Synchronised (horse)

{{ infobox racehorse | horsename = Synchronised | image_name = [[File:Owner Mr John P McManus.svg|120px]] | caption = Racing silks of J P McManus | sire = [[Sadler's Wells (horse)|Sadler's Wells]] | grandsire = [[Northern Dancer]] | dam = Mayasta | damsire = [[Bob Back]] | sex = [[Gelding]] | foaled = 7 March 2003 | country = Ireland | colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]] | breeder = Noreen McManus | owner = [[J. P. McManus]] | trainer = [[Jonjo O'Neill (jockey)|Jonjo O'Neill]] | record = 20:9-1-3 | earnings = £510,775 | race = [[Midlands Grand National]] (2010)<br />[[Welsh National]] (2010)<br />[[Lexus Chase]] (2011)<br />[[Cheltenham Gold Cup]] (2012) | awards = | honours = | updated = }}

'''Synchronised''' (7 March 2003 – 14 April 2012) was an Irish-bred, British-trained [[Thoroughbred]] racehorse. A specialist long-distance [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]]r, he was best known for his performances in the 2011–2012 [[National Hunt]] season, when he won the Grade I [[Lexus Chase]] in Ireland before winning Britain's most prestigious steeplechase, the [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]], on 17 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/699204/synchronised |publisher=Racing Post |title=Synchronised |date=2011-06-02 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> He was [[Animal euthanasia|euthanized]] after incurring a leg fracture in the [[Grand National]] on 14 April 2012.

==Background== Synchronised, considered a small horse by steeplechasing standards, was a bay [[gelding]] with a broad white [[blaze (horse marking)|blaze]].<ref>{{cite news|author=J A McGrath |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/cheltenham-festival/9149698/Cheltenham-Festival-2012-how-Synchronised-came-good-in-the-Cheltenham-Gold-Cup.html |title=Cheltenham Festival 2012: how Synchronised came good in the Cheltenham Gold Cup |work=Daily Telegraph |date=17 March 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> He was bred at the Martinstown Stud, [[County Limerick]], Ireland by Noreen McManus, the wife of his owner [[J. P. McManus]].<ref name="independent1">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/synchronised-delivers-lifelong-dream-for-jp-3053359.html |title=Synchronised delivers lifelong dream for JP |work=Irish Independent |date=2010-11-18 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> His sire, [[Sadler's Wells (horse)|Sadler's Wells]] is best known for his success as a sire of flat racers, having been [[Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland|Champion sire]] on 14 occasions, but has also got notable jumpers including the three-time [[Champion Hurdle]]r [[Istabraq]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/463975/sadlers-wells |title=Sadler's Wells Stud Record |publisher=Racing Post |date=2012-02-15 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> and is the sire of the leading National Hunt stallion [[Oscar (horse)|Oscar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/462135/oscar |title=Oscar Stud Record |publisher=Racing Post |date=2012-02-15 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> Synchronised's dam, Mayasta, was a successful racehorse, winning nine races, including five hurdle races and a steeplechase.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/83350/mayasta |publisher=Racing Post |title=Mayasta |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> McManus sent the horse into training with [[Jonjo O'Neill (jockey)|Jonjo O'Neill]] at Jackdaws Castle, near [[Cheltenham]].

==Racing career==

===2008–2009: Hurdle racing=== Between February 2008 and March 2009, Synchronised was campaigned over hurdles and won three times from six starts. His most important success came at [[Haydock Park Racecourse|Haydock Park]] in February 2009 when he won a three-mile qualifying race for the [[Pertemps Final|Pertemps Hurdle]]. In the final of the Pertemps series at the [[Cheltenham Festival]] a month later he started at odds of [[Fractional odds|9/1]] in a field of twenty-two runners but seemed to be well beaten when falling at the last obstacle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2009-03-12/474816 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results from the 2.05 race at CHELTENHAM – 12 March 2009 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref>

