AMIR PASHA. 14 March 2005. Halling-Clarinda Owner-M.H.O.G.
Without making enquiries I cannot be 100% sure that another horse has made more appearances from Oakwood Stables than Amir Pasha, who in total raced an incredible 128 times during an eight season career, both on the flat, and over jumps. He is a very well bred horse, being by Juddmonte International winner Halling, out of a mare who had her four race career cut short by injury, but still registered a BHA rating of 97.
Both his sire and dam were regular rides for the late Walter Swinburn, so it was fitting that Amir Pasha should start out his racing career, in Hertfordshire, with that racehorse trainer,
Amir Pasha ran six times for Walter Swinburn, all as a three year old, his best effort coming at Wolverhampton, on his last start for the yard,in October 2008, earning a mark of 59.
He was purchased at the Newmarket sales soon after by Micky, and would run in the colours of Mr McAllister. In November he made his hurdles debut, but showed very little in his first four attempts.He had his first run on the flat for us at Musselburgh in April 2009, and ran his best race to date, finishing third over two miles, beaten just three lengths.That was something he failed to repeat under both codes, until in December, when at the 20th attempt he finally got off the mark in the selling hurdle at Catterick. Now he had got the hang of it, it was only 13 days until he was winning again, back at Catterick, but this time in a non seller,and stepping up to two miles and three furlongs.
During 2010 Amir Pasha would run a staggering 21 times under both codes, winning three times, and being placed a further 10. His hurdles mark was now 111, and his flat rating had increased to 65.
Since joining the yard two years previously, Amir Pasha had not had a proper break from racing, and it was only 85 days until he was back in action, finishing third over the jumps at Musselburgh in February 2011.He would once again run 21 times during 2011, this time winning once, and being placed 14 times, although he also won on January 1st, 2012 at Catterick.
This remarkable horse ran a further 19 times in 2012, and reappeared 17 times in 2013, at the age of six in 2014, he ran 18 times, and in his final season of racing in 2015, which was curtailed by injury, he had run 10 times by June. During that final season he had six attempts over fences, but like many flat bred horses he probably didn't enjoy the experience very much. He finished a very courageous career having run 128 times, winning on 10 occasions, and finishing in the first three a further 32 times. A truly remarkable record by any standards.
He is one of those lucky horses, who now enjoys a wonderful retirement in the care of his new doting owner.