- Monday, 29 September 2025 10:55
- Written by David Pipe
Lough Derg has passed away at he age of 25
Last week and this week remain fairly quiet on the runners front with Best Night being our only runner at Newton Abbot on Monday and nothing then until the weekend. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on this front.
We could really do with some more rain as we have several horses now waiting in the wings but they will not be running until we have some help from above to ease the ground. Rain looks to be coming later in the week and while I cannot moan about the lovely sunny weather, we have here at Pond House at the moment, I really would welcome some rain and quite a lot of it! Traditionally, several trainers and myself gallop some of our ‘winter’ horses at Salisbury this week after their final meeting of the season but we shan’t be going this time with the ground currently described as good to firm.
Birthday Celebrations
I spent the weekend in Ireland celebrating the 40th birthday of Myles Doyle, a friend and former employee here at Pond House. Leanne, Gemma, Gerry and Jo Supple were also on the trip and a good time was had by all. Myles worked here for a few seasons and was one of our Barn leaders before he returned home to Ireland twelve years ago. He has always kept in touch and follows the Irish point-to-point scene closely so is always on the phone and this was our first visit to his home area. We visited the yard of Aidan Fitzgerald, which was nice to see as we have had several horses from him over the years. At present, we have just Walkadina, but Umbrigado who was a very good horse came from ‘Scobie’ as he is better known to many, as did Queen’s Cave to name just a few. We also caught up with several Irish friends and those involved in racing from around the area. Former jockeys. Tommy Treacy, Brian Crowley and Tom Doyle are just three of familiar faces we bumped into!
Lough Derg Passes Away
We were saddened to hear that our former great, Lough Derg passed away over the weekend at the grand old age of 25. Affectionately known in the yard as ‘Douglas’ he was ridden and looked after in his days at Pond House by my now wife, Leanne.
Every day he used to make her smile, leaping around in his stable, screaming his head off when he saw her approaching his stable with her tack. Leanne rode him every day and she said you could always rely on Doug to set the other horses off bucking and jumping around. He was such a fun horse who was always playing and enjoying life. There was not a bad bone is his body and he was a true gentleman. Leanne adored looking after him and riding him. He was an individual full of personality and she has always said that if he was human he would be wearing Mickey Mouse boxers and would be your most loyal friend! She often says that he really had no idea that he was such an amazing racehorse. His main objective in life was having fun!
Has there ever been a tougher horse in training? Certainly here at Pond House, we would struggle to find one better. If you could bottle up all of his qualities and sell them to others, you could certainly make a fortune! While he did have a lot of natural ability, there are plenty of horses that have as much or more talent but do not end up being as good. What made him extra special was that he had the heart of a lion, combined with toughness and enthusiasm and determination in abundance. Not many horses have all of this in one complete package; he really was one in a million.
He was the winner of 12 of his 61 starts and was placed 19 times winning over £374,000 in prize money.
Bought as an unraced three year old from Arqana’s July Sale for 16,000 euros it was money well spent. He carried the well-known green, orange and while colours of owner William Frewen who has been a great supporter of Pond House for many years. He made his racecourse debut at Newbury in November 2003 with A P McCoy in the saddle. In December 2004, he won the Relkeel hurdle at Cheltenham, putting in an impressive display to beat Exotic Dancer by eight lengths no less!
He had a spell chasing which he did not seem to enjoy (even though he did win) but then reverted to hurdles and what a decision that proved to be. From then on in he began to win the hearts and emotions of many racing fans through his ‘never say die’ racing style. The application of the infamous red visor saw the start of improved form at the very top table.
In the winter of the 2006/7 season, he was third in the Ascot hurdle, second in the Long Walk hurdle, and fourth in the Cleeve hurdle. He ran in the World hurdle at the Festival and Long distance hurdle at Aintree and while he ran okay, he was not quite up to this level.
His crowning moment came back at Ascot again next time, one of his favourite courses, where he actually beat Hardy Eustace to win the Long Walk hurdle, Grade 1. He returned to the track to win again next time, over a much shorter trip in the Holloways handicap hurdle staying on dourly to win the Grade 2 contest.
Fontwell was also a course he loved and at the track he ran some of his most remarkable races. He won the 2008 National Spirit hurdle from what looked an impossible position turning for home and there was not a dry eye in the house! He ran creditably in many of the top races for the remainder of that season without winning but on his return from a break the following autumn his next win came in the Steel Plate hurdle at Cheltenham in January 2009. He followed that up with a repeat victory in the Holloway’s handicap hurdle back at Ascot in February. Another couple of fine runs to be placed at Cheltenham and Ascot followed before a return to his beloved Fontwell saw him retain the National Spirit hurdle in again remarkable gritty and tough fashion for what proved to be his last win under rules. He again went to the Festival and Aintree and performed with great credit but he tended to save his best for away from these meetings.
He returned the following season and again ran some mighty races but was not quite able to get his head in front. He finished runner up to Big Bucks on two occasions that season. He ran his final race at Ascot in November 2011 and he was finding things tougher as he was getting older off a mark of 148. Once again, we all knew the time was right for him to bow out after what was an illustrious career.
He had a wonderful retirement with the Duff family and Leanne did go and visit him not too long ago. A special horse, he leaves us with some wonderful memories.
This is quite a good little video of some of his best races:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J17y33V7wvk
Pond House Team
Vision De Maine (FR)
Started last season with two wins over fences and then ‘bumped’ into one to finish a close second when bidding for his hat-trick. Disappointed at Wincanton at Christmas but bounced back with two good runs at Plumpton, including finishing fourth in the Sussex National. Plumpton would not be the ideal track for this lovely big horse so I think his efforts there can be upgraded. Still only, a six year old, he is lightly raced and there is more to come from him off his current rating in staying chases this season.
Walkadina (FR)
She was very impressive in winning on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter last season and then was consistent after this to be placed each time but perhaps did not progress as much as we might have hoped following her dazzling seasonal reappearance. We have kept her to two miles so far but likely to appreciate a step up in distance. She impresses with her homework and so we hope there is more to come on the track. Will jump fences at some point as well.
Windbeneathmywings (IRE)
‘Wowzer” was used by the commentator when calling the finish of his Listed Ascot Bumper success in December and we couldn’t put it any better ourselves! Came from Ireland having won two bumpers and finishing second on the other occasion and blew his rivals away on stable debut. We were excited beforehand but dare not have dreamed of the performance he showed. Everything was geared to the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March but sadly he picked up an injury just before and we could not run him. The good news is that after box rest and some time out of grass he has returned in A1 this season and we are dreaming of what might be over hurdles this winter. The Supreme novices hurdle will be his long-term aim and we will work backwards from there.
Wordsworth (IRE)
A high-class flat performer, he won impressively on hurdling and stable debut at Bangor in October 2023. Finished down the field in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket after this but returned with an injury, which has kept him off the track since. Will be great to get him back at some point over hurdles and on the flat.
Yggdrasil (FR)
Yggdrasil is the winner of three chases in his career and was rated 127 at best. He has just had four runs for Pond House being placed on three of those starts. Suffered a nasty cut in his latest start at Catterick which took a long time to get over and then the ground had gone too quick by the time he was ready to run again so we turned him away for the summer. We will be disappointed if he cannot win from his current rating once the rain has come this season and he should give our racing club members some good days out.
