Racing to the Olympics
“CHASED leaders, weakened halfway, tailed off before three out and pulled up before next. 100/1”. So reads the final entry for eventing superstar Arctic Soul following his short-lived career on the track.
That uninspiring performance in a maiden hurdle by the 67-rated Luso son on a cold Leopardstown December day would close the chapter on his time in racing. Beaten by a combined total of 318-plus lengths on the three occasions he finished, he pulled up on his hurdling swansong. But as the New Year sparked with promise on the horizon, so too did the dawn of Arctic Soul’s bright future.
The now 18-year-old gelding is one of the world’s top event horses, with 2018 world team gold as well as ninth place individually at the 2015 European Championships on his senior championship record with rider Gemma Tattersall.
“He’s the most amazing athlete,” says Gemma. “He’s a super jumper and he can gallop as the day is long. He just keeps going. He’s obviously very fast, courageous and brave across country, and he also has the ability to be careful and clever, which for a big
