2 minutes The Henderson stable grieves the loss of "a great horse, friend, and warrior."
Shishkin, celebrated as one of the most gifted and beloved steeplechasers in recent times, has tragically passed away following an injury at Nicky Henderson’s Lambourn stable.
The 10-year-old horse suffered a leg fracture after being confined in his box on Sunday evening.
Henderson, a titan in the National Hunt racing scene, had hoped to add yet another title to his illustrious career. As the world of horse racing betting odds continued to fluctuate, fans were eagerly anticipating Shishkin’s next challenge.
Scheduled to head to Ireland on Monday for a Punchestown showdown with Galopin Des Champs, the recent Gold Cup victor at the Cheltenham Festival, Shishkin's departure from the racing scene has left a void. Nicky Henderson expressed profound grief over the loss, stating on social media that the Seven Barrows stable felt a deep sense of loss for "such a great horse, friend, and warrior."
Reflecting on Shishkin's remarkable career, Henderson said:
"He was an absolute superstar. His curriculum vitae is testament to that—even though the King George [at Kempton on Boxing Day] isn't listed [he unseated his rider when clear in the 2023 renewal], we believe it should have been."
Shishkin's journey began with a fall on his hurdles debut at Newbury in December 2019, yet he bounced back to notch up a 10-race winning streak, which included major victories at the Supreme Novice Hurdle and Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in 2020 and 2021.
His most noteworthy performance, however, occurred in a thrilling face-off with Energumene, Ireland’s premier two-mile chaser, at the Clarence House Chase in Ascot in January 2022. Trailing by two lengths at the final jump, Shishkin rallied to secure a memorable win by a length.
"The Supreme Novice Hurdle and the Arkle were his Cheltenham highlights, but his battle with Energumene at the Clarence House in Ascot was probably the greatest," Henderson added. His was sadly missed when pulled from the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year, an event many had him pegged down as the favourite for.
Concluding his tribute, Henderson said, “This is a very sad night. He was our star, and we will never forget him. Thank you, Shishkin, for the wonderful memories.”