Katie Midwinter (29/04/2024)
Shishkin was a special horse. Purchased for £170,000 following a point-to-point win at Lingstown back in 2018, he was sent to Seven Barrows to begin training with Nicky Henderson, where he would stay for the remainder of his life, winning six Grade One contests and capturing the hearts of racing fans along the way.
In the famous black and yellow colours of Mrs Donnelly, Shishkin recorded victory in the Supreme, the Arkle, and the Aintree Bowl among his fourteen career wins, but is perhaps his defeat of Energumene in an epic battle for the ages in the 2022 Clarence House Chase that truly epitomised his talent and character. The manner in which he was able to battle and fight back to win, against a subsequent dual Champion Chase winner and exceptional talent in Energumene, made it the race of the year, and one of the best in recent times.
Desperately unlucky to unseat in the King George VI Chase this season, Shishkin had been deprived of such an accolade, and he was forced to miss his main target of the Gold Cup, a race in which he surely would have given impressive winner Galopin Des Champs something to think about if at his best. There have been many occasions when things haven’t gone Shishkin’s way, but this is the reality in work and in life, things don’t always pan out as they should.
On ability there is little argument against the fact that Shishkin was a tremendous talent on his day, the best chaser in Britain, and the best in Britain and Ireland over two miles at his peak.
A career-high rating of 177, that could have been even higher, is proof enough of his quality. To put it into context, Galopin Des Champs is currently rated 179 having won back-to-back Gold Cups, and Altior, who recorded nineteen consecutive victories that included four Cheltenham Festival wins, was rated 175 at best. Shishkin is third only to Sprinter Sacre and Long Run in Timeform ratings of Nicky Henderson-trained horses, but there is the feeling that he could have achieved so much more, and a higher-rating in doing so, had things been simpler.
Regardless of his ability and ratings, the most endearing thing about the great Shishkin was his character. He had such a gentle nature. His relationship with his groom Jaydon Lee was incredibly special and that was clear for everyone to see. The way that Nico De Boinville, his long-time partner in the saddle, and Nicky Henderson, spoke of their champion, with such affection and love.
Those of us who were lucky enough to meet the beautiful soul at Seven Barrows have memories to cherish. He had kind eyes, and a friendly way about him that was unique to him. Prior to big races, Shishkin would walk around the paddock in a calm and relaxed manner. The narrative of him being ‘difficult’ is without much substance in that regard.
Quirky, perhaps, with a mind of his own, and sometimes maybe lacking much interest in jumping a few fences. His effort in last year’s Ryanair Chase proved that. He took most of the fences with him on the way around, but he was still able to finish in second, finishing the strongest. He had such resilience and would never give up.
Although the Ascot match with Energumene instantly comes to mind when thinking of Shishkin’s best efforts on a racecourse, it is the Aintree Bowl in 2023 that made the most impression on me. I had been to see Shishkin race on a few occasions prior, sporting my black and yellow scarf, but things hadn’t gone his way in any of those races. Superstitiously, I left the scarf at home. I didn’t want to jinx my favourite horse at all!
With two fences to jump in the Bowl, I thought he was in trouble. He was slightly more fluent over his fences than at Cheltenham, but, again, wasn’t travelling the way he could at his best. But, he dug deep, he stayed on, closing on the long-time leader Ahoy Senor all of the time in the final furlong and finally getting in front to the delight of so many.
That is one of my favourite races of all-time. It was special to me because of the way it made me feel. I am a passionate racing fan, and Shishkin is one of the first horses I fell in love with when getting into the sport. To be there to see him win was something I will never forget. It’s a memory I’ll cherish even more now.
Sadly, Shishkin’s time was cut short. Much shorter than he deserved. He leaves behind such special moments that will live long in the memory. He was a true great, a supreme talent, a kind soul. He could have been one of the greatest of all-time. To me he always will be. I’ll never forget him, the feeling of elation he gave me and the joy I felt when meeting him and seeing him win at Aintree.
Horses like Shishkin are the ones that can attract people to the sport in the first place. New fans that want to follow a horse and their journey. With a heavy heart and tears in my eyes I write this piece, but I feel a sense of happiness at having known and loved such a special horse.
My thoughts are very much with the whole team at Seven Barrows, his owners, and everyone who loved Shishkin, especially Jaydon.
Goodbye, Shishkin, and thank you.
THE CONDITIONAL 