Kihavah, the bargain buy described by his trainer Adrian Keatley as “the horse of a lifetime”, suffered a fatal fall at Kelso on Sunday.
North Yorkshire-based Keatley bought Kihavah for just 8,500 guineas in 2021 after the horse had raced three times in Ireland for Ken Condon.
It proved to be an inspired buy for the Classic-winning trainer – Kihavah went on to win six times on the Flat, including the valuable Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh in April 2025, and three times over hurdles.
But the nine-year-old, whose career earnings topped £387,000, fell fatally at the fifth flight of the Elliot Henderson Group Handicap Hurdle at the Scottish Borders track.
Kildare-borne Keatley famously sprang a David-versus-Goliath shock when Jet Setting, the filly he bought from a Doncaster nursery, shocked the Aidan O’Brien-saddled Minding to capture the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh 10 years ago.
But it was Kihavah who was the Ryedale stable’s star.
“It’s devastating news for the horse, the owners and the staff,” said Keatley. “We bought him for eight and a half thousand and he won nearly £400,000 in prize money.
“He won over jumps, he won on the Flat – he was a brilliant horse. Everyone is devastated. It’s a sad day for the owners and a sad day for the yard.”
View 2 ImagesTrainer Adrian Keatley paid tribute to Kihavah(Image: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane)
In 2023, Jody Townend, the sister of Irish champion jockey Paul Townend, won the Queen Mother’s Cup on Kihavah at York.
She described Kihavah as an “absolute pleasure” to ride while PJ McDonald, who rode the horse to win the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh in April 2025, described him as a “legend”.
That was Kihavah’s last success. In total he won nine of his 54 races – six on the Flat and three over hurdles – and was also second nine times and third six times.
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He amassed £388,000 in career prize money, which dwarfed his 8.500 guineas purchase price.