The owners of injured three-year old speedster Winning Rupert are reportedly weighing up an offer from a big stud, which could see his racing career of just six starts for five wins come to an abrupt halt.
While the feeling of having a gun colt taken from the track before time is familiar to racing fans, the loss of Winning Rupert would be jarring.
The Bjorn Baker-trained colt has scorched the earth in his races under 1400m, only disappointing in his Magic Millions Guineas run, which stretched him at 1400m. Before that fourth placing this season, he’d won twice at 1200m and once at 1300m by a combined 14.3 lengths, and looked to be set for a big autumn or winter carnival in Brisbane, before requiring surgery to remove bone chips.
“From a training point of view, if he is retired it would be gutting as he is the fastest horse I’ve ever put a saddle on and I truly believe he could have gone to the next level in the spring,” said Baker in comments reported by News Corp.
The colt has won $600,000 in stakes in his five wins, also pocketing a half a million dollar bonus after winning a series of summer races in Brisbane. However, he hadn’t won anything of note – a Group 2 his highest level.
Even with a bright future, how does $1.1 million in earnings and an immediate retirement compare to a big-time offer