Fans
of the tremendously popular veteran chaser Sizing Europe have learned
that the
12-year-old is set to return to training
with one more season in action on the cards despite reports at the
end of last term that the Henry de Bromhead-trained star would most
likely be retired.
The
gelded son of Pistolet Bleu ended last season with an emotional
success at the Punchestown Festival, running-on powerfully from the
home turn to beat Ballynagour by five-and-a-half lengths in the Grade
1 Boylesports.com Champion Chase.
Many
believed that owners Ann and Alan Potts would send their star
performer off to a much deserved retirement following that win but it
appears that the old horse has given plenty of indications that he is
not yet willing to hang up his racing shoes and has been brought back
into training. Connections are set to make a final decision about his
future in a couple of months’ time.
In
terms of which race
guides
to look out for over the coming months, it looks like the target for
a first run of the 2014-15 campaign is the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase
at Gowran Park in October, a two-and-a-half mile contest that Sizing
Europe has won for each of the last three seasons, most recently
justifying odds-on last autumn when cosily accounting for the smart
Ballynagour.
In
a career spanning nine jumps season de Bromhead’s charge has won no
less than 21 races – 16 in Graded company – from a total of 42
starts. His greatest moment came at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival
when, having landed the Grade 1 Arkle Novice Chase Trophy 12 months
earlier, he then proved just too good for another Irish star Big Zeb
when putting up a memorable performance to land the two-mile chasing
crown.
All
in all the horse who has also won races at up to three miles has won
very nearly £1.3 million in total career prizemoney and is a credit
to all involved with him.