Tropaios, the charismatic and enigmatic racehorse who launched China Horse Club onto the international stage has passed away in his paddock in Australia overnight. The news of his death comes almost a decade on his from spinetingling last to first display in the 2013 G1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup. And while the China Horse Club has gone on to enjoy success on bigger international stages, there is no doubting the importance of Tropaios to the Club’s ascension and to those who were close to him.
The standing in which Tropaios was held by the China Horse Club may best be exemplified by a decision to fly him back to Australia and retire him to The Chase, in the NSW Southern Highlands, upon his retirement in 2015. Allowed to ‘round out’, the warm-hearted chestnut was always a popular attraction for visiting guests as well as being a regular partner for younger bullish colts who needed guidance and a calming influence.
“When we were starting the China Horse Club, we needed a flagship performer to carry us while our younger stock was coming through our systems in Australia, Europe and Singapore. Tropaios was the result of extensive planning between our Singapore trainer Michael Freedman, our French trainer Nicholas Clement and myself and we couldn’t have been more fortunate,” said Eden Harrington, Vice President of the China Horse Club.
“Tropaios was enigmatic in every way but he was a lightning rod for creating awareness about China Horse Club with his distinctive ‘last to first’ running style. We will miss him dearly.”
Freedman trained a number of high-profile performers during his successful tenure in Singapore. However, it was Tropaios who won him his first high profile feature in the Asian racing centre.
“I am truly saddened to receive the news of the passing of Tropaios,” Freedman said last night.
“[Tropaios] really was the horse that shaped my career in Singapore and my relationship with China Horse Club. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to both Tropaios and CHC. May he rest in peace.”
2013 G1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup
Champion jockey Tommy Berry was equally moved. Piloting Tropaios to his Singapore Gold Cup success forged his close association with Freedman and China Horse Club, relationships which have only strengthened through with a litany of high-profile subsequent wins, none more significant than the 2021 Golden Slipper on the Freedman Brothers trained Stay Inside.
“Tropaios was a real quirky customer. He sometimes didn’t make things easy in a race but he was such a beautiful horse to do things with on the ground,” Berry recalled.
“[Tropaios] had a heart of gold. He put his heart and soul into every race he contested and he gave everyone so much pleasure, whether ground staff, jockeys, his trainer Michael Freedman and his owners CHC.
“He is one of the nicest horses I have ever been associated with. It was so good to see him in the paddock at The Chase not so long ago. He will be sadly missed. I will always look back fondly at some of the memories with him, especially winning the Singapore Gold Cup together.”
Tropaios was retired in 2015 ahead of a third tilt at the Singapore Gold Cup having started to struggle with the firmer tracks in Singapore. His curriculum vitae may have only read as the winner of two races but those statistics failed to take into account his multiple stakes placings including his third in the G1 Singapore Derby and his close fourth when rising to the challenge of defending his G1 Singapore Gold Cup title in 2014.
“Tropaios was a Singapore hero,” said Karl Henry, Director of Gumuny Holdings, owners of The Chase where Tropaios has resided for more than six years.
“China Horse Club’s maiden G1 winner, he made his legacy within CHC. His eyes were a mirror to his soul and his personality.”
Tropaios was honoured with the creation of the Tropaios Lounge at the Swiss based Alpina Mountain Resort and Spa. The lounge is a feature of the multi-awarding winning venue and was included in its upgrading upon its relaunching in December 2015.
