Star Western Australian galloper Luckygray has run his last race.
The triple Group One champion has been retired after performing below expectations in Saturday’s Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m).
“That was probably his worst ever finish in Perth, said part-owner, Barry Mitchell on TABradio.
“Shaun (O’Donnell) who has been with him all along gave us the message that he thought it was time.
“It is with a pretty deep heart that we have decided that it is time to announce his retirement.”
Luckygray was on the comeback trail after a 12-month injury layoff. He ran an eye-catching third in the Roma Cup (1200m), but disappointed when fifth of 12 to Wink And A Nod in the Belmont Sprint (1400m).
“We just hung in there and thought he deserved another shot,” Mitchell said.
“He did pretty well in the Roma Cup and we thought he was actually pretty unlucky.
“Next time around we thought it was pretty uncharacteristic in the Belmont Sprint.
“He was in the perfect position and didn’t finish on as he normally does.”
Luckygray retires with 14 wins, three seconds and one third placing from 33 starts and $2,696 025 in stake earnings.
His tally of wins includes three at the elite level with the Group One Railway Stakes on two occasions (2011-13) and the Kingston Town Classic (2012) once.
He also claimed the Group Two WAROA-Lee Steere Stakes (2012) and the Group 3 Roma Cup (2012-15), Belmont Sprint (2012) and Hyperion Stakes (2012).
In 2012 he created history by becoming the first horse to win Perth’s feature winter sprints: the Roma Cup, Belmont Sprint and Hyperion Stakes.
Luckygray, who was purchased for $46,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in 2009, joined Andrews’s stable in 2013 after a short stint with Robert Smerdon in Melbourne.
The Ascot trainer describes Luckygray’s courageous Railway Stakes win three years ago when he lumped 58kg as one of his proudest moments.
“It was the most exciting win I have been involved in and he is the best horse I have ever had,” Andrews said.
“He was so genuine a horse who had such an economical action and a big motor to go along with that.
“It’s sad to see him retire but we want people to remember him for what he was and what he was able to achieve.
“He will retire a happy horse.”
RWWA: Julio Santarelli