Special Tiara (31 March 2007 – 2 February 2019) was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. He specialised in steeplechases over the minimum distance of two miles and was a confirmed front-runner who usually attempted to lead from the start. He scored his first major success in 2013 when he won the Maghull Novices' Chase and went on to win the Celebration Chase in 2015 and two editions of the Desert Orchid Chase. In March 2017 he recorded his biggest success when he took the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the fourth attempt. He was euthanized after sustaining an injury in the 2019 Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.
Background
Special Tiara was a bay gelding with no white markings bred in England by his owner David Young. He was sent into training with Henry de Bromhead at Knockeen, County Waterford.
Special Tiara was sired by Kayf Tara, an outstanding stayer who won two Ascot Gold Cups and two Irish St Legers and was a three time Cartier Champion Stayer. His other offspring have included Thistlecrack, Planet of Sound (Punchestown Gold Cup), Blaklion (RSA Chase), Tea For Two (Feltham Novices' Chase) and Carruthers (Hennessy Gold Cup). Special Tiara's dam Special Choice was an unraced, Irish-bred, daughter of Bob Back and a member of the relatively obscure Thoroughbred family 4-e.
Racing career
2011/2012 National Hunt season
Special Tiara began his racing career on the amateur Point-to-point circuit, finishing second at the Boulta meeting on 27 November 2011. He then moved to professional competition and was campaigned in novice hurdle races. He finished second at Killarney in May and Clonmel in June before recording his first success at Kilbeggan Racecourse in July, beating Tobar Na Gaoise by five lengths.
2012/2013 National Hunt season
In the 2012/2013 season Special Tiara was campaigned in novice chases and made a successful debut over fences when winning at Ballinrobe on 24 September. Sally Rowley-Williams then purchased him and nicknamed him "Mr T", believing this name was more suited to his physique and personality. When moved up in class he finished second to Baily Green in the Grade 3 Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown in October. After a lengthy break he returned at Leopardstown Racecourse on 3 March and finished fifth of the six runners behind Savello. On 6 April Special Tiara was sent to England to contest the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree Racecourse and started the 28/1 outsider in a six-runner field. The Grand Annual Chase winner Alderwood started favourite ahead of Baily Green, Overturn and Sire de Grugy. Ridden by Bryan Cooper he led early in the race before settling in second behind Overturn. He moved up to challenge the leader at the final fence, took the lead on the run-in and won by one and three quarter lengths. Nineteen days later he lined up for the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown, but after leading for most of the way he was overtaken four fences out and finished a distant third behind Arvika Ligeonniere and Ocars Well.
2013/2014 National Hunt season
After unseating his rider on his seasonal debut Special Tiara finished third to Kid Cassidy in the Shloer Chase in November on his first appearance at Cheltenham Racecourse. In February at Punchestown he finished last of four behind Arvika Ligeonniere in the Tied Cottage Chase. At the Cheltenham Festival on 12 March he made his first attempt to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase and led for most of the way before fading from the third last and finishing sixth behind Sire de Grugy. In the Celebration Chase at Sandown Park Racecourse in April he produced probably his best effort of the season as he finished third to Sire de Grugy and Pepite Rose. In the summer of 2014 he made one start under Flat racing rules and finished second to the Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old Tigris River at Killarney.
2014/2015 National Hunt season
Special Tiara was beaten at odds-on on his first two starts of the 2014/2015 season, finishing fifth in a hurdle at Cork and third in a steeplechase at Ballinrobe. After running fourth to Twinlight in the Fortria Chase at Navan Racecourse he was sent to England to contest the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park on 27 December. Ridden by Barry Geraghty he started the 5/1 third choice in the betting behind Balder Succes (Maghull Novices Chase) and Hinterland (Henry VIII Novices' Chase). He went to the front from the start as usual, built up a clear advantage and held on over the last two fences to win by two and a quarter lengths from Balder Succes.