Back at the start of this century the late Guy Walter had a stable full of stars and two super tough geldings were a big part of that team with Patezza and Courts in Session sadly both going to God within a week of each other.
Owner -breeder Peter Cruickshank has announced the sad passing of Courts in Session earlier this week at age 26 following a bout of colic.
The Bureaucracy gelding was renowned for his tenacity and had a long and happy retirement following a remarkable career that saw him win 14 of 31 starts with $1.4million in prizemoney highlighted by his G1 STC George Ryder Stakes victory in in 2005.
Peter Cruickshank treated Court's In Session "like family" and looked after the gelding at his Central Coast property for two decades after his retirement from racing.
"We gave him a good life and it was great having him with us all these years,'' Cruickshank told Racing and Sports.
"We buried him on the property this morning and it just won't be the same around here without him.”
The other Guy Walter trained star miler of that era was 27 year old Patezza, who won eight of 37 starts and over $1.7million with his highlight win coming in the 2005 AJC Doncaster Handicap.
In 2025, Breednet published a very popular story on Patezza in the lead up to the Doncaster (read Age Shall Not Weary Him) detailing his amazing life after racing in which he went on to become a top class police horse in the care of Senior Constable Jennifer Cobb, whose parents cared for Patezza in retirement from his second career on their South Coast farm near Milton.
They advised of his passing last week due to the infirmities of old age.
I can’t help but imagine the reunion on the other side…. Fancy seeing you here!