===2009–2010: Novice chasing=== Synchronised began his career as a steeplechaser by winning a minor race at [[Market Rasen Racecourse]] in November 2009. Seventeen days later he was moved up in class to win a Grade II Novices' Chase at [[Chepstow Racecourse|Chepstow]]. The following spring, Synchronised bypassed the major novice races and was instead sent to [[Uttoxeter Racecourse|Uttoxeter]] to run against more experienced horses in the Midlands Grand National, a [[Handicap (horse racing)|handicap race]] over 4 miles {{frac|1|1|2}} furlongs in which he carried 159 [[Pound (mass)|pounds]]. The race was run on heavy ground, making it an extreme test of stamina, and only three of the seventeen runners completed the course. Ridden by [[A. P. McCoy]], Synchronised took the lead two fences from the finish and won by three-quarters of a length from the mare L'Aventure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/84/uttoxeter/2010-03-20/500241 |title=Results from the 3.15 race at UTTOXETER – 20 March 2010 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref>

===2010–2012: Senior chasing=== Synchronised won only once from five races in the 2010/2011 season, but that win was his most important so far. After starting the season with two runs over hurdles, he again showed his aptitude for extreme stamina tests as he carried 160 pounds to victory over 3 miles, {{frac|5|1|2}} furlongs in the [[Welsh National]] in January. McCoy sent him into the lead three fences from the finish and he stayed on strongly to win by two and three quarter lengths.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/12/chepstow/2011-01-08/518068 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results from the 1.45 race at CHEPSTOW – 8 January 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> He once again bypassed the Cheltenham Festival, but his attempt to win a second Midlands National ended in failure as he finished third to Minella Four Star under top weight of 166 pounds. On his final start of the season he made no show before being pulled up in the [[Irish Grand National]]. He ended the season with an official rating of 155, twenty-seven pounds behind the champion [[Long Run (horse)|Long Run]].

The 2011/2012 season began with two more hurdle races before Synchronised was moved up to Grade I class for the first time in the Lexus Chase at [[Leopardstown Racecourse]] in December. The gelding established himself as a top-class steeplechaser by taking the lead at the last fence and pulling clear in the closing stages to beat Rubi Light in "impressive style"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/synch-motors-to-lexus-glory-2975270.html |title=Synch motors to Lexus glory |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=28 December 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> by {{frac|8|1|2}} lengths at level weights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/187/leopardstown/2011-12-28/543340 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results from the 2.35 race at LEOPARDSTOWN (IRE) – 28 December 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> The race also showed that Synchronised did not need slow, heavy ground to show his best form. McCoy praised his horse's performance but was not over-enthusiastic about his prospects against the best steeplechasers saying "I don't think Kauto Star and Long Run will be too worried".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/home-defence-routed-in-lexus-2975340.html |title=Home defence routed in Lexus |work=Irish Independent |date=28 December 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref>

The betting for the 2012 [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]] was dominated by the former winners Long Run and [[Kauto Star]], but Synchronised was also quietly fancied and started the 8/1 joint-third favourite with Weird Al in a field of fourteen runners. His task was made easier when Kauto Star injured himself and was pulled up at the tenth fence. Synchronised was still only sixth as the field approached the straight, but his stamina proved decisive as he stayed on strongly to dispute the lead at the last fence before pulling away to win by two and a quarter lengths from the 50/1 outsider The Giant Bolster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2012-03-16/545529 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results from the 3.20 race at CHELTENHAM – 16 March 2012 |date=2011-06-02 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}</ref> The win gave a first Gold Cup to J. P. McManus as an owner and was the first for O'Neill as a trainer.<ref name="independent1"/> After the race the winner's connections were reported to be considering a run in the [[Grand National]], in which Synchronised would carry top weight.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i8FyfsjyB0hfxFDZhxTMrM4J6LcQ?docId=N1163021331984228799A |title=Synchro team mull National bid |agency=The Press Association |date=17 March 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-17}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Death== Synchronised was [[Animal euthanasia|euthanised]] after he incurred a leg fracture during the [[2012 Grand National]]. Despite being the market leader in the weeks leading to up the race, he had started the race as third-favourite, behind Seabass and Shakalakaboomboom. He appeared nervous at the start when he unseated his jockey, [[Tony McCoy]], as the horses were preparing to line up for the race. The start was delayed until the loose horse was caught.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/apr/14/neptune-collonges-grand-national-2012 |title= Neptune Collonges wins thrilling National but fatalities mar race again |work=The Guardian |date=14 April 2012 |accessdate=2012-04-14}}</ref>

