Champion chaser Sprinter Sacre (Fr) (Network {Ger}–Fatima III {Fr}, by Bayolidaan {Fr}) has been retired from racing after suffering a minor injury in training, trainer Nicky Henderson announced at Cheltenham on Sunday.
“He worked on Tuesday and everything was grand,” said Henderson, who trained the 10-year-old gelding throughout his 24-race career. “We were just a bit worried on Wednesday night–he was a bit warm in one leg. We have scanned the leg, and it gave us the news we dreaded. I think knowing at his age, and where we've been, that you can't come back for another session at 11 rising 12. I spoke to [owner] Caroline [Mould] yesterday and I said I'm afraid we've got to say the journey's over.”
Sprinter Sacre, who won 18 races in total, went unbeaten in 10 straight outings over fences between 2012 and 2013, including the G1 Racing Post Arkle, G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase and G1 Champion Chase. He was pulled up in a race at Kempton in December 2013 and it was discovered he was suffering from an irregular heartbeat. After a lengthy layoff he was beaten in his first three starts back, but returned to the top of his game to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase again in May, and won the G1 Celebration Chase by 15 lengths Apr. 23 in what would ultimately prove to be his last start.
“We're going to miss him; it's been a great journey,” Henderson added. “I've got one very, very sad lad up there. Sarwah Mohammed lives with him day and night; the horse bites him all day and all night and he laughs about it.”
“Life goes on without him, but it's been an emotional time over five or six years, and we've loved every minute of it,” he added. “You wouldn't know which leg it is–you can't tell except on a scan. But it wouldn't hold up in the short term and you can't go for the long term, so we have had to bite the bullet.”
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