Stepitup, Singapore Horse of the Year, Retired

Stepitup (Aus) (Hussonet–Ain't Seen Nothin' {Aus}, by Nothin' Leica Dane {Aus}), the 2015 Horse of the Year in Singapore, has been retired from racing after fracturing a sesamoid during Sunday's Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kranji.

Bred in New South Wales by Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd and Planette Thoroughbred, the pint-sized Stepitup was purchased for A$90,000 out of the 2011 Inglis Premiere Yearling Sale and won each of his three starts, including an 83-1 debut, and seven of his first eight and was named champion of his generation the following season with a sweep of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge.

Despite a lull during middle of his career–a stretch which did include a runner-up effort to Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City) in the Emirates Singapore Derby–Stepitup became rejuvenated in 2015 with six wins from 12 appearances, five at the domestic group level. He annexed the first two legs of the local Triple Crown for older horses, the Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup, but failed to see out the 2200 meters and finished ninth to Cooptado (Arg) in the Longines Singapore Gold Cup last November. He was nevertheless recognized for his efforts with a Horse of the Year statuette.

Weighing in for his final start in Sunday's QE II Cup at the same 440kg (968 pounds) at which he began his career in late 2012, Stepitup, campaigned by the Tivic Stable of Thomas Loke and Suzanna Goh, retires with 15 wins (10 at stakes level) from 39 trips to the post and earnings of S$2,522,014 (about US$1,932,083).