On 13 April, the show horse and racing worlds lost a champion with the sad passing of Precedence, aged 20.
Trained by the legendary Bart Cummings, Precedence (by Zabeel out of Kowtow, by Shadeed) holds a special place in Australian racing history as the Cups King’s final runner — and grandson James Cummings’s first — in the 2014 Melbourne Cup. The gelding contested four Melbourne Cups in total, finishing in the top 10 three times.
Across a long racing career, Precedence recorded 10 wins from 69 starts and earned almost $2 million in prize money before retiring sound as a 10‑year‑old in 2015.
As a racehorse, Precedence had a commanding presence — and that presence translated seamlessly into his second career in the show ring.
From the track to the show ring
A Racing Victoria Acknowledged Retrainer, Fiona McIntyre has transitioned countless Thoroughbreds from the track to successful show careers.
Fiona knew Precedence long before he walked into her showing stable. “I followed him on the track; he was a real favourite of mine,” explained McIntyre in a 2020 interview with Equestrian Life.
“He was one of Bart’s last horses, so there was that sentimental attachment; I had huge respect for Bart Cummings as a trainer.”
Fiona had another retired champion in Sirmione, who came to her via Bart Cummings’s longtime foreman, Reg Fleming. When Precedence retired, one of his owners, the Duchess of Bedford, knew the horse meant a lot to Reg, and so he was offered him. With Sirmione thriving in Fiona’s care, she received a call from Reg — and was thrilled to welcome Precedence to her stable.
Learning a new way of going
“He was interesting to start with,” recalled Fiona of the early retraining days. “He was renowned on the track for pulling. Anyone who was involved with the horse would tell you he probably would have done a lot better over his career if he behaved a bit better, because he’d start pulling and going too early!”
“I’ll never forget the first ride I had on him. I thought, ‘how are we ever going to hold this horse? He was so strong, and really reactive, hot and explosive. I got off him and called the stable, and the response I got was, ‘Well, the track riders used to argue over who was not going to ride him at work!’”
Initially, Fiona was concerned Precedence might not make it as a show horse, but it soon became clear that his transition was simply a matter of education.
“Bless him, the minute I started working on him doing groundwork and then getting him going soft…. it just clicked and he just went, ‘Oh, yes, I can do this!’ We went from using a sweet iron so I had some stopping power, to using a beautiful loose ring snaffle.”
By the end of his retraining, Fiona said the gelding was “as soft as butter” to ride — although she noted there were still days when he had “some fire in his belly!”
Show ring success
Precedence enjoyed considerable success in his first season in the show ring. He won a Newcomer Championship and qualified for the Grand National Saddle Horse Championships at his very first show in the open section. He then claimed the Off The Track Newcomer title at the Victorian Agricultural Shows (VAS) Saddle Horse Championships.
He also finished top 10 in the Pope Cup — a class for show horses with Thoroughbred qualities — at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, where there were nearly 200 entries, and placed top 10 nationally in the off‑the‑track hack class at the Australasian Show Horse & Rider Championships at Werribee. In addition, Precedence was consistently in the mix at Royal shows and contested multiple Garryowens.
When the COVID‑19 pandemic curtailed Fiona’s plans to attend the 2020 Sydney Royal, she took up the opportunity to present Precedence to an international audience at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which was held virtually that year.
Chief Royal Windsor showing steward and British Show Horse Association Chairman Nigel Hollings immediately recognised the gelding’s quality.
“He’s a stunning horse. He is Thoroughbred quality,” he said at the time. “He’s got good limb on him. I mean, look at the bone, the quality bone he has — and I just love the way he had that liberty in such a big horse. He just immediately caught my attention, and I would have loved to have judged him in the flesh.”
Precedence’s good bone and correct conformation undoubtedly contributed to his remarkable durability, allowing him to retire sound after a 69‑start racing career. Fiona has said he remained equally sound throughout his showing career — a credit to his management during his racing days, and also to Fiona.
“The day I hoped would never come…”
On Tuesday, Fiona shared the heartbreaking news of Precedence’s passing.
“The day I hoped would never come. With the heaviest of hearts, we laid our darling Precedence to rest a little over a week ago,” she shared.
“He wasn’t just a horse to me, he was truly something special. We shared a bond I will be forever grateful for. He took me on a journey and gave me everything he had, and more. Together, we experienced things I never could have imagined possible, so many exciting adventures together. He meant a lot to so many people, I loved being a part of his journey.”
“Beyond his racing and showing career, at home he ruled the roost and my heart. He was number one, and he knew it. He took precedence over everything; the place will never be the same without him. I’ll miss seeing his beautiful face and eyes every day. His amazing trot across his paddock when I called his name.”
“Strong and stoic right to the very end. Rest easy now, JB. My beautiful boy, thanks for the ride.”
Equestrian Life’s thoughts are with Fiona McIntyre and all those who were part of Precedence’s extraordinary life — from champion galloper to accomplished show horse.
