FOR Dutch team champion Frank Hosmar, any colour of medal with his 18-year-old horse of a lifetime is just a cherry on a well-iced cake.
In the winter of 2021/22, Alphaville developed such a terrible cough that it looked like he wouldn't survive, let alone return to championship form.
“After Tokyo, he got very sick, and we did 100,000 tests, sent blood to America, but couldn't find what was wrong,” said Frank. “They thought it was a tumour in the throat, and two vets advised putting him down before he'd choke to death. But my feeling was, ‘No, I don't think he's ready to go.’ He couldn't swallow, but when he wanted to drink, he'd put his head up so the water could slide down and I thought, ‘If you…
