Luke Morris leads tributes to Alpinista as 'once-in-a-lifetime horse' is retired

Arc-winning jockey Luke Morris lavished Alpinista with praise on Thursday, calling the six-time Group 1 winner “my once-in-a-lifetime horse”, after the brilliant mare was retired from racing.

Alpinista was being prepared for one final outing in the Grade 1 Japan Cup this month, but trainer Sir Mark Prescott revealed the five-year-old had met with a “slight setback” during her preparation and would instead be retired to the stud of her owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing.

Rausing hailed her Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner as an “exceptional” talent, with the mare going unbeaten in eight starts during the last two years and landing Group 1s in three different countries, topped by her success in Paris last month.

Prescott said: "Alpinista has now been retired to stud where she will join the great broodmare band of Miss Rausing. As William Haggas said [about Baaeed], now the search begins for another one."

Alpinista (grey, left) a popular winner of the Prix de l'Arc de TriompheCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Morris emphasised the mare’s toughness and desire to win as major factors in her rise through the ranks, with the jockey on board for each of her Group 1 victories.

“I’m very lucky to have had the chance to ride her – she’s my once-in-a-lifetime horse,” he said. “You always hope to find another one as good, but I don’t know whether I’d find another as brave and honest as her.

“Going up through the ranks we always had belief that she was a nice horse but she just progressed every time and, as Sir Mark said, every run was always a little better than the last.

“She was so tough and she had a will to win, like they all do in that family, and I had a lot of confidence in her after she won those Group 1s in Germany even as others were knocking her.”

Morris previously tasted Group 1 success with the likes of Marsha and Gilt Edge Girl, but he outlined how he had taken a little extra time to appreciate the wins on Alpinista, realising what she was achieving.

“Every time she won a Group 1 I made sure I took it all in and appreciated it as I have been riding for a while now and know horses like this don’t come along very often,” he said. “That might not have been the case had it happened seven or eight years ago, so I’m thankful for that.

“She was a special mare and I cannot thank Sir Mark, Ms Rausing, Annabel [Willis, Alpinista’s groom] and all the people who worked so hard with her day in, day out.”

Kirsten Rausing and Alpinista after the Prix de L'Arc de TriompheCredit: Edward Whitaker

Alpinista is the latest star performer to emerge from Rausing's famed 'A' family, which had previously produced the likes of Alborada and Albanova. This year's St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov, who was bred and sold by Rausing, is also a member of the same extended family.

Rausing paid tribute to her multiple Group 1 winner following her retirement, while the owner-breeder added her appreciation for the congratulations she has continued to receive.

"She’s been a marvellous filly, in no small part due to my wonderful team at home and because of the experience and expertise of Sir Mark, whom there was no better trainer for the job, and of Luke Morris," Rausing said. "I’m so grateful to them all.

"It’s been very nice to be the recipient of [congratulations] and of the camaraderie there has been in sport and the industry. It’s not just been at the sales or the races though. People have been so kind coming up to me and offering congratulations even as I walk around the aisles of Tesco doing my shopping!"

Reflecting on Alpinista's retirement before she had a chance to run in the Japan Cup, Rausing added: "What’s happened has happened and her racing career has come to an end, but I am immensely grateful for what she has achieved – she’s been exceptional."

Alpinista’s great eight en route to Arc glory

Daisy Warwick Fillies' Stakes (Listed)

April 30, 2021, Goodwood

Alpinista’s brilliant winning sequence began in nerve-racking fashion, although her battling qualities were there for all to see as she overhauled Makawee to claim a second Listed win of her career to set her on the long road to glory.

What they said

Luke Morris: “My filly was probably a gallop or two short and was just a bit ring-rusty when I went for her, so hopefully there's improvement. Ms Rausing's horses generally tend to come into their own with time and she'll get further, but isn't slow and I'm sure Miss Rausing and Sir Mark will have a plan.”

