Tragic death of a champion

 

A local racing syndicate is mourning the loss of a winning race horse which was put down just before Christmas.

 

Covert Mission was owned by Montgomeryshire syndicate Lost Souls Racing and last week won its fourth race at Kempton Park at odds of 7-1.

 

But days later it was put down after contracting colic despite frantic round-the-clock efforts from vets to save the mare.

 

“It is a big blow,” said Dave Harding, of Garthmyl, who is one of 14 members of the local syndicate. “My brother and I have always dreamed of owning a racehorse and we think we produced a reasonably good animal at the first attempt and she would have made a really good mare to breed from.

“She gave us so much pleasure -we have raced at big racecourses like, Newbury, Kempton Park and Aintree and she went out a winner so she will always have a fond place in our memories.”

 

Covert Mission was the first racehorse bred by the syndicate to become a winner and its brother, Swing State, followed in her footsteps before being bought and is now trained by Tony Carroll.

 

“A lot of people spend thousands on breeding racehorses without success so we were very lucky as we were given Covert Mission’s mother because its owner had too many horses! Covert was seven and we would probably have retired her to stud in May of 2011.”

Covert Mission was trained by former Long Mountain trainer David Evans. She had won £15k from her four race victories and showed her versatility by winning on the flat, all-weather and over hurdles.

 

The horse will be hard to replace but the syndicate is already looking to the future with another full sister to Covert expected to be ready to race in two years. Until then they have a 4 year-old grey filly which should be ready to race in the New Year.

“But no matter what happens we will never forget Covert Mission. We would like to say a thank you to Dave Evans and his wife Emma and the stable girl who stayed up all-night in an attempt to save her. It really is sad news for racing.”