Gary Moore hails ‘superstar’ Goshen after confirming retirement

Trainer Gary Moore paid tribute to Goshen after the popular runner was retired from racing.

The 10-year-old bows out the winner of 11 of his 41 races, including two Kingwell Hurdles and an Ascot Hurdle, but arguably is most famous for his luckless unseat at the final flight when well clear in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Goshen had not tasted victory since winning over fences at Exeter in March 2024 and raced just once this term, coming home last of eight runners at Sandown last month.

Moore, who trains in partnership with his son Josh, said: “He was a superstar and a horse of a lifetime to do what he did.

“He did some great things but probably never quite achieved what he could have done and he was obviously very unlucky not to win a Triumph Hurdle, but he was a great horse.

“He’s been fantastic and he was (owner) Steve Packham’s first horse he had with me and he is going to be a hard one to replace.

“He had lots of fans and a real following. He has gone to a nice home where he will get well looked after. He’s not going to be too far away so we can go and check in on him as well and I’m sure Steve will be a visitor too.”

Prior to his Cheltenham tumble nearly six years ago, Goshen won his first three hurdle races by a combined total of 68 lengths, but Moore felt his Festival experience left its mark.

He added: “It was something I’ve never quite seen before in racing.

“I’ve never seen one catch his front shoe with his back shoe and he ended up on three legs. He got half way up the run-in then stopped to look back to see where Jamie (Moore, jockey) was, it was so strange.

“I don’t think he was ever the same and the next time I saddled him at Cheltenham he broke out into a sweat. Something happened that day.”