'She was just a bit different' - John Bowe heartbroken after Solerina dies at 24

Solerina's owner John Bowe has paid an emotional tribute to his top-class racemare who died on Tuesday at the age of 24 following a short bout of colic.

As tenacious as they come, Solerina won 22 races, with five coming at the highest level. Bowe nominated her memorable victory over Golden Cross in the 2005 Hatton's Grace Hurdle, which completed a hat-trick in the Grade 1, as her greatest triumph.

Bowe said: "I'm pretty heartbroken but it's lovely to read how fondly she was remembered by so many people in racing. She just got a little colic and we thought she was out of the woods but unfortunately she had a setback. She was 24 years of age and leaves us with some great memories.

"She will be buried at home in the field beside Limestone Lad. He will be looking over her, like he always did."

He added: "Fairyhouse was her favourite track and it's lovely that there is a race named after her there. The three Hatton's Grace Hurdles were the absolute highlights. Two and a half miles on soft ground were her optimum conditions.

"Her third Hatton's Grace win was the one that stands out. She showed the courage to beat Golden Cross with Brave Inca back in third."

Solerina was trained by Bowe's brother Michael and formed a formidable partnership with jockey Gary Hutchinson during the latter stages of her career.

Along with her three Hatton’s Grace Hurdles, she scored at Grade 1 level when beating Hardy Eustace in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in 2003 and beat Accordion Etoile in the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle the following year.

John Bowe's Maxios filly, the final foal out of the top-class SolerinaCredit: John Bowe

Two of her 12 foals, Jaime Sommers and Halsafari, have already won races, and Bowe said: "She loved being a broodmare and that's probably the main thing I will remember about her; how happy she was with her foals.

"Jaime Sommers and Halsafari have won races for her and we have a three-year-old Jet Away, a two-year-old Vendangeur, a Walk In The Park yearling and a Maxios filly foal to run for her some day.

"I just got the passport for the Maxios filly in the post yesterday. Maybe she was trying to tell me something. The passport was delayed and it was remarkable that it came through yesterday of all days."

He added: "She finished on a high when she beat her half-brother Florida Coast at Naas in 2006 and I was so glad she could retire on her own terms.

"Thanks to a number of people, in particular to my brother Michael, who gave her five-star treatment all her life and to all the jockeys who rode her – Gary Hutchinson had a really good association with her. The Foley family also played an important role because Tom trained her to win a bumper at Naas during her first season.

“She had a character and an intelligence that was just a bit different to any other horses we've had. We had so many brilliant days. We used to get Christmas cards to Solerina and I know she meant a lot to so many people."

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Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday.