Finian’s Oscar, the horse famed for landing a Grade 1 contest, little over two months after winning a point-to-point on debut, has died at the age of six.
A three-time Grade 1 winner for Colin Tizzard, Finian’s Oscar was on his summer holidays when it is reported that he was struck ill by a bout of colic.
"He was out in the field showing signs of colic, but it was more than just colic. They operated on him, but a couple of days later he had major organ failure and died," Tizzard told Press Association.
"Obviously horses do get colic, but to get this type is rare. He went to the best place in England to be treated, but they still couldn't save him.
"It's very sad."
The son of Oscar has been unfortunate not to end last season with back-to-back Grade 1 victories, as having landed the Big Buck’s Celebration Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in Aintree, the bay gelding, who carried the colours of the late Alan and Ann Potts, was in the process of launching his challenge when carried out at the Punchestown Festival later that month.
It was Denis Murphy who had the honour of saddling the talented youngster to his first competitive success, as it was the Wexford handler who sent him out to make a winning debut in a four-year-old maiden at Portrush in October 2016. Murphy having been sent the horse by his owner Joey Logan.
The well-known Kildare native, who has bought and sold many talented performers, bought Finian’s Oscar as a three-year-old from the Derby Sale, before selling him to Tom Malone and the Potts team for £250,000 at the Cheltenham sales, less than a month after his impressive points success.
The bay gelding immediately began repaying his big price tag, as little over two months later, and having already won a hurdle race a Hereford on his first outing for Colin Tizzard, Finian’s Oscar was set the task of lining up in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle.
This test coming little over two months after that Portrush introduction, and he certainly stepped up to the mark to justify market support and win his first Grade 1 prize by five lengths.
In total, Finian’s Oscar won seven races under rules and over £220,000 in prize money.
Last year's Mersey Novices' Hurdle winner Finian's Oscar (5-2) flies home to win the Big Buck's Celebration Manifesto Novices' Chase @AintreeRaces and gains his third victory over fences. #GrandNational
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) April 12, 2018
Results %u27A1%uFE0F https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/00dBXMTbXR
