- Monday, 28 October 2024 10:56
- Written by David Pipe
Cyfor Malta
Cyfor Malta passed away peacefully on Sunday 27th October 2024 at the grand old age of 31. He spent his retirement close to the yard with former head lad Dennis Dummet (who sadly passed away this year) and his partner Norma. He lived for several years with Miinnehoma, It Takes Time and in recent years, his new best friend was Dynaste. Dad and I visited him not that long ago and he still looked magnificent but age just caught up with him quite recently.
Born on 17th March 1993 he was by Cyborg out of a dam called Force Nine and he ran in the famous blue and green colours of owner David Johnson. He has a very impressive roll of honour for winning top class races and who knows it could have been even more impressive had injuries not have gotten in the way. He was the winners of nine of 24 career starts and he was placed on seven occasions winning over £308,000 in prize money. He was an amazing horse that we unfortunately probably did not get to see the very best off because of his injuries but you wouldn’t find many more talented racehorses
Cyfor Malta was a high-class recruit from France that arrived at Pond House in December 1997. He had run four times at Auteuil and had form figures of 3211, the first of these over hurdles and the last three over fences.
He made a winning British debut at Sandown in January 1998 in a novice chase over 2m4f with A P McCoy on board. He then finished second back at the track next time before going on to win the Cathcart handicap cap chase at the Cheltenham Festival that year. He then went on to Aintree and was one of the easiest winners seen over the Grand National fences in the John Hughes Chase when still just only a five year old. It was an extraordinary performance in a competitive race. He was quoted at 33/1 for the Gold Cup the following year after this.
The following season he only ran twice but he did win both of those races in good style. It was another brilliant performance to win the Murphy’s Gold Cup handicap chase at Cheltenham in November 1998 off a mark of 150. His jumping was one of his biggest assets and he quickened away from some very good horses from four out. He followed up next time with a win in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham in January 1999 beating See More Business and Go Ballistic. Those two horses fought out the finish of the Gold Cup that year. Cyfor Malta unfortunately missed it through injury and we were left wondering what might have been.
Injuries unfortunately plagued the rest of Cyfor Malta’s career thereafter. He was off the track for two years before returning in the Pillar chase in 2001. He did not perform that day and then had further time off and was not seen again until December of that year. He did however make it another winning return in a handicap chase at Newbury off a mark of 145. Things did not quite go to plan in his next two races and he finished eighth behind Best Mate in the 2002 Gold Cup. He returned to form at Aintree that year with a second to Florida Pearl in the Melling Chase.
After a summer at grass he returned for one more big success in the 2020 Thomas Pink handicap chase at Cheltenham in November 2002. It was a top class effort to defy a mark of 154. He was only seen on a racecourse seven times after this but sadly he could not live up to the high-class form he had once shown and he ran his final race in April 2004 at Cheltenham.
He was a remarkable horse both on and off the racecourse and leaves us all some very special memories.
Cyfor Malta & Dynaste
There was a great article in the Racing Post in October 2014 about Cyfor Malta, please see below:
There was quite an emotional victory for Remastered at Wincanton on Sunday which takes us to the 21 winner mark for the season. Our eleven year old has been a wonderful servant for many years but his runs last season had left us pondering his future and retirement was discussed earlier in the year. He has a few ailments like all of us as we get older but his enthusiasm in is homework is infectious and so we decided to give him a long holiday and have changed a few things at home and I couldn’t have been more delighted with his performance on Sunday. He warmed to his task throughout the race, some superb jumping up the home straight gave him a chance, and he battled well in a tight finish. We had to wait for a steward’s enquiry to confirm the result after there was a bump between the horses on the run in but there was a big cheer when the official result was announced! We headed to Wincanton just hoping he saw out the race well and we came back with the best possible result. He showed all his old ability, carrying top weight off a mark of 140 and then showed a real determined attitude when asked for his effort under a great ride from Jack Tudor. He has come out of the race well and we might look at something like the Badger Ales chase for him back at Wincanton next month.
Tuxedo Junction built on his hurdling debut promise with a second at Wincanton. He probably found himself in front a little too soon in hindsight but he can hopefully get off the mark over hurdles net time. Jilaijone also ran well on his seasonal reappearance to be fourth at Cheltenham. He was a little hampered three out but galloped all the way to the line. We may even try him over a little further next time as he shapes as if he might benefit from a step up in trip.
This Week
It is a busy week for the stable with plenty of runners in the coming days. On Tuesday, we start with two runners at Bangor and three at Cheptow. Paricolor and Lady Balko have their first runs of the season at Bangor with Paricolor being ridden by Gearoid Harney in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle. It is a track our seven year old has run well at in the past and the handicapper has given him some help so hopefully he will not be far away. Lady Balko had a terrific campaign last season over hurdles and runs in her first chase under Conor O’Farrell. She is the winner of an Irish point to point and has schooled well at home so I am looking forward to seeing her back in action.
At Chepstow, Orinoco Flow makes her stable debut in the maiden hurdle and we will learn a little more about her while Harry Cobden takes the mount on King Turgeon with Jack Tudor being banned. He won at the track on his first run last season and even though a few pounds higher a like to think he has a good chance. Allstitchedup makes his stable and rules debut in the concluding bumper on the Chepstow card and is partnered by David Noonan. He is a lovely big strong horse who has won his only start in an Irish point to point. He is a staying chaser of the future but it will be interesting to see how he gets on.
On Wednesday, we have five runners at Newton Abbot, Castle Daragh, Royal Mer, Itseemslikeit, Pachacuti and Gentlemantoboot. Ocean Heights also runs on the flat at Kempton on Wednesday evening. Looking further ahead, we are likely to have runners at Uttoxeter on Friday and Neon Moon holds an entry at Ascot on Saturday and Chemical Warfare has an entry at Wetherby. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on the stable runners.
Wincanton Charity Race
Well done to staff member Amy Clark for taking part in the Charity Race at Wincanton on Sunday. She rode Kintaro and although they finished unplaced she enjoyed the experience and both the horse and jockey came back smiling! She raised over £2,000 in sponsorship money and thank you to all those who donated. As anticipated, the race was won by Tom Malone but very well done to him as he raised over £30,000 in sponsorship by himself, which is a phenomenal amount. He was feeling the pressure on the day and he was an easy winner of the race but it wasn’t about the winning it was about raising money for a worthwhile cause. The whole day was run in the honour of Keagan Kirkby who worked for Paul Nicholls and was sadly killed in a point to point accident earlier this year. The charities, Racing Welfare and The Injured Jockeys Fund have been a great to support for Keagan’s family and friends and each charity was given £50,000 from the fundraising efforts at Wincanton. There was a luncheon in the marquee for 450 people and both an online auction and live auction with John Francome and Alice Plunkett playing prominent roles. Racing, especially the National Hunt racing community the South West particularly has a strong bond. Days like Sunday make me very proud to be a small part of it.