He fell at [[Becher's Brook]], the sixth fence on the first circuit, unseating McCoy, who suffered a soft-tissue injury, but the horse did not appear to have sustained serious injury. He continued running riderless until attempting to jump the 11th fence where he incurred a fracture of the [[tibia]] and [[fibula]] in his right-hind leg and racecourse vets had to [[Animal euthanasia|euthanise]] him.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/17714060 |title=Synchronised and According to Pete die in Grand National |publisher=BBC |date=14 April 2012}}</ref>

Another runner at the 2012 Grand National, According To Pete, was also put down after being brought down at the same fence on the second circuit.<ref name=":0" />

Three days after the National, J. P. McManus issued a statement in which he described his "deep sadness and sense of devastation" at the death of Synchronised. He explained that, "losing any horse is very sad but one as brave as Synchronised is a very big loss for all involved." He also revealed that the horse had been buried at Jackdaws Castle.<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Andrew |date=18 April 2012 |newspaper=[[Racing Post]] |url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/j-p-mc-manus-synchronised-aintree-cheltenham-mcmanus-we-feel-deep-sadness-and-devastation/1017222/top/ |title=McManus: We feel deep sadness and devastation |access-date=2024-08-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910053035/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/j-p-mc-manus-synchronised-aintree-cheltenham-mcmanus-we-feel-deep-sadness-and-devastation/1017222/top/ |archive-date=10 September 2012 }}</ref>

Speaking several weeks after the race, McCoy said that "Synchronised is a horse that I won't ever forget... it is one of those terrible things that you wish will never happen."<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/17917755 |title=AP McCoy trying to forget Grand National | publisher=BBC Sport |date=2012-05-01 |access-date=2024-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506080138/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/17917755 |archive-date=2012-05-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref> When he retired in 2015, McCoy described Synchronised as his favourite racehorse saying that "he probably wasn't the greatest horse I'd ridden but he had the greatest will to win." Remembering the horse's death, he said "I cried for days afterwards. That affected me more than any other horse."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/31737340 | title=AP McCoy: Jockey reveals the 10 favourite horses he has ridden| publisher=BBC Sport| date=2015-03-05}}</ref>

== Pedigree ==

{{Pedigree |name = Synchronised, bay gelding 2003 |f = [[Sadler's Wells (horse)|Sadler's Wells]] |m = Mayasta |ff = [[Northern Dancer]] |fm = Fairy Bridge |mf = [[Bob Back]] |mm = Sarahcee |fff = [[Nearctic (horse)|Nearctic]] |ffm = [[Natalma]] |fmf = [[Bold Reason]] |fmm = Special |mff = [[Roberto (horse)|Roberto]] |mfm = Toter Back |mmf = Prominer |mmm = Celestial Gold |ffff = [[Nearco]] |fffm = Lady Angela |ffmf = [[Native Dancer]] |ffmm = [[Almahmoud]] |fmff = '''[[Hail to Reason]]''' |fmfm = [[Lalun (horse)|Lalun]] |fmmf = Forli |fmmm = Thong |mfff = '''[[Hail to Reason]]''' |mffm = Bramalea |mfmf = [[Carry Back]] |mfmm = Romantic Miss |mmff = Beau Sabreur |mmfm = Snob Hill |mmmf = Golden Cloud |mmmm = Cellular (family 11-a) |}} * Synchronised was [[inbreeding|inbred]] 4 x 4 to the stallion Hail to Reason, meaning that the latter appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * [https://www.jockeycolours.com/horses/Synchronised.html?origin=wikipedia Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart] – ''Synchronised''

[[Category:2003 racehorse births]] [[Category:2012 racehorse deaths]] [[Category:Racehorses bred in Ireland]] [[Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:National Hunt racehorses]] [[Category:Cheltenham Festival winners]] [[Category:Cheltenham Gold Cup winners]] [[Category:Horses who died from racing injuries]] [[Category:Welsh Grand National winners]]