User:Finnegas/sandbox6

Sandbox Cottage Rake

Cottage Rake (1939–1961) was a successful National Hunt racehorse. His breeder was Richard Vaughan from Hunting Hall, Castletown Roche, Co. Cork, Ireland. Before he embarked on his jumping career, he was failed by a vet on three different examinations. On the last of these occasions, the vet was working for Frank Vickerman, who had just become one of the first patrons of a new Irish trainer named Vincent O'Brien. But the deal still went through, and Cottage Rake ultimately set his trainer on the route to the top of the training ladder by becoming only the second horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years in a row. He achieved this hat trick from 1948–1950, beating Finnure by ten lengths in the last of these races. His hardest-won triumph had come the previous year when he only got the better of Cool Customer in the final 100 yards. Such was his partnership with jockey Aubrey Brabazon that a verse was composed about their success. Cottage Rake lost his form after his third Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph. He moved over to Gerald Balding's stable in England, but the change of scenery did not resurrect his success.

Background
Cottage Rake was bred by Mallow based GP Dr Otto Vaughan at his brothers yard near Churchtown. At the age of five Cottagae Rake was sent to Goffs sales in Ballsbridge but he failed to sell.The following year he was sent to be trained by Vincent O'Brien.

Early Career
Cottage Rakes was first run on St. Stephen's Day 1945 at Limerick Racecourse. Ridden by Danny O'Sullivan he won at odds of 10/1. In February, he won  a bumper in Leopardstown and was ridden by leading amateur jockey Pat Hogan.

Due to his victories, Cottage Rake began to attarct attention from potential buyers.

Won the 1947 Naas November Handicap and the Irish Caesarwitch in 48. The decison was taken to enter cr in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was O'Briens first runner at an English Racecourse. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup at odds of 10/1, beating Happy Home which was owned by Dorothy Paget by a length after jumping the last two lengths behind.

Nearly a month later Irish Grand National 2nd.

1948 King George VI won by five lenghths as a nine yr old gelding best three mile hurdler in the British Isles.

1949 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

1950 Cheltenham Gold Cup.