A Look Back at the Incredible Career of Quevega
Quevega isn’t the first name that comes to people’s minds when asked about the greatest race horse in the history of horse racing. Instead, horses like Red Rum, Arkle and Golden Miller are the ones that spring to mind. But Quevega is without doubt one of the most impressive horses to have ever taken to the track at the Cheltenham Festival. This year’s festival odds can be found here – https://www.paddypower.com/horse-racing/cheltenham-festival.
Quevega won the Mares’ Hurdle an impressive six times in a row. A talented mare, she is undoubtedly one of the most impressive horses in the modern era. Her six consecutive Mares’ Hurdle victories mean that she holds the record for the most consecutive wins at the Cheltenham Festival, beating previous holder Golden Miller, who won five consecutive Gold Cups in the 1930s.
2009 – Mares’ Hurdle
The newly established David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, over two-and-a-half miles, was Quevega’s first victory at theCheltenham Festival. She came into the race having won comfortably at Punchestown, so she was expected to do well for the Mullins team. Quevega made rapid progress from the third last and stormed up the hill to win by an incredible 14-lengths. This was the first winner of the week for jockey Ruby Walsh and the start of a dominating era for the mare.
2010 – Mares’ Hurdle
Quevega did not make her reappearance for the season until the following Cheltenham festival where she again ran in the Mares’ Hurdle, looking to defend her crown for the first time.She showed the absence to be no barrier and again won withease by over four lengths. This prompted Ruby Walsh to describe her as a ‘great mare’ as she continued to showcase her talent on the biggest stage.
2011 – Mares’ Hurdle
Amazingly enough she was again left to make her reappearance in the Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festivalthe following season. However, connections were voicing concerns that the horse could have done with some extra work. But Quevega proved them all wrong and destroyed the field by 10 lengths to claim title number three.
2012 – Mares’ Hurdle
Quevega bid for a fourth consecutive title with her customary lengthy absence. This time, there didn’t seem to be a genuine challenger for her crown and she was shaping up to be the greatest mare of her generation. She went into the race as a short-priced favourite and duly obliged by four-lengths as the ‘Irish Banker’ of the meeting.
2013 – Mares’ Hurdle
Quevega went into this race as the odds-on favourite once again as she looked to emulate the mighty Golden Miller in becoming a winner at the Cheltenham Festival for the fifth year in a row. She was again making her first start of the season but was expected to win. Quevega had no luck in running and was still only progressing into fifth place coming to the last. However, she knew the Cheltenham Hill so well after four wins that she stormed past her opponents and cemented herself in the record books.
2014 – Mares’ Hurdle
In 2014 there was much to anticipate about the Mares’ Hurdle, with Quevega back again looking to make it six in a row and set a new record. Although she was made the 8/11 favourite,she looked to be struggling early on, only to pick up tremendously and storm home to win her sixth consecutive Mares’ Hurdle. Quevega then headed to Punchestown and her victorious run was finally ended, as Jetson edged her out by 1 ¼ lengths. Following the defeat, Mullins confirmed that she was to be retired.
