Another fun Rolex OTTB story for you today! The video you see here, taken by upper level eventer Kate Samuels, is of Mensa G with his rider Michael Pollard (USA) competing in the dressage phase at Pau CCI4* in 2013 (in France). Mensa is owned by Michael and Nathalie Pollard and Carl Bouckaert. Now for the fun story: Mensa G (Jockey Club Name Merisa G, by Colonial Affair, out of Fire the Secretary by Stop the Music) was a decent racehorse, with 40 starts, 5 wins, 7 place, 4 show and $92,901 earnings. But whats interesting about his racing history is that he was claimed three times. He started out his racing career with none other than Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion (trainer of Animal Kingdom, among others) running mainly in Maiden Special Weights for purses around $30,000. He was claimed by Pennsylvania-based trainer, Scott Lake. Scott is the husband of retired jockey Jennifer Stisted - if you attended our Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium last October, you may remember her as one of the jockeys who participated in our cattle sorting demonstration. After that, Merisa G was claimed two more times - for $7,500 and $16,000 respectively - before being retired from racing at age 5 in 2003. The fun doesnt end there, though. Advanced eventer Andrea Leatherman saw Mensa on the popular Thoroughbred placement organization, CANTER Mid Atlantics website. Andrea and her parents went to look at him: He was beautiful. Some people are charismatic and have that something special. That was Mensa... All we could see him do was walk and a little trot in a halter and lead. Couldnt really see much, just that he seemed to have a good temper, good conformation, and a good attitude. She wanted him, but he was supposedly already sold - the trainer told her that she could buy him if he was still there at 5:00 that evening. She returned and, voila, he was still there. The person whod been on the line to buy him had backed out when she thought she saw him cribbing. Lucky for Andrea, not only is he not a cribber (he was chewing on a bucket), but he turned into a fabulous event horse. Andrea took him all the way to the Advanced level of eventing, turning down many offers to buy him along the way, until finally selling him in 2010. Michael Pollards father-in-law and Mensas part-owner, Carl Bouckaert rode him for a few events after that - including a second place finish at Poplar Place Farms CIC3* in 2012 - before Michael took over the ride in 2013. Pollard Eventing said they are very happy to have him in their barn and we wish the team much success! Were only one day away from the start of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event! The full listings of all the Thoroughbreds entered can be found on our website. All of the riders of OTTBs have been invited to attend the Thoroughbreds for All! Kentucky event on the Friday evening of Rolex at West Wind Farm, home of New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. Tickets are still available - eventbrite/e/thoroughbreds-for-all-kentucky-tickets-10637891219 Thank you to the Jockey Club Information Systems for providing Lifetime Past Performance data on all of the Thoroughbreds entered at Rolex! You can find out more about YOUR Thoroughbred at equineline Also - check out The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Programs Facebook page - theyve been posting race and foal photos of some of the Thoroughbreds entered at Rolex!
Posted on: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 21:30:01 +0000
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