There are few horses that can say they have practically kept an entire studbook afloat! For the ISH, Cruising is this horse! Not withstanding his own Nations Cups in places like Dublin and Spruce Meadows victories or his Grand Prix victories in Wolfsburg, Modena and a little known German venue called Aachen, where he jumped the only triple clear, to name but a few. He also won three World Cup qualifiers, two in Millstreet back to back and Geneva as well. He went on then to finish second in the final in Gothenburg in 99. Lets be honest though, the measure of a horse is not his own achievements, but that of his progeny. In 2008, in the the Spring Grand Prix League round in Kill. Co. Kildare, not two minutes from where he stands in Hartwell Stud, he had a notable result when a mare by him won the class, Windgates Mystique. Cruisings Mickey Finn placed second and in third spot was Riverbird, a gelding by Cruising. In 2007, World Cruise became the first horse since Luidam in 2004 to jump double clear for Ireland in the Aga Khan. Hes also the last horse to do so. In 2008, Mr Medicott won Eventing team gold for Germany at the Olympic Games while that year. Also in 2008, Flexible finished 2nd in the World Cup final. Ironically that also took place in Gothenburg. Later that year Flexible was instrumental in America winning the Canadian Nations Cup in Spruce Meadows. Or what about Fresh Direct Kalico Bay winning the King George at Hickstead this year? By the Holsteiner stallion Limmerick out of Missisle C ... by Cruising!!! Ollie Townends new top mount? Ashdale Cruise Master! Winner of the three star event in Tattersalls this season. In 2007, Mo Chroi won every Grand Prix she competed in except one where she finished second. This included winning the Grand Prix in Dublin. She probably played a bigger role that year than any other horse in securing Irelands promotion back to the Super League. This year, on her first trip around the Hickstead Derby, she came home with just 4 Faults. Thats an impressive tally with no mention of Rincoola Abu, Ringfort Cruise, Sails Away, Cruiseline, Larkhill Cruiser, Master Cruise, Cruise With Me, Cruise Town, Beowulf, Teulada, Cruz Forever, Auto Cruise, Sollerina, Badgerhill Cruise, Killossery Kruisette or the horse who finished 8th in the 5 Year Old Finals in Lanaken this year, Interpretor. I could go on and on and on and on and on but I wont. Whats the point? He is quite simply, undeniably the absolute very best horse to ever set hoof on this planet. Bar none! Yes, his stock werent for everyone but to be fair, thats a teeny tiny minor, micro, miniscule aside to this tale. Fact is, from a pool of around about 1400 foals registered in Ireland, he has a higher hit rate of International performers than any other stallion in his generation or any other for that matter. One or two tales of tough cookies does not take away from the fact that he is the greatest of all time! In 2007, Cruising suffered a heart attack and ended his covering days. There is semen from him somewhere in Belgium but its being kept for private use and is no longer for sale. The semen supplies in Ireland are also for the private use of Hartwell Stud. His fee before this catastrophe was a mere €2,000. Under the new star rating system unveiled this season by HSI, he is the only stallion approved by the ISH Studbook to rated 5 Star for his own performance, 5 Star for his showjumping progeny and 5 star for his eventing progeny. Those facts dont lie. If God were a horse, his name would be Cruising
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 18:18:46 +0000
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