Son of Fire
Not all horses bred for the racetrack have a successful career. But when they retire and find a sport they love, they shine, writes AMANDA MAC.
If you’ve been reading our Life After Racing features for any length of time, you may have noticed how often Thoroughbreds with impeccable pedigrees, and bred with the highest expectations, show absolutely no interest or aptitude for the Sport of Kings. However, once they move on to their off the track career, their light often begins to shine very brightly indeed.
And staying true to that form is Azarax (Distribute). Foaled in Australia in 2014, he was sired by Blackfriars (AUS) out of Bermaise (AUS), but after a much anticipated racing career fell flat, he was retired as a three-year-old, which is when he was purchased by Isobel Stevens-Menzie.
Based in Western Australia, Isobel began her riding career as a very young child. With a mother who had grown up with horses in her family, and a granddad who was an enthusiastic equestrian, it comes as no surprise that when Isobel arrived, there was a pony ready and waiting for her. “I have photos of me at an age when I would have barely been able to walk, sitting on a tiny little pony and being led around by my parents.”
Later came Pony Club, where Isobel discovered she excelled at mounted games, because, she says, she had a pony who was equally enthusiastic. However, she also loved cross country, and by the time her Pony Club days came to an end, she was taking lessons and becoming serious about competing in eventing. “I remember doing my first competition as soon as I was old enough to compete. It was annoying to have to wait because I was too young, but once I got into it, I became more and more serious about the sport.”
Then, straight off the track, along came Azarax (and if you were wondering, the name is said to mean ‘Son of Fire’). Known as Remy around the yard, he was the second OTT to come Isobel’s way. “He was just a lucky find, to be honest. I’d had one school master who I was riding while I was bringing on a young horse from the Devereux Stud. I was looking around for another youngster to work with because I had really enjoyed the experience, but I didn’t want to spend a fortune. So I was just casually looking when I stumbled across Remy.”
And that was the beginning of a partnership that clearly brings Isobel a lot of joy. “He’s always been such a pleasure to handle,” she says. “He’s got an amazing personality and he’s always tried really hard for me from the get go – really willing to learn and to try, which is amazing.”
But that’s not to say Remy wasn’t quite the handful in his earlier years. “He’s been a lot!” Isobel laughs. “He’s got the fire in him, that’s for sure.” And it was in the warm up ring where Remy would express his disapproval, with Isobel managing his dissatisfaction as best she could. “He was horse shy for a long time. So he was the one with three legs in the air. But once he was in the ring and on his own, he’d calm down.”
Remy was definitely not a fan of having too many horses around him and would become quite anxious in those situations. But, Isobel notes, even though he was rather hot headed in response to feeling crowded, he would always come back down quite quickly. “He was never too worried, just reactive I think – and he’s grown out of that thankfully, because that was probably the hardest thing to manage when he was younger.”
Maybe it’s because Isobel and Remy have been together since he first came off the track, but there’s a strong foundation of trust in their relationship. “And I think that makes him quite brave, she says. “I always felt that as long as I was confident to do something, then he was confident to do it too. I’ve been so lucky with him. I knew from the beginning that he was something special, He’s flamboyant and has a really great jump in him. He jumps clean, wants to do it and has a lot of fun in the arena.”
And show jumping isn’t the only thing Remy enjoys. Now competing at 3*, he simply adores cross country! “I think that in every cross country photo I have of him, his eyes are lit up and his ears are as far forward as they can go!” Isobel chuckles. “And he tries everything. I never worry that he’s going to attempt to duck out. Unless I mess up badly, if I point him at something he’s going to do his best to get through those flags. He just loves it. He’s the best!”
In 2025, the pair’s notable successes have included 9th place at their first ever Adelaide Equestrian Festival in the Racing SA CCI3*-L, and 9th at the Melbourne International in the 4CYTE CCI3*-L, both results achieved in a fiercely competitive field. They took 1st place in the WAYER International CCI-S3*, came 4th in the 3* at the Brigadoon CCI, and 3rd at the Capel CCI in the CCN3*.
When asked about her plans for the future, Isobel is very philosophical: “Just to keep doing what we’re doing really. I’m aiming to go 4* this year, and then hopefully to go back to Adelaide next year. But I never like to be too insistent with the horses, because you never know what’s going to happen. So as long as Remy’s fit and healthy, sound and happy, then that’s the plan.”
Isobel has a great deal of respect for OTT Thoroughbreds and finds them very rewarding to work with. “They’re such beautiful horses with great potential in eventing. I know so many people with off the trackers, especially here in WA because we have a really good off the track program. In our eventing classes, I’d say a solid half of the horses in 3* are off the track, which is such a strong testament to what they can do. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, and obviously you’ve got to be patient with them at first, but usually they’re just really good horses.”
Isobel is so sold on off the track horses that she has another one at home. “I haven’t really touched him yet because I’ve been away, and I’m just letting him fatten up and chill out a little, but I’ll see how he goes. I’ve got my hands pretty full with work and with Remy, but I think I’ll plod him along slowly in the background and see what happens.”
