Champion Western Australian sprinter Barakey has run his final race.
Trainer Jim Taylor confirmed the Key Business gelding had been retired following his unplaced run in Sunday’s Listed Northam Stakes (1100m).
”He had a lot of fluid on his knees and when I trotted him up for about three strides but he was too lame to trot any further,” said Taylor.
“I knew it was getting close and I was hoping to get through to the Roma Cup, but I didn’t want to see him completely break down.
“He’s had a number of issues but the main one was his off side knee where he had no cartilage and it was bone on bone.
“If there was any way you could regrow a damaged cartilage he would have kept racing but it doesn’t get any better.
“It’s sad he won’t be in the stable but he will be on my property for the rest of his days because he has earned a good retirement.”
Barakey stepped out for his maiden appearance in 2011 and won 11 straight races culminating with Group 1 victory in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
He also won the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m), Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1200m) and Listed Goodwood Sprint (1300m) and Northam Stakes (1100m).
Barakey, with 13 wins and one placing from 17 starts, won $832,200 in prize money.