Monday 19 May 2014 14:54, UK
Katie Walsh has labelled Thousand Stars the "horse of a lifetime" after winning in France for the fourth time on Sunday.
The 10-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, took his career earnings close to £1million with his victory in the Prix la Barka, his second success in the Grade Two race having won it two years ago.
Having spent his best years chasing stablemate Hurricane Fly, Thousand Stars may only be truly appreciated once he retires but Walsh, who also won at the Cheltenham Festival on the grey, already holds him close to her heart.
Thousand Stars won by a nose from Le Grand Luce with Walsh's brother Ruby back in third on stablemate Diakali.
"He's an absolute star," she told At The Races.
"The horse has been so good to me and everyone in the yard - he's one in a million.
"I didn't have a clue if I'd won or not, the track is wide and there's no rail to judge it against.
"I didn't want to think I'd won just in case I hadn't. Ruby came up and asked me and the other guy, but he didn't know either and you can imagine that mine and Ruby's French isn't very good so it took forever to find out.
"I won the County Hurdle on him back in 2010 and ever since then he's been incredible.
"Everyone thought he was coming to the end of his career but he won the last day at Fairyhouse and getting his head in front again really helped him.
"He loves it in France, he's won two Prix la Barkas and two French Champion Hurdles.
"He's the horse of a lifetime."
