Racing days over for Muscle Mountain

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  

Greg Hope wants Muscle Mountain to be remembered as one of our best ever trotters.

"In our eyes he certainly is," says Hope, "we love him."

The nine-year-old has been officially retired after a hairline fracture in his cannon bone was found following his fourth Group 1 Fred Shaw Memorial New Zealand Trotting Championship win at Addington on February 27.

At the time Hope was optimistic it was not a career-ending injury.

The last few months have changed that thinking. 

"It took longer to heal than we thought it would," he says, "and we didn't want to compromise his retirement."

"And he's gone out on a good note winning a Group 1 in his last race."

Ever since winning four starts as a 2YO the son of Muscle Hill was earmarked for great things and he delivered season after season.

Thanks to his trademark explosive speed he finished up with 41 wins (28 of them at Addington) and stakes of over $1.2m.

"Every race he'd put in  - he was such a good horse," says Hope.

He was trained by Greg and wife Nina from their Woodend base for the majority of his career with son Ben driving him in all but three of his 77 starts. Ricky May(2) and Matthew Williamson were his only other drivers. 

With Nina stepping down from training last year Ben joined his father in partnership and they had six wins with him.

As for highlights?

"That would have to be the day Ben got his first Group 1," says Greg.

That was in the first of his four Fred Shaw Memorial wins in 2021. 

Greg Hope also rates one of Muscle Mountain's most unforgettable performances was in a race he didn't actually win.

In an action-packed 2022 Dominion Trot Muscle Mountain and Sundees Son went to war with Muscle Mountain getting to the front inside the last 200 only to be denied in an epic duel.

"That was a super drive from Ben that day and he was only beaten a head by the champion Sundees Son."

Muscle Mountain didn't win either of the country's two premier trotting races, the Dominion or the Rowe Cup, but did win seven Group 1s and 27 Group races overall.

He currently holds four New Zealand records
 
- 1700m Mobile 1:59.6 at Ashburton (2021)
- 1980m Mobile 2:21.8 at Addington (2023)
- 2000m Stand 2:28.3 at Addington (2022)
- 2600m Stand 3:12.9 at Addington (2022) 

Right now Muscle Mountain is continuing his rehabilitation.  

"He's out there in the paddock with Monbet (23 wins and $771K) and he seems good."

For his Life After Racing he's likely to be re-educated to saddle so he can go hacking and the like.

"But we'll get him to full health first and ensure he's spot on," says Hope.

MUSCLE MOUNTAIN 

9YO Muscle Hill - Paramount Faith
41 wins from 77 starts 
Stakes : $1,260,534
Best time : 1:59.6 (MR 1:53.2)