Florida Pearl
| Florida Pearl | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Florida Son |
| Dam | Ice Pearl |
| Damsire | Flatbush |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 1992 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | P. Mackean |
| Owner | Mrs. Violet O'Leary |
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
| Record | 33: 16-6-2 |
| Earnings | £882,781 |
| Major wins | |
|
Champion Bumper (1997) Dr P. J. Moriarty Memorial Novice Chase (1998) Royal & SunAlliance Chase (1998) Hennessy Gold Cup (Ireland) (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004) James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase (1999) John Durkan Memorial Chase (2001) King George VI Chase (2001) Betfair Bowl (2002) Punchestown Gold Cup (2002) Normans Grove Chase (2004) |
|
| Last updated on December 5, 2008 | |
Florida Pearl (1992-2012) was an Irish-bred race horse who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins. His major race successes included the Champion Bumper, Royal & SunAlliance Chase, King George VI Chase, and a record four Irish Hennessy's (Hennessy Gold Cup (Ireland)), among other races.
Florida Pearl made his debut when winning a 4YO Maiden at Lismore in March 1996. He did not reappear then until December of that year, where he followed up by winning a National Hunt Flat Race at Leopardstown. He was then stepped straight up to Grade 1 class for the 1997 Cheltenham Festival, where he won the Champion Bumper by five lengths in his final appearance of that season.
He reappeared in December 1997, where he won a Beginners Chase at Leopardstown. Following that, he was stepped up in class for the Grade 2 Dr.P.J. Moriarty Memorial Novice Chase, for which he was an odds on favourite and obliged with a 1-length victory over Boss Doyle. Following that victory, he was sent off the 11/8 favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, where he defied his relative inexperience over fences to record a 1½ length victory over Escartefigue, under Richard Dunwoody, maintaining his unbeaten record.
He made his first start of the 1998/99 season at Leopardstown in December in the Ericsson Chase, where he was sent off an odds-on favourite. Travelling strongly in the race, he made a mistake three out which resulted in him falling, leaving Doran's Pride to win. Despite this fall, he was still sent off an odds-on favourite for the Irish Hennessy in February 1999, where he recorded a 2-length victory over old rival Escarefigue. He was then sent off the 5/2 favourite for the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup under Richard Dunwoody, finishing a 17-length 3rd behind the winner, See More Business. Florida Pearl made his final appearance of that season in April in the Punchestown Gold Cup, where he was once again sent off the odds-on favourite and finished a 14-length 2nd to Imperial Call.
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