Weapon's Amnesty

Weapon’s Amnesty

Weapons Amnesty and jockey Davy Russell in a Novice Chase on WBX Fighting Fifth Hurdle Day
Sire Presenting
Grandsire Mtoto
Dam Victoria Theatre
Damsire Old Vic
Sex Gelding
Foaled 2003
Country Ireland
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Gigginstown House Stud
Owner Aaron Metcalfe
Trainer Charles Byrnes
Record 5-4-1
Earnings £216,848
Major wins
Spa Novices' Hurdle (2009)
RSA Chase (2010)

Weapon’s Amnesty (foaled on February 17, 2003 in Ireland) is an Irish thoroughbred racehorse. He retired in January 2013.

Background

He was sired by Presenting out of the mare, Victoria Theatre.[1] He is owned by Aaron Metcalfe and is trained by Charles Byrnes. Weapon's Amnesty was bred by Gigginstown House Stud, a horse breeding outfit owned by Michael O'Leary, the CEO of the Ryanair. Throughout his time as a racehorse, his primary jockey has been Davy Russell.[2] As of May 2010, Weapon’s Amnesty has amassed a career record of 5 wins, 4 places and 1 show while accumulating £216,848 in lifetime earnings in just 14 races.[2]

Racing career

Hurdling

Weapon’s Amnesty started racing as a four-year-old in January 2008 when he was entered into the Templemore I.N.H. Flat Race, finishing in 2nd place out of 17 entries – losing to Oscar Time by just a half of a length. He made his hurdling debut later that year in November[3] during the I.N.H. Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle, a race in which he finished well off the lead runner. He won his first race, the Gowran Park Racing Club 2009 Maiden Hurdle, in December 2008 at Gowran Park in County Kilkenny, Ireland. In that race, he beat a field of 20 horses to earn his first victory.

His first notable win came in the 2009 Spa Novices' Hurdle, a Grade 1 National Hunt race held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire during the Cheltenham Festival. In that race, Weapon’s Amnesty held off 17 other competitors, including jockey Ruby Walsh on Pride of Dulcote, whom he narrowly beat by a half of a length.[4][5] After the win, Davy Russell said of Weapon’s Amnesty: I was definitely on the best horse in the race and didn't want to hit the front too soon. Charles has done a fantastic job with this horse, because he is not the easiest to train. He's a big-framed horse and a chaser in the making.[6]

Steeplechasing

Weapon’s Amnesty’s other Grade 1 win came in the 2010 RSA Chase, also held during the Cheltenham Festival. There, he entered the race at 10-1 and dominated the field of nine to win by 7 lengths over Burton Port.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Weapon’s Amnesty Pedigree, pedigreequery.com, accessed 10 May 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Weapon’s Amnesty History, racingpost.com, accessed 10 May 2010
  3. ↑ Cooldine set for chasing bow, rte.ie, 20 November 2008, accessed 10 May 2010.
  4. ↑ Geraghty is all ears at Cheltenham, belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 14 March 2009, accessed 10 May 2010.
  5. ↑ Nicky Henderson triumphs again with game Zaynar, timesonline.co.uk, 13 March 2009, accessed 10 May 2010.
  6. ↑ Russell bides his time in win, thisisgloucestershire.co.uk, 14 March 2009, accessed 10 May 2010.
  7. ↑ Cheltenham Festival: Weapon's Amnesty romps to victory in RSA Chase, dialyrecord.co.uk, 17 March 2010, accessed 10 May 2010.