Juggler passed away on the Friday before Christmas at the age of 26, leaving behind his best friend Colm Santry, Nominations and Sales Manager for Coolmore.
"He was such an amazing horse in so many ways and it's great to see his story told, so people can reflect on what an incredible horse he was for his original owners including Peter and Helen Horwitz and then later for me as an eventer that took me all the way up to two star eventing, " Colm Santry said.
I have to confess, I have more than a casual interest in Juggler as he was in
the Gai Waterhouse stable back in 1995 when I was a full time employee. I rode
him work many times and as a young horse he was skittish, full of himself and
very much a work in progress. Kevin Moses son Robbie was his regular strapper
and work rider at that time and he loved him more than life itself.We took the horse to Hawkesbury one day, Robbie was strapping, Kevin was riding him and I was doing the race day saddle up. It was very hot and Juggler was having his second run back from a spell jumping from 1200 up to 1600 metres. He sweated up before the race and while he was well fancied, you had your doubts about whether this would really be his day.
Of course he won and we all left Hawkesbury that day thinking Juggler was a horse with more to offer.
Two starts later, he won the Group III AJC Carbine
Club Stakes, then the Group II AJC Frank Packer Plate and then Gai sent Robbie
and I off to Queensland on a road trip.
Juggler was second in the Queensland Guineas and won the Rough Habit Plate ending a very successful three year-old season, but as we were all later to find out… it was but the tip of the iceberg.
Juggler went on to race at the highest level for the next four years, his overall record on retirement standing at 15 wins and 26 placings from 60 starts with prizemoney of $2.4 million.
Placed in three Doncaster's and just beaten on the line by Saintly in the 1996
Cox Plate his biggest wins came in the Group I AJC George Main Stakes, Chipping
Norton Stakes, VATC Caulfield Stakes and BATC Doomben Cup with Group I placings
in too many races to name.
"He was such a brave warrior on the track and he raced in an era of the greats," Santry pointed out.
Juggler was second in the Queensland Guineas and won the Rough Habit Plate ending a very successful three year-old season, but as we were all later to find out… it was but the tip of the iceberg.
Juggler went on to race at the highest level for the next four years, his overall record on retirement standing at 15 wins and 26 placings from 60 starts with prizemoney of $2.4 million.
Placed in three Doncaster's and just beaten on the line by Saintly in the 1996
Cox Plate his biggest wins came in the Group I AJC George Main Stakes, Chipping
Norton Stakes, VATC Caulfield Stakes and BATC Doomben Cup with Group I placings
in too many races to name."He was such a brave warrior on the track and he raced in an era of the greats," Santry pointed out.
"Many of his Group I placings were behind horses
like Octagonal, Might and Power, Saintly and even Sunline, he was third to her
in the Doncaster when she won it as a three year-old.
"He was also sixth in the
Dubai World Cup won by Singspiel, he was just a phenomenal racehorse."
Retired to the paddock as an eight year-old, Juggler lived a life of leisure for two years at GT Park until Peter and Helen Horwitz decided to give the horse to Colm Santry.
Retired to the paddock as an eight year-old, Juggler lived a life of leisure for two years at GT Park until Peter and Helen Horwitz decided to give the horse to Colm Santry.
"He spent two years living a quiet existence in a
paddock, looking over his fence, before Peter gave him to me to turn him around
as a Hunter where we whipped in for the Hunter Valley Hunt Club," Santry
said. "A horse like him, they just love to work and be out there doing something to challenge them. There is such a positive move now towards a more widespread re-training of thoroughbreds and finding other equestrian pursuits in which they can excel. Juggler was a great example of that."
Juggler and Santry became a high profile couple and very popular combination at some of the best three day events in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, sporting the same colours the horse carried in his racing career.
"Complete strangers would turn up to give him a pat and want to talk to you about him," Santry reflected.
"He was a punter's dream and Juggler repaid them every
Saturday he raced.
"He was like a rock star everywhere he went."
The transition from Group I winner to two star eventer was smooth.
The transition from Group I winner to two star eventer was smooth. "From
the first day I had him he took to it really well under guidance from
Equestrian coach Gordon Bishop," Santry said.
"Gai said after he came to me that he was a fierce competitor, and I didn't really take much notice because it sounded like something most G1 horses claim, but it was clear early on that he really was different and special. From his first day at pre-novice level in Scone, he knew he was in a competition, and how he always wants to be in front and be the best.
"He had a great temperament and action to succeed as an equestrian horse. He was very honest - whatever you ask him to do, he'll do. He's done that since I first put him over the jumps.
"Gai said after he came to me that he was a fierce competitor, and I didn't really take much notice because it sounded like something most G1 horses claim, but it was clear early on that he really was different and special. From his first day at pre-novice level in Scone, he knew he was in a competition, and how he always wants to be in front and be the best.
"He had a great temperament and action to succeed as an equestrian horse. He was very honest - whatever you ask him to do, he'll do. He's done that since I first put him over the jumps.
"There are not many horses that could canter
down to a barrel with a log on it in the middle of a field and jump it clean. And,
as he was a great racehorse, he's more naturally talented and athletic than a
lot of horses.
"A lot of ex-racehorses are tried in equestrian sports and fail, but I would think there hasn't been a racehorse that has succeeded at Group I level like him and then do this well at eventing. It's testament to his character and temperament that he could do it. He was stakes-placed 40 times and Group 1 placed 16 times.
"I've got no doubts that if I'd got him sooner; he'd have gone to the highest level. You could never get him off the bridle no matter how many fences were put in front of him."
When advancing years brought the end of his eventing career, Juggler remained
at Coolmore in the care of Lucy Roberts, who looked after, loved and adored him
to the end.
"A lot of ex-racehorses are tried in equestrian sports and fail, but I would think there hasn't been a racehorse that has succeeded at Group I level like him and then do this well at eventing. It's testament to his character and temperament that he could do it. He was stakes-placed 40 times and Group 1 placed 16 times.
"I've got no doubts that if I'd got him sooner; he'd have gone to the highest level. You could never get him off the bridle no matter how many fences were put in front of him."
When advancing years brought the end of his eventing career, Juggler remained
at Coolmore in the care of Lucy Roberts, who looked after, loved and adored him
to the end. "Lucy used to watch me working him in the evenings so it was a very
natural progression when he blended into her special care," Santry added.
Bred in Victoria, Juggler was by far the best offspring of Northern Dancer sire Jugah (USA) and his New Zealand bred dam Kashalyn, whose two other winners failed to reach the heights of their famous sibling.
Exceptional in every way, Juggler was a lover of carrots and Guinness and a horse that brought joy to all who knew him.
Rest in peace old mate.
Bred in Victoria, Juggler was by far the best offspring of Northern Dancer sire Jugah (USA) and his New Zealand bred dam Kashalyn, whose two other winners failed to reach the heights of their famous sibling.
Exceptional in every way, Juggler was a lover of carrots and Guinness and a horse that brought joy to all who knew him.
Rest in peace old mate.
