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Andrew Thornton remembers Cool Dawn as death announced of Gold Cup winner
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Jockey Andrew Thornton has paid tribute to 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn, who has died at the age of 30.
Trained by Robert Alner and owned by Baroness Dido Harding, he caused a 25-1 shock in the blue riband event, holding off Strong Promise and Dorans Pride.
Thornton said: "There's no doubt I wouldn't have ridden 1,000 winners if it wasn't for him. He kick-started my career and was the first big horse me and Robert had together."
Cool Dawn was a prolific winner in the point-to-point and hunter chase spheres before joining Alner where he realised his potential which he had shown when second in the 1996 Cheltenham Foxhunter.
His time with Alner was interrupted by injury, but in one golden spell he won three times at Ascot under Thornton.
Cool Dawn was then pulled up at Sandown but that was rectified in the best possible way with victory in the Gold Cup.
Thornton said: "I remember the first time I won on him at Ascot when he was supposed to have 10st. I told Robert I could get down to 10st 2lb and he said he'd let me ride as long as I was no heavier. It was a good job I managed it.
"He was only such a big price in the Gold Cup because he'd pulled up the time before at Sandown, but we subsequently found he just didn't like Sandown. Also that run probably came at a time when the yard were quiet.
"He was cherry-ripe on the day, his coat was gleaming and the ground was probably good to firm, which really suited him. It couldn't be quick enough for him.
"Robert was a master with getting years out of chasers and I'm glad I was able to ride a Gold Cup winner for him.
"Nobody can take it away from us."
Thornton and Cool Dawn return after their Gold Cup triumph (PA)
Cool Dawn only managed four more races under Rules after his big win, and was pulled up in three of them, but he certainly enjoyed his retirement hunting with Baroness Harding.
Thornton added: "He was still hunting when he was 25. I haven't come across many horses older who have still been hunting.
"If you'd seen them out hunting there was only one person in control - and it wasn't Dido! There was one point-to-point when she was 30 lengths clear, he ran out at the horse boxes, lost 40 lengths and still ended up winning by 15."
"I spoke to Dido about him and she was saying how lucky she'd been. She's only ever owned three horses in her life and she might have a Grand National runner this year in Walk In The Mill."
Cool Dawn raced 17 times under Rules, winning six times and earning over £210,000 in prize-money.
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