It was inevitable but the day finally came when Richard Westerink announced the retirement of his tempestuous but hugely-popular Etonnant.

After a successful but difficult period under harness, so it was that Etonnant embarked on a new career in the monté code, aided in no small part by Yoann Lebourgeois who had a good reputation with troublesome individuals. He faulted in the 2020 Cornulier, but then trotted 1’10”0 over 2175m in the Prix de l'Ile-de-France, under Eric Raffin, only to be headed by the remarkable Bilibili. 

In 2021, he came 5th in the Cornulier before finishing bridesmaid again two weeks later. Sent out shod, at 59/1, for the Prix de Paris, he caused one of the biggest upsets in the race’s history, in the process securing his first Gr.1 win. Exacting revenge on Diable De Vauvert, who beat him in the previous edition, set in motion a concerted return to the harness code and just three months later was superb in the Prix des Ducs de Normandie at Caen.

The following spring, he triumphed in the Gr.1 Critérium de Vitesse at Cagnes, which in turn led to an Elitlopp invitation. After lifting the Prix des Ducs de Normandie again, Etonannt went north to Stockholm and duly imposed (like sire, Timoko, who won Elitloppet twice), producing a memorable finish. After a nightmare of a trip to Yonkers, he returned home only to be hit by Lyme’s disease, ruling him out of the Prix d’Amérique. 

Once recovered, he won 3 straight, notably the Prix de l’Atlantique, his 5th Gr.1. A sixth, and final, was to follow in Finland. Another ordeal was to ensue in New York and after two subsequent outings, Westerink called it a day for his unforgettable 10 year-old star.