18.05.2021

The death of the Turkish champion Turbo

His popularity had spread beyond Turkey’s frontiers. Although the champion that was Turbo (Rikardo) has sadly died at the age of 16 on April 19^th following a heart attack.

Born in 2005, the Erdin Düzarat bred was a phenomenal talent. As he won 28 times during a 31 race career in which he bankrolled no less than 3,707,100 Turkish lira. That was the equivalent of 1.8 million euros in 2010. This is a considerable sum and especially when you factor in that Turkish training costs are particularly low. He won no less than seven Gr1s PA, and a similar amount of Gr2 PA and Gr3 PA races.

Turbo was a dual winner of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Cup (Gr1 PA local), the most richly endowed race for PA horses in Turkey, at Ankara. Although he’s best remembered for his victory in the 2009 Malazgirt Trophy (Gr1 PA) at Istanbul. This was the race in which Turbo beat a stellar cast including General (Amer) by two lengths, and the latter went on to win the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA) twice. No Risk Al Maury (Kesberoy) was third – a place in front of Dariya (Dormane).

To watch the 2009 edition of the Malazgirt Trophy, click here.

A hit at stud. Turbo went on to become a talented sire under the aegis of TIGEM, which is the equivalent of our Ministry of Agriculture. He topped the stallions’ list in terms of earnings in the 2017-19 period, and was second in 2015-16 and 2020. He sired a total of 360 horses, and, of these, 255 won races (71%), which includes five Gr1 PA winners and a total of 51 black type performers. Lastly, Turbo's progeny amassed nearly 95 million Turkish Lira in prize money.

For the tribute video, click here.