Sibelius Back in the Spotlight at RRP Makeover

While sire Not This Time   is turning heads at a dizzying rate with his racetrack progeny, Sibelius , a son from his first crop, is poised to bring his father additional notoriety at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover. The four-day event commences Oct. 8 at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington and features off-the-track Thoroughbreds showing off their versatility in a number of disciplines.

Sibelius, a 7-year-old, will be ridden by his trainer, Alison O'Dwyer, in dressage and freestyle events during the first two days of the Makeover. O'Dwyer is no stranger to the Makeover, having won its dressage division four times.

Every ride is meaningful to O'Dwyer, but Sibelius carries a certain amount of cachet, given his history with her family.

The Kentucky-bred, who was campaigned on the racetrack by Delia Nash and Jun Park, was trained by O'Dwyer's husband, Jerry. Named for the late Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, the gelding took his connections on an incredible journey that can be likened to the Dr. Seuss book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

Sibelius, a multiple graded/group stakes winner, traveled to 13 different racetracks during his four years racing while orchestrating a record of 9-3-4 from 27 career starts and earnings of $1,803,011. He choreographed a masterpiece in 2023, when traveling to the Middle East to win the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. For Jerry O'Dwyer, it was his first win in a grade 1.

Sibelius, who returned to Dubai in March 2024 and was unplaced in the Golden Shaheen, was retired that summer with a minor tendon injury incurred during training. His owners graciously offered for the gelding to be retrained by Alison O'Dwyer for a second career, and are still part of his cheering section.

"It really is quite an honor to continue (Sibelius') legacy," Alison O'Dwyer said "He's a very special soul, personality-wise. He's very loving, affectionate, and friendly. That being said, sometimes in the beginning with (retraining) him, I said, 'I think I know too much (about him).' 

"He was definitely mild-mannered on the racetrack; he wasn't some big dragon of a racehorse, but he did have his moments, which is more than fair. He wasn't going to be a good sprinter if he didn't have some pep to him, occasionally. 

"You know I saw him get (notoriety) on the racetrack. He has such a presence and everyone knows him. I was very nervous starting out. The pressure ..."

But once that connection was forged with Sibelius—who incidentally doesn't have a barn name—O'Dwyer and her Makeover mount are simpatico, "I just (ride) him like a little kid's pony most of the time." In fact, O'Dwyer said her young daughter, Adelaide, gets "pony rides" on Sibelius regularly. 

O'Dwyer predominately competes in eventing, where horse and rider are tested in dressage, cross country, and show jumping. She particularly loves dressage and said she has found her niche in that discipline, particularly at the Makeover. But she might be the most excited about Sibelius' participation in the Oct. 9 freestyle event, the day after they show off their dressage skills.

"The freestyle is the catch-all division," she explained. "You can do whatever you want. It's a chance to show the training you've put into the horse. Sibelius will do a jumping-and-dressage combo demonstration. It's all predetermined by me. I'm really excited about our freestyle. We're going to try to honor (Sibelius) and have fun. We will have some nods to his racing career as well. There will be a special soundtrack."

When O'Dwyer was asked if she wanted to drop some Easter eggs as to what that soundtrack will be, she coyly answered, "No, just that it's a special soundtrack."

Makes sense that it will be "special" since that's the perfect adjective to describe Sibelius.