KAYF ARAMIS OFF TO PASTURES NEW

After 85 starts, (41 on the flat, 43 over hurdles and 1 all-weather), totalling 7 wins (4 on the flat and 3 over jumps), 16 seconds, 7 thirds and 8 fourths, with earnings of £153,670,KAYF ARAMIS bows out of the competitive racing world. He was born on 27^th April, 2002, appropriately in the Chinese Year of the Horse and his illustrious Sire is Kayf Tara, the champion two-miler stayer, winner of the Ascot Gold Cup (twice) the Irish St. Leger (twice), the Yorkshire Cup and the Goodwood Cup.

Kayf Aramis's racing career began on 12^th June 2004 at Sandown in the Palletline plc Maiden Stakes and ended on 6^th May 2013 at Ffos Las in the Parker Plant Eisteddfod Handicap Hurdle. In those nine years he raced at 26 tracks from Aintree to Ascot, Wetherby to Warwick. His memorable successes, however, were at Cheltenham, where he appeared on 17 occasions and won the Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) in 2009 and on the flat at York (9 outings) where he won the Sportsman Racing Stakes (Handicap) in 2006, theRobert Pratt Memorial Stakes (Handicap) in 2007 andtheripleycollection.com Stakes (Handicap) in 2009, having failed to make it a hat-trick in 2008. Equally impressive was his 2^nd in The Rendlesham Hurdle Grade 2 in February 2010, followed by a similar success in The West Yorkshire Hurdle Race Grade 2 at Wetherby in October of the same year.

A total of 25 jockeys have had the pleasure of riding the 'diminutive' Kayf Aramis, as some racing commentators good-naturedly called him; 14 of them only once each. Paddy Brennan had the most rides with 14, 13 over hurdles and one on the flat in a special race at Goodwood for National Hunt jockeys, producing three 2nds, two 3rds and two 4ths. Sam Twiston-Davies also rode 13 times over jumps and notched up two 2nds and one 3^rd. On the flat, Paul Quinn (8 rides, two 1sts and one 2^nd), who rode him for the year 2005–2006, produced Kayf Aramis's first-ever win at Bath and his first win (of the eventual three) at York.

To Aidan Coleman, however, who was aboard for a total of seven rides (two 1sts, two 2nds and one 4th), from November 2008 to April 2009, goes the honour of helping the son of Kayf Tara to his first win over hurdles at Chepstow in February 2009 and the crowning glory of being victorious in the Cheltenham Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle),exactly one month later. Kayf Aramis's other wins were with Marc Halford (11 rides, 2006-2008 - one 1^st, four 2nds, one 3^rd and three 4ths.) and Sam Thomas (4 rides 2008-2009, one 1^st, one 2^ndand one 3^rd).

One of the outstanding races on the flat was undoubtedly in partnership with Johnny Murtagh (2 rides May and June 2009),when Kayf Aramis, on his final appearance at York in May 2009, won theripleycollection.com Stakes (Handicap) by 13 lengths.

Not a bad career for this 11-year-old champion, written off by one trainer as not capable of becoming a jumper and by a well-known jockey on the flat as 'not having any class'!

The next stage is not yet decided but Kayf Aramis is surely too young to hang up his shoes. Perhaps, following the example of previous champions, such as Kauto Star, who is now tackling dressage, Kayf Aramis could re-train as a showjumper. He certainly has the stamina, potential ability and resilience to to take on such a new career. What is sure, however, is that the legendary inspiration for the Aramis Racing Club will continue to delight his fans. Members will still be able to follow him on the website and receive information via newsletter as well as keep an eye on the rest of his family: Kaylifa, Zayfire, Berlyf, Kaylina and, of course, Kaylif, full brother to Kayf Aramis, who, although now with other owners, is still trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, alongside Zayfire.

Cheltenham Festival winner Kayf Aramis enjoying life after racing

By Gloucestershire Echo  |  Posted: January 17, 2014

Cheltenham Festival hero Kayf Aramis is enjoying life after racing at owner Isobel Phipps Coltman’s home near Gloucester.

Phipps Coltman said her seven-time winner, who landed the Pertemps Hurdle at the 2009 Festival, had settled in well after time was called on his career with Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable in Guiting Power.

“He’s great and he’s back out in the field and I’ve started riding him,” she said.  Read more here >

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