Boxing Day blockbuster War Horse stars a racehorse who retired a maiden!

Finders Key (12g Lindsey’s Roberto – Thru the Keyhole by Key to the Mint) was unplaced in several Californian claiming races as a three year-old.  But in his second career, he is a phenomenon as one of the stars of Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated movie.

Hollywood horse master Bobby Lovgren recognized Finders Key as an exceptional talent during filming for Seabiscuit and purchased him when the project was completed.  He was so confident in the gelding’s exceptional ability that he had him flown to England for the taping of War Horse.

“He is the best horse I’ve ever had,” Lovgren said.  “He has so much animation and personality.  It just brings much more to the table.  He’s very confident.”

War Horse opens in cinemas on Boxing Day.  The movie is set in Europe during World War I and centres on the bond between a farmer’s young son and his horse Joey.  The two are separated when Joey is sold as a cavalry mount but the boy vows they will reunite.

Finders Key is by a son of Roberto and is related to 2006 Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues.