It’s hard to come to terms with reality - The cruel death of the great Disko
Sadness isn't the word. Devastation might be though.
It’s always hard to describe the loss of something you love. He was a horse I loved to watch, he was a horse that could capture an imagination. A big grey horse, almost white in colour, Disko his name.
As Kemboy stretched away to impressively land the 2018 Savills Chase, it was hard not to look back at the final fence. The scene at the last fence was not a pretty one due to Disko taking a massive tumble. Disko was lying down motionless, never to rise again.
Even as an outsider, I felt attached to Disko. That moment in your head when you realise that he might not ever rise again is a cruel thought. I was praying for a miracle as I’m sure everyone was. However, it wasn’t to be. I felt hollow and flat so I can’t even imagine the feelings of those connected with the horse. It was unbearable.
However having had some time to digest the reality, it was a time I was able to reflect on Disko’s career with great joy and most importantly, pride. I was proud I got to see him so many times, my father and I were always massive fans. A strong traveller, a good jumper and a horse that would never cry enough. He was everything you could have dreamed of.
I remember that when I met up with Donn McClean, he told a story about Disko to me. One time while he was filming at Noel Meade’s yard in 2015, they were focusing mostly on his flagship horse Road to Riches. However, at the end of their conversation, Meade pointed at this mighty grey horse in the last stable along the row. “That’s Disko, he runs in a bumper at Punchestown on Wednesday.” The typically modest Meade knew what he had at his disposal, that was a tip in itself. Disko won by 15 lengths on the bridle.
Disko was never a lucky horse with injuries and they prevented him from ever getting into a massive rhythm. After his debut win, a second in the Grade 1 Punchestown festival Bumper confirmed the promise. Yet, an injury troubled novice hurdle campaign confined him to only three runs. Disko did show his continued promise when accounting for a Naas maiden hurdle field by 29 lengths. It was enough to show everyone that the engine was fully intact.
Disko’s novice chase season was injury free and we got a real feel for the horse. This was when I became very emotionally attached to the grey, missing just one of his six runs throughout the season, which was at Cheltenham. His beginners chase performance at Punchestown was full of quality and precision to account for Last Goodbye by an eased down 8 lengths. His return to the track the month after for the Florida Pearl was unimpressive though, when struggling to cope with the foggy conditions to finish third. Never again would he not run to form. Just was his consistency and ability.
Many had discounted Disko after that second Punchestown run and rubbished the claims that Noel Meade made about him. He went to the Leopardstown Christmas Festival to run in the Grade One Neville Hotels Novice Chase. Sent off at 33/1, Disko showed the old spark when he was just edged out of a titanic three way duel with Our Duke and Coney Island. Disko was back to play ball. And I was only delighted to see him back to near his best.
It was next time out that Disko’s star shone brightest, back at Leopardstown on Irish Gold Cup day. Competing in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase, Disko jumped them silly for the front, and overturned form with Our Duke to provide Sean Flanagan with his first Grade 1 winner as a jockey. The performance was electric and brought an emotional Meade nearly to tears. His star had his big day. I was part of an ecstatic and blown away crowd at the Winners Enclosure, the Leopardstown crowd knowing a good horse when they see on.
A brave effort in defeat to a top class Yorkhill in the JLT at Cheltenham was followed by an equally brilliant win in the Growise Champion Novice at Punchestown. It was the year that Disko had come of age. Excitement was growing, were we watching a potential Gold Cup contender?
The following season brought about a highly anticipated reappearance in the Grade 2 at Down Royal in November. Disko had the ability and quality to toy with the field from the front before a determined late surge held the racefit and also high class Ballyoisin on the run-in. It whetted the appetite for a massive season for Disko. However, the injuries that had thwarted him already so much, prevailed again. A cracked skull was as bad as it sounded.
The wait to see him lasted 14 months. 14 months of tireless work from stable staff and Noel Meade to get him back today. What happened today was horrid to watch and took the shine away from what was an excellent race and a stunning performance from Kemboy.
Disko is just a horse that I always connected with and the sight of him flying over fences was a sight I’d never trade in for anything. Disko will be a loss to the game. He was a stunning horse that didn’t deserve fate’s cruel destiny.
Rest in peace my friend. Rest in peace Disko.