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Black Corton: The horse who helped Bryony Frost climb ladder is retired
By Andy Stephens
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Frost and Black Corton share a moment after winning the Kauto Star at Kempton (Focusonracing)
Black Corton can look forward to a happy retirement in the care of Bryony Frost after connections called time on the career of the popular Paul Nicholls-trained chaser on Saturday night.
The 10-year-old ran a string of fine races, with his last victory coming in the Grade Two Oaksey Chase at Sandown in 2019, while he was famously a Grade One winner under Frost in the 2017 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.
Black Corton's exploits also included winning the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot in 2018, while his efforts in defeat included a gallant second in the 2019 Galway Plate.
He was instrumental in helping Frost up the ladder and she often referred to him as one of her "best mates". The pair combined in 25 races, winning eight times and being runners-up on as many occasions. She was a 5lb conditional when first riding him.
After their narrow defeat at Galway, she said: “When Paul gave me that opportunity to ride him in my first ride as a conditional at Worcester, who would have ever said he would have gone on to be the person he has? He is a fairytale to me.”
Sent off at 11-1 for the Close Brothers Handicap Chase at Kempton on Saturday, Black Corton was struggling some way out and was pulled up by Frost before three out.
It was the third successive time he had failed to complete. That had previously happened just once in his previous 37 races.
Rated 139 when winning over fences for the first time, he hit a peak rating of 163 and won his connections almost £400,000 in prize-money.
Nicholls said on Twitter: “After discussions with the owners we have decided to retire Black Corton. He will have a lovely home with Bryony.”
Sadly, the Nicholls-trained Southfield Stone was fatally injured in the same race.
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