ReTrain-WinAgain: Idris

The story of The Snaith's rather exquisite grey, Idris, is quite an amazing one. He was born in 1974, and was by Royal Affair, out of a French mare called Conceit III (by Tornado FR). He raced for 8 seasons for 11 Wins, and 31 places. Chris Snaith's wife, Sue, used to do showing on Idris very successfully, even when he was still in training as a racehorse! He was owned by Mr Frank and Mrs Joyce Waring. Frank Waring was the Minister of Sport at the time that Idris was racing.

(Chris and Sue Snaith are Justin Snaith's parents. He is the Champion Trainer elect for the 2013/ 2014 season. He won the 2014 Vodacom Durban July with Legislate. Chris, his father, is well remembered for training, among others, the Irish bred gelding Flaming Rock, who won the Rothman's Durban July in 1991.)

There is a rather amusing story about Chris forgetting to tell Sue that Idris was running one weekend. Sue had plaited him up and turned him out for his showing classes, which they took part in that morning, which they duly won. Frantic arrangements got the horse back onto the racecourse just in time for him to run his race, in all his showing finery, and actually ended up winning the race! Possibly the only horse in South African history to have won a showing class and a race all in the same day! He was the victor of many showing championships, on a national level.

Idris was also ridden by Sue Snaith as a lead horse for the big racedays in the Cape, where he strutted his stuff rather impressively leading the flightly runners for a pre-race parade along the track. He was hugely popular with the public - he even had an orbituary in the local newspaper at the end of his wonderful days.

(With thanks to Robyn Louw for recounting the story, and sending the pictures to me!)