'The most surreal thing I've seen in a long time' - Native River shines at prom

Jumps legend Native River made a spectacular first outing since his retirement last year when proving the perfect chauffeur for student Zara Cox, who arrived to her prom night in style aboard the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero.

Teenagers usually roll up in fancy cars, tractors or maybe a horse and carriage, but 16-year-old Zara – a pupil at Kingsmead School – decided to ride the popular chestnut, who also won a Welsh National, Hennessy Gold Cup and three Denman Chases during his illustrious career, to the door of the prom at Oake Manor Golf Club, Taunton.

Garth and Anne Broom, who owned Native River under their Brocade Racing banner, were there to see their star's unique performance, which amazed other guests, family and teachers at the prom.

Native River has been enjoying his retirement with bloodstock agent Tom Malone, who said: "We turned off the main road into the golf complex and it was probably a half-mile long. There were cars, people, tractors and everything, but he never missed a beat. He marched on ears pricked and was actually last in. Every young person was standing and just paused and went 'wow'.

"It was the most surreal thing I've seen in a long time. It was like he was standing in the winner's enclosure at Cheltenham. It was something to behold and I had a lump in my throat watching it.

"He loved it and even when I took him home he got his dance going. He loves life and is a real character."

Malone also explained how Zara's father's friendship with the Brooms led to the magnificent spectacle.

"Her father, Dan, is a police officer and lived in Wellington at an early age. Him and a few friends used to mess around at a farm and upset the farmer there one day," he said. "They ran off and jumped up into a tree, which the farmer found. He jumped into it and his words were 'if you're going to mess around in this yard you might as well come and work for me'.

"That started a relationship between Dan and Brocade Racing as it was Garth and Anne Broom's farm. He worked for them as a kid for years and when Zara mentioned the whole idea, Dan rang me to see if I'd be up for it.

"I said there'd be a few stipulations as he's a racehorse, but he is the most gentle racehorse of all time. He knows he's a superstar because when she got on in this big, long, black dress, I was thinking 'oh mother Christ'. If it blew in the wind a normal racehorse would be gone!"

An open day to see Gold Cup hero Native River is being plannedCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

It will not be the last opportunity for Native River's admirers to see him during his retirement as Malone is planning to hold an open morning in September due to his popularity.

He said: "I've been inundated with people wanting to come see him and I have no problem at all with that. Everyone should enjoy a horse like him.

"I'll hold an open morning for him in September for charity so that any donations can be given to charities linked with retired racehorses. It's all to be arranged and we'll start the ball rolling with that one.

"He's going to do a lot more things going forward as he's the most gentle giant to be around. He's having a ball in retirement. He eats his hay, goes out in the field every day, comes and says hello to the kids and goes back in when he's had enough. He's loving life."

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