Greatwall of China | Nothing Gets in The Way of This Talented Gelding… not even gates.

Greatwall of China, a 2004 gelding by Giant’s Causeway and out of Storm Fille, retired in 2013 after a successful six years on the track. Beginning his career with Victorian based trainer, Brian Mayfield Smith, Greatwall of China then moved to Western Australia and was trained in the stables of Trevor Andrews, Peter Dellar, Michael Lane, and Adam Durrant. The handsome bay gelding retired in 2013 with 69 starts and ten wins, five seconds and eleven thirds. He secured a career sum of $370,098 and retired under the care of trainer, Adam Durrant.

Greatwall of China was given to Cheyenne Vandenberg upon retirement after winning multiple cups in the Northwest, including the Carnarvon Cup in 2013 and Roebourne Cup two years in a row, 2012 and 2013. Cheyenne worked for Peter Dellar during the period in which he trained Greatwall of China, and her stepfather owned shares in the gelding. Adding to their special relationship, China was the first horse that Cheyenne learnt to strap at races.

China was a handful to retrain initially, not knowing what to do with all his energy at first. He would often throw in a pig root or two, teaching Cheyenne to have a sticky seat. Despite this, China was a fast learner and quickly began to excel in all disciplines, especially show jumping and barrel racing.

“My favorite memory with China would have to be running him in the Ladies barrels at Panna Rodeo. I only took him for the exposure as he had never been to a rodeo before, so I hadn’t even entered him in anything. I lost track of time and realized I didn’t have time to switch horses over, and so I ran China in his first barrel race to win fourth place in a competitive field of 20 plus riders.” Cheyenne fondly recalled.

China is now happily retired with a herd of cows at 18-years-old, claiming the title of “King of Cows” down at Cheyenne’s family farm as China has been known to unlock the gates to allow the cows to wander out on adventures. China holds a special place with the Vandenberg family after excelling in his career on and off the track.

We wish China a happy retirement from the OTTWA Team!

Photo credit: Aussie platinum photography