In 2012, Colour Vision was a household name in Great Britain after an absolutely stunning victory in the Gold Cup at the Royal Ascot – but now the gelding has a new career which has his whole heart: Show Jumping.
The nine-year-old gelding bred by Capricorn Stud (Rainbow Quest x Give Me Five) and owned by the UAE’s Godolphin stables showed early talent for the long distances. That talent culminated in an incredible win when he was four years old, beating out a handful of ferocious competitors in the Gold Cup at Ascot – a two mile, three furlong grueler of a race.
Prior to that he’d also won the Cesarewitch Handicap, the British Champions Long Distance Cup, and the Sargaro Stakes (where he set a new track record), and at the end of that year he was voted Britain’s “Stayer of the Year”.
His win in the Gold Cup was a bit controversial as there was a late bump in the race, and his jockey Frankie Dettori had been shuffled around a bit in the Godolphin organization and there were rumours of retirement. But Colour Vision ignored all the controversy, instead just staying ahead of a massive, aggressive pack to take the win.
In 2013, the gelding never seemed to regain his former glory, and he was retired from racing.
Having been gelded in 2011, it was determined that the horse needed a new job. In 2015, the horse was sent to Beverly Spencer, who has retrained Colour Vision for a whole new life not only in the show ring, but as a beloved friend and one-woman horse.
Watch this beautiful short film about their story, courtesy of Godolphin:
Do you have a great OTTB turned Hunter Jumper? Send us a story lead to lorraine@nationmediallc!
Go Colour Vision, and Go Jumping!