DESERT ORCHID IS DEAD

David Elsworth fondly relived the defining moments of Desert Orchid's glittering career after the ever-popular grey passed away peacefully on Monday.

Dessie provided National Hunt racing with the superstar it needed, with his gutsy will to win and flamboyant fencing among the attributes he was most admired for.

And while his battling Gold Cup victory in the brooding Cheltenham gloom of 1989 was a major achievement, it was just one of many highlights in a sparkling career.

Elsworth said: "Desert Orchid died peacefully in his stable at 6.05 this morning.

"There was no stress, he departed from this world with dignity and no fuss.

"He did his dying in the same individual way that he did his living. It was time to go.

"Dessie had not been well for the past week and was losing his co-ordination and Richard Burridge visited only yesterday along with Janice Coyle.

"Our thanks goes to David Bartram from Greenwood Ellis for his kind help in making his last days comfortable.

"He was 27 years old and we had been involved with this wonderful horse for quarter of a century both in his racing days and retirement.

"Everybody will miss him and our sympathy goes to his adoring public and fan club that never ceased to take opportunities to see him at his public appearances."

Dessie typically saved his very best racecourse performances for Kempton, where he plundered the King George VI Chase an incredible four times.

Fittingly, connections felt it appropriate their charge should now return to his happiest hunting ground.

"Desert Orchid will be laid to rest at Kempton Park near his statue where many of his most memorable triumphs took place," Elsworth added.

"He will be sadly missed by the staff here at Egerton and will forever be remembered for the great moments he gave his racing public.

"We've just got to remember the good days.

"He just seemed to get on with life and nothing daunted him - he was a wonderful horse."

Recalling the fledgling steps Dessie took into a racing career that would blossom further down the line, his trainer added: "He sort of crept up on us really but I remember his first run at Kempton.

"He fell at the last hurdle when still in contention and then he went on to finish second at Sandown on his second or third run.

"Then we put him away and of course the following season he went and won a load on the trot."

Unsurprisingly, the merit of winning four King Georges was not lost on Desert Orchid's dual-purpose handler.

"Racing gets more competitive and it's tougher nowadays but he was a very good horse around Kempton," Elsworth told At The Races.

"If they'd run the Gold Cup around Kempton he would have probably won four Gold Cups as well but he wasn't just as effective on left-handed tracks.

"But he did scramble home one year! (the 1989 Gold Cup).

"It was a great day but we had so many good days with Dessie.

"The Irish National win was another heart-stopper as we thought he'd fallen at the last but he recovered and won well.

"He surprised me that day, I must admit. We'd won the Whitbread before and, with the Irish being great supporters of jump racing, they loved Desert Orchid.

"I remember the clerk of the course went to great lengths to get us over there and I remember thinking it wasn't such a good idea.

"Anyway, we turned up and it was towards the end of the season so I wasn't quite sure he hadn't had a race too many but it was a wonderful day."

For all Desert Orchid's class and exceptional courage, his legion of supporters would also point to his versatility and durability when underlining what made him the champion he was.

"He coped with all grounds and the wonderful thing was that we ran him on a regular basis," Elsworth said.

"I think we ran him on average about eight to 10 times a year and he ran over variable distances.

"Of course we didn't abuse him but we always took everybody on. He got beat plenty of times but we always knew he'd run a good race and be in there pitching in a big race.

"I remember him winning the Racing Post (Chase) with an enormous weight and that was probably the biggest performance he ever did.

"He loved Kempton and it is a very fitting place for him to end up I think.

"He gave us some wonderful times, some wonderful moments."

Desert Orchid Factfile:

Foaled: April 11, 1979

Sire: Grey Mirage

Dam: Flower Child

Owner: Richard Burridge

Trainer: David Elsworth

Career record: Races 71. Wins 34.

Big wins:

1983/4:

Tolworth Hurdle (Sandown)

Kingwell Pattern Hurdle (Wincanton)

1984/5:

Oteley Hurdle (Sandown)

1985/6:

Hurst Park Novices' Chase (Ascot)

Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Sandown)

Killiney Novices' Chase (Ascot)

1986/7:

King George VI Rank Chase (Kempton) £31,696.00

FU's Jeans Gainsborough Handicap Chase (Sandown) £15,666.00

Jim Ford Challenge Cup (Wincanton) £6,322.90

1987/8:

Chivas Regal Cup (Liverpool)

Whitbread Gold Cup (Sandown)

1988/9:

Tingle Creek Handicap Chase (Sandown)

King George VI Rank Chase (Kempton)

Victor Chandler Handicap Chase (Ascot)

Racecall Gainsborough Handicap Chase (Sandown)

Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup (Cheltenham)

1989/90:

King George VI Rank Chase (Kempton)

Racing Post Chase (Kempton)

Jameson Irish Grand National (Fairyhouse)

1990/91:

King George VI Rank Chase (Kempton)

Agfa Diamond Handicap Chase (Sandown)

Other notable performances: Also finished second in the 1984 Christmas Hurdle, second in the 1986 Scilly Isles' Novices' Chase, third in the 1986 Arkle Challenge Trophy, third in the 1987 Queen Mother Champion Chase, second in the 1987 King George, second in the 1988 Champion Chase, third in the 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup, third in the 1991 Gold Cup.

Winning prize money: £544,238

Win and place prize money: £654,066

 

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