voy Por Ustedes in the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, after which he landed a Grade Two event at Ayr. The following season he won the Ascot Chase and finished fourth in the Ryanair before landing the Melling Chase at Aintree. After his defeat of Kauto Star, he did not win again until the Peterborough Chase of 2008. | Whilst he's fighting, we're fighting with him David Yates, owner of Monet's Garden |
A 2009 victory in the Old Roan, and possibly a career highlight win in last year's Ascot Chase, demonstrated his well-being. Monet's Garden has been owned throughout his career by David Yates, who was understandably left distraught by the news. "I'm very sad for the horse because we were hoping to give him one or two more races and then look forward to a happy retirement, but it's not looking like that will be the scenario, unfortunately," he said. "This bone infection has really got a hold but, as he has done all his life, he's fighting. "Whilst he's fighting, we're fighting with him. "He's irreplaceable, I wouldn't even think of trying to replace him." Monet's Garden was perceived by some observers to be a horse who did not thrive at Cheltenham. But Yates said: "I actually thought his best race was in the Arkle when he was only just beaten by Voy Por Ustedes trying to give him 5lb. "Everybody said he didn't like Cheltenham but it was actually the overnight stopovers he didn't like. "Because of that we used to take him down on the day to the likes of Ascot. "He won the Ascot Chase twice and we were hoping he might have won it for a third time. "He's won the Old Roan Chase three times, the Peterborough Chase, and he's also beaten Kauto Star, which not many have done. "He's been a star for us all."
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