The Ride of a Lifetime Continues for G1SW Sibelius and Connections at the Thoroughbred Makeover

[Wandering Eyes]

Over the course of four seasons at the racetrack, Sibelius (Not This Time) took his connections on the ride of a lifetime. The well-traveled gelding made 27 starts at 14 tracks, including two international trips to Meydan Racecourse. During his career, he established himself as a three-time group/graded stakes winner, highlighted by an elite-level victory in the 2024 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Many who think of Sibelius may reflect on his race record, with six of his nine wins secured at the black-type level while earning just over $1.8 million. However, for those that spent every day with the chestnut while he was racing, it was his inquisitive nature, endearing demeanor and driving work ethic that elevated him from trainee to family member.

That's why when it came time for owners Delia Nash and Jun Park, and trainer Jerry O'Dwyer, to make a decision regarding the future of Sibelius after he suffered a tendon injury following a routine gallop last August, the team quickly came to a collective consensus: retirement from racing.

“He can come back 100% from it, but that will be a seven or eight month or a year process. He has done so much for us already, we are not going to take a chance of him overexerting himself again,” Jerry O'Dwyer had said following the news of Sibelius's retirement.

It was a pivotal moment for everyone involved. Though briefly bittersweet, it opened the door to a new chapter for Sibelius, a horse that has proven his resilience time and time again.

“He's a very, very special horse. We had four years of great racing with him. And when he did get injured, we were certainly feeling a little sad and sorry for ourselves that the journey was over. But to know that he was okay and it was nothing that just a little bit of time wasn't going to resolve for him, that's all that really matters at the end of the day,” said Nash, who retains ownership of Sibelius with Park. “He still has so much more to give. He just oozes personality and loves to work and play as well.”

After spending six months recuperating in recovery from his tendon injury, Sibelius got back to work, this time under the guidance of Jerry's wife, Alison O'Dwyer.

Though she grew up in the world of eventing, competing through the three-star level, O'Dwyer has transitioned to focus on the retirement and retraining of Thoroughbred racehorses primarily in the discipline of dressage.

It's O'Dwyer's focus on Off-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) that has led her to become a regular competitor at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover, held annually in October at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. She has previously won the overall championship once and topped the dressage division three times.

This year marks O'Dwyer's sixth year of competing at the Makeover, which begins Oct. 8 and continues through Oct. 11. However, this trip will be more memorable than most as she will be aboard her husband's most successful trainee, Sibelius.

“I think it's really remarkable how many people he has touched, even outside of my family. First, I'm very thankful to Delia for sharing him. She could have easily landed him back at her farm for her to look at every day and instead, she wanted him to receive a new education and that involved sharing him with me and my family,” said O'Dwyer. “He was obviously huge for Jerry's career. Sibelius really gave us the most amazing experience and ride going international, but also with wins here in America that I know we'll all never forget.

O'Dwyer and Sibelius | O'Dwyer photo

“Jun is also such a wonderful co-owner. He is happy if the horse is happy. It's a great little family. There are a lot of people in Sibelius's corner and that's just very special. It all goes back to his character. He's so sweet and wants to do right by his people every second of the day.”

Sibelius and O'Dwyer will be competing in the disciplines of dressage and freestyle, a free-form division to demonstrate skills of the trainer's choice, at the Makeover. Though Sibelius has experienced success on the international stage in the world of racing, it has taken a whole new training experience to prepare the gelding for his Makeover debut.

“It was obviously extremely intimidating to start off with. Sibelius comes with a lot of pressure, but pressure is a privilege, and I just want to do right by him. When we brought him back into training down in Florida, he was definitely confused. He was still a bit 'racy' and could get upset on his hacks home, and I thought, 'This is going to be tough,'” explained O'Dwyer. “But once we got to Kentucky and established a routine, he really turned a page and mellowed out significantly. You could tell he flipped the switch and thought, 'Okay, this is my new life. This is the new expectation of me.' It was then that we started to bond and make progress quickly. That was in May, and he's just been a joy ever since.”

In the lead-up to the Makeover, O'Dwyer has trailered Sibelius everywhere, from hacking out to horse shows, all the while witnessing his progress firsthand as he's found purpose in his new career as a riding horse. The gelding now travels confidently on his own and also stands tied to the trailer without issue. While those may seem like minor details to most, when it comes to making the transition from the track to the show world, all point to taking major steps in the right direction.

The 7-year-old gelding's kryptonite remains his curiosity, many times leading to the point of distraction, but it's also something that O'Dwyer has enjoyed learning more about and working with.

“He's very nosy, that's what Delia calls him, and he just wants to know what other people are doing. Sometimes we have to have a 'discussion' when we venture to a new place, but it's not like he's misbehaving. He really is great off-property. The environment can impact him but he's just so classy, he handles it all so well,” said O'Dwyer. “It's all about having compassion and understanding that this is actually very, very hard for him. He's still working hard, but in a new way. He has to carry himself differently. He's normally used to going fast in a straight line and now I'm asking him to lift his shoulders and make small turns.

“I feel so brave on him now. For me, from a very personal standpoint, it's been a fun transition. I used to be very intimidated by him and now I trust him so much.”

Though it's a new chapter for Sibelius, his second career marks a continuation of the story for his connections, who all remain a supportive and loving team behind the Group 1-winning gelding.

Alison O'Dwyer and Sibelius | courtesy A O'Dwyer

“We all became a little family unit through the races, especially during our trips to Dubai. We pretty much did everything together and it made the experience so special. To see that carry through now to his second career, and for Alison and Jerry to still be involved, is wonderful. He really is just as much their kid as he is ours,” said Nash.

Sibelius's talent paired with his trainer's experience, both at the Makeover and outside of it, appears to be a good omen ahead of their next competitive endeavor.

“I obviously love the competition and I love the people that run it, they're very passionate. What I appreciate most about the competition is that what's really valued is showing off the training. You get to be creative and I love being able to think very seriously about my horse's strengths and weaknesses, and how to present them in the best possible light. That's not something that we really get a chance to do in any other competition,” said O'Dwyer.

Unlike with his racing career, where connections were continuously looking ahead to the next start, they now plan to take it day by day and simply enjoy the continuing ride with Sibelius.

“He has a home with me for life and will be spoiled when he returns to the farm. But for now, he's a horse that wants to have a job. For him to go on and have this opportunity, who knows where he'll go after this. He has a lot to accomplish here and that competitive edge still lives on in all of us,” added Nash.

Just as he did at the track in the mornings, and at the races in the afternoons, Sibelius is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression, regardless of the outcome. However, if a slate of morning-line odds were to be drawn up ahead of the Makeover, there's no doubt the multitalented gelding would lead the way as the 2-5 favorite.

To view the full list of entries for the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover, click here.

 

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