'He's been a super horse': three-time Grade 1 winner Supasundae retired

Three-time Grade 1 winner Supasundae has been retired after failing to show his old spark in three starts this season, with trainer Jessica Harrington hailing him a "super horse".

The ten-year-old bravely fought off Buveur D'Air in a thrilling climax to the Aintree Hurdle last year, while his other victories at the highest level came in the Irish and Punchestown Champion Hurdles in 2018.

Supasundae, who was owned by the Potts family, raced at every Cheltenham Festival since 2015. He was sixth in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper that year, seventh in the 2016 Supreme, won the Coral Cup in 2017, finished runner-up in the 2018 Stayers' Hurdle, seventh in the same race a year later and filled the same position in last season's Champion Hurdle.

Watch Supasundae beat Buveur D'Air in the 2019 Aintree Hurdle

However, Supasundae had not been at his best this season. He returned with a lacklustre effort in a Grade 2 at Navan, finished last of five in the Morgiana and was beaten 48 lengths in last behind Honeysuckle in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle.

Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power after Supasundae's victory in the 2018 Punchestown Champion HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Harrington said: "We just haven't been able to get him going this year. He hasn't been jumping the way he can, so there is obviously something wrong with him somewhere. We just cannot put our finger on the problem.

"He owes us nothing and has been a super horse over the years. He's been so consistent in all those big races for so long and we felt the time was right to retire him. He's just not himself at all this season."

Supasundae in numbers

165 highest Racing Post Rating
164 highest Official rating
31 runs
8 wins
6 Cheltenham Festival appearances
3 Grade 1 victories
1 Cheltenham Festival win (2017 Coral Cup)

Asked which of Supasundae's eight victories gave her the most pleasure, Harrington replied: "The Irish Champion Hurdle was fantastic. He beat Faugheen that day at Leopardstown and he was just magic. The Coral Cup was a terrific day too, but I think that Irish Champion Hurdle was his best ever performance."

Racing Post Ratings agreed with Harrington as he posted his highest RPR of 165 in that race.

Harrington never tried Supasundae over fences, despite plenty of people suggesting he was tailor-made for them.

The trainer explained: "He's by Galileo and I've yet to find a Galileo who likes jumping fences. I didn't want to risk him over fences and then for him not to enjoy himself. He was brilliant over hurdles and that was good enough for me."

Supasundae won eight of his 31 starts and was placed on 11 other occasions. He earned just shy of €850,000 in prize-money in a career spanning over seven seasons.

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