Old County True Fighter To The End

Newcastle Herald

Friday September 19, 2008

GEOFF WILSON RACING

"THAT'S it."

Kris Lees did not have to say any more. Those couple of words, said with raw emotion in his voice, were the announcement of the end of County Tyrone's career.

It was only fitting that County Tyrone, the horse that has raced with glory and fame every season since he was two, would end with a typical bulldog effort in the Newcastle Cup.

County Tyrone, now a spritely 10 years of age, finished third but, make no mistake, it was the local hero that took the hearts and thoughts of a large cup day crowd with his effort.

It looked as though he would just fail to run a place and score a gallant fourth.

But while the old legs might have been tired, the enormous heart and strength of the horse now known as Old County kicked in.

While Bianca dashed away to win convincingly from Keepin' The Dream, it was the battle for third that captivated the crowd.

Queenslander Fulmonti looked set to edge out old County, but no way was he going to make his last run anything except one to remember. County Tyrone kept kicking, the crowd kept cheering, and on the line he surged and got his head down for third.

"What a way to go out. He just refused to give in," Lees said. "Yes, I am sad, emotional a horse like this is once in a lifetime for a trainer.

"He is not just a horse around the stables he is the Lees stables.

"The owners have agreed to let him stay with me for another week, so he will be a special star at the Newcastle meeting on Saturday week.

"That will be a day-and-a-half for us all."

He was the horse Lees liked as a yearling. He asked his dad, the late Max Lees, for advice about buying the sturdy youngster.

"Dad just said, 'Go for it,' " Lees recalled.

County Tyrone has repaid that faith in him many times.

He won three group 1 races the Sydney Cup, The Metropolitan and the QTC Derby.

As County prepares for his farewell tour, so many thoughts and memories have been floating in the mind of Lees.

"Of course he is the last link to dad around the stables in a physical sense," Lees said.

"But it is so much more, as Old County owns the place.

"I genuinely do not know what it is going to be like to come in and not have him there.

"The staff love him, I love him and so many race fans love him, but what do you do?

"The time has to come sooner or later, and right now seems the perfect time to retire him."

The Newcastle Jockey Club said it will be a free entry day when County Tyrone Day explodes on the Newcastle racing scene.

"We will have hats and memorabilia there for everyone that comes to honour County . . . he deserves a day like that," NJC chief executive John Curtis said.

COUNTY TYRONE

BAY GELDING 10YO (Danewin-Nice Choice)

STARTS: 87. Wins 9. 2nd: 8. 3rd: 9.

PRIZEMONEY: $2,306,420.

FIRST START: June 9, 2001. Final start: September 18,

2008.

GROUP 1 WINS SYDNEY CUP RECORD

Queensland Derby (2002) 2nd 2005

The Metropolitan (2004) 1st 2006

Sydney Cup (2006). 8th 2007

4th 2008

County Tyrones 2002 Queensland Derby win was the

last Group One success for his trainer Max Lees who

died in August 2003.

His 2004 Metropolitan was the fi rst Group One victory

for Lees trainer son Kris.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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