LEGENDARY hurdler Honeysuckle is expecting her first baby – just weeks after being retired from racing.
The brilliant mare, who won two Champion Hurdles and two Mares' Hurdles at Cheltenham, is in foal to the top jumps stallion Walk In The Park.
Bloodstock agent Peter Molony, who also runs Rathmore Stud in Ireland, posted a picture of her ultrasound on social media.
She was covered by Walk In The Park – sire to the likes of Douvan, Min and Jonbon – at the end of April, just six weeks after she was retired.
Honeysuckle was known to be a fiery character when in training and on the race track, but Molony said she has taken well to her second career.
He told the Racing Post: "She’s 16 days covered today and it’s a nice healthy-looking pregnancy. It’s very early days but so far, so good.
"She’s great, she’s been here in the holidays during the summer and she’s always very relaxed, she’s a real sweetie when she’s relaxed and out in the paddock.
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"It’s just when she’s in training she’d eat you alive!
"With maiden mares you’re always a little bit nervous in case they might kick the stallion or do anything, but she was very well behaved."
The nine-year-old will remain at Rathmore Stud for the next few weeks and be scanned again after 42 days.
Providing there are no problems with the pregnancy at that stage, she will head over the Scotland to owner Kenny Alexander's New Hall Stud in Ayrshire.
Alexander, the former boss of bookmakers Coral, wants to be around when she gives birth to her first foal.
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She was the horse of a lifetime for him, jockey Rachael Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead, winning 17 of her 19 races and £1.4 million in prize-money.
A mare's pregnancy lasts around 11-12 months, so Honeysuckle is unlikely to give birth until March or April next year.
Racing fans were over the moon at the news and shared their joy on social media.
One said: "Amazing! Congratulations everyone, I'm sure she will be just as amazing a mum as she was a racehorse."
Another said: "Brilliant news can't wait to see her baby on the track."
While another joked: "She didn't hang around! Wonderful news to start the week."
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