Lancashire Oaks (Group 2)

July 3, 2021, Haydock

Alpinista gave a sign of her rapid improvement when winning the Lancashire Oaks on soft ground at HaydockCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

Having been beaten in four Group races as a two- and three-year-old, Alpinista finally made the breakthrough at a higher level with a gutsy success at Haydock. Although connections had reservations about the soft ground, she handled it with aplomb and this was no doubt an experience that benefited her come Longchamp 15 months later.

What they said

William Butler (assistant trainer): “She’s very game and we've trained lots of her family, who were very game as well. We were slightly worried about the ground as she was so effective on firm last summer, but her class got her through. You can look at races like the Lillie Langtry and Yorkshire Oaks now.”

Grosser Preis von Berlin (Group 1)

August 8, 2021, Hoppegarten

Her memorable German odyssey began with arguably the finest of her three victories there as she defeated Torquator Tasso by a convincing two and three-quarter lengths to claim her first Group 1. Not even Prescott realised the significance of the victory as they would go on to skip that year’s Arc while the runner-up claimed the biggest Flat prize of all two months later.

Preis von Europa (Group 1)

September 26, 2021, Cologne

It may not have been the Arc but more shrewd placement from Prescott saw Alpinista pick up her second Group 1 as she came storming up the straight in the last couple of furlongs. Never one to win by much, she saw off Nerium by a length and a quarter with German Derby winner Sisfahan in third.

Grosser Preis Von Bayern (Group 1)

November 7, 2021, Munich

This was the final leg of her German treble, and a victory which emphasised her status as one of the continent’s finest. Morris had to get to work early before an eyeball-to-eyeball battle with Mendocino ensued. Alpinista came out on top and won by three-quarters of a length in her usual gutsy manner.

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Group 1)

July 3, 2022, Saint-Cloud

Really, this wasn’t her race to win. Alpinista was returning to the track after a layoff of almost eight months, with Prescott feeling she needed the run. She was weak in the market, drifting to 79-10, with Hurricane Lane a hot 4-5 favourite. But as ever, write her off at your peril. Alpinista tracked Hurricane Lane before Morris angled for the outside, she picked up strongly and was well on top at the line. She’s back, baby.

What they said

Luke Morris: “Alpinista has taken a long time to come to hand this year, which is why she missed the Coronation Cup. I feel she's only just starting to come now. I hope she can improve a lot from the run. I think all roads will probably lead to the Arc. . ."

Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1)

August 18, 2022, York

Alpinista returned from her European tour with a point to prove at home – and did she prove it. This Yorkshire Oaks was stacked, with Aidan O’Brien’s Tuesday and the dangerous La Petite Coco all fancied to land on the Knavesmire. Alpinista was sent off a 7-4 favourite and duly delivered an assured, mature and typically tough performance as she held off Epsom winner Tuesday. Five Group 1s on the bounce – now all roads were leading to Paris.

What they said

Sir Mark Prescott: "Alpinista won't go for the Vermeille, I think she'll go straight to the Arc. She's just good enough to go close. You've got a chance, therefore you must go. She's a marvellous filly and she's improved all the time. . . she's improved every race and I think her success is because she's straightforward, she goes on more or less any ground, you can hold her up and make the running. It's like people, if they're very straightforward it's amazing what you can do.”

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Group 1)

October 2, 2022, Longchamp

Luke Morris is ecstatic as Alpinista comes home in front at LongchampCredit: Edward Whitaker

Pièce de résistance. Alpinista became the first five-year-old mare to win the Arc since 1937, securing her sixth-consecutive Group 1 and cementing her legacy as one of the all-time greats in the process. In what turned out to be her swansong, Alpinista was faultless at Longchamp, travelling smoothly on the inside throughout. Morris had ice in his veins and resisted the temptation to go too early. When Vadeni and Torquator Tasso tried to reel Alpinista in, she dug in one last time. Was it ever in doubt? Au revoir.

What they said

Luke Morris: “Things went to plan. It was very nice and smooth. I was concerned after we got all that rain whether she'd be quite as effective but she's a remarkable mare. She's so versatile and so tough. I couldn't believe how well she was going, coming into the straight. I was just trying to conserve her for as long as I could. When I needed her, she dug in very deep.”

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