Melbourne Cup Winner Rekindling Retired

Joseph O'Brien has hailed his 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) hero Rekindling as "tough as nails" after it was announced the horse who launched his training career into another stratosphere has been retired. 

The Lloyd Williams-owned stayer led home an Irish-trained 1-2-3 in the Melbourne Cup as a 3-year-old, becoming the youngest horse to land the prize since Skipton in 1941 and the first Irish-trained winner since Media Puzzle in 2002. 

He was only seen once more on the track when trailing the field in the TAB Australian Cup (G1) in March for trainer Liam Howley.

"He stayed in Australia after he won the Melbourne Cup but he was a fantastic servant in his time with us," O'Brien said Thursday. "He was as tough as nails, raced often, was very consistent, handled different types of ground, and was just a wonderful horse."

Reflecting on Rekindling's Melbourne Cup success under Corey Brown, O'Brien added: "It's such a special race and it was special to even be taking part. Winning it was just unbelievable, one of the greatest days in racing. Aside from the biggest day of all in Australia, Rekindling won group races for us in Ireland, too, and performed very well."

The son of High Chaparral, who began his career with David Wachman, won the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (G3), the Comer Group International Curragh Cup (G2), and finished fourth in the William Hill St. Leger (G1) as a 3-year-old.

It is unclear where Rekindling will stand at stud, although there is a suggestion he will return to Europe.