Florida Pearl bows out after glittering career
The news broke at Galway yesterday when punters attending the Guinness Hurdle day had an unexpected treat, as Florida Pearl was paraded in the ring before racing.
Willie Mullins’ gelding had a tremendous record, scoring 16 times in 33 races. He won no less than nine Grade One events.
Florida Pearl had a terrific record in the Hennessy at Leopardstown, taking that contest four times.
He landed the Bumper and SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham, the Mumm Melling Chase at Aintree and the Dr P J Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown.
Remarkably, he was ridden by eight different jockeys in a long career.
Richard Dunwoody was the most successful, piloting Florida Pearl to five victories. Others were Paul Carberry (4), Richard Johnson (3), Barry Geraghty (2), Adrian Maguire (1), Jim Nash (1), Ruby Walsh and Conor O’Dwyer.
Maguire, arguably, partnered him to his most important success in the King George at Kempton in 2001. Speaking in Galway, Maguire said: “It is great to see Florida Pearl in such good health. He really is a fantastic horse, with a lovely temperament. Willie Mullins tells me he is doing very well, spending his days at Closutton Stud in Carlow.”
