Almost two years since his last start, Rob Gulberti still gets emotional when asked about two-time Darwin Cup winner Ihtsahymn.
The now 12-year-old is a deserving clerk of the course at Bunbury and Pinjarra because his calm temperament and strong mentality suit the role.
The former star stayer was just one bad race away from retirement before his remarkable run of consecutive Darwin Cup victories in 2019 and 2020.
Broome conditioner Gulberti still has to pinch himself when asked about the way the 2013 Group 1 Kingston Town Classic winner pulled off such heroics so late in his career.
“You’re choking me up now. I haven’t been around for that long as a trainer, although Dad (Gary) trained for a long time,” Gulberti told HorseBetting.com.au.
“Things like that are what you dream about.”
It was Ihtsahymn’s iron will that allowed him to bounce back from his 2019 Perth Cup disappointment, finishing more than 20 lengths behind Star Exhibit for top trainer Adam Durrant.
Gulberti then acquired the popular grey from Fred Kersley, and the rapid turnaround in performance was nothing short of remarkable.
In his first start in his new Broome stable, Ihtsahymn went on to salute in a Benchmark 70 over 1435m on July 6 of that year.
Incredibly, he won by more than a length while carrying a whopping 66kg, after settling at the tail of the seven-horse field early.
Darwin’s Metric Mile was next, the topweight saluting with 60kg on his back, again prevailing from an almost improbable position.
And on August 5, he won the first of two consecutive Darwin Cups to cap a fairytale comeback.
But that, too, wasn’t without a struggle.
On the morning of the Top End’s biggest race, a low-flying helicopter panicked the usually calm stayer, who lunged forward and smashed his head against the mesh of his stable.
Luckily, veterinarian Judith Medd was on the spot to treat what was only a superficial injury.
And Ihtsahymn’s run was once again magnificent while carrying 60.5kg as the topweight, peeling away from the pack at the top of the straight to win by three-quarters of a length in a superb ride by Peter Hall.
“He’s a true champion in every sense of the word, whether that’s on or off the track,” Gulberti said.
“And we’re lucky and privileged to have had the opportunity (to work with him).”
Gulberti now believes Ihtsahymn can continue being a star as clerk of the course for years to come.
“He’s going really good. Bronwyn Mathieson is an ex-jockey in New Zealand,” he said.
“She’s schooled him up really well and he’s got no troubles with his feet now.
“He’ll be the clerk of the course at Bunbury and Pinjarra this summer.”
Gulberti is delighted to see his former stable ace – who pulled in more than $1.6 million over 64 starts with 12 wins – in a good frame of mind.
“We’ve been down there to see him a few times and he’s just really happy,” he said.
“She (Mathieson) is really happy with him and she’ll be using him again this summer.
“It’ll be great to see him at the races for a few years – he deserves the title.”
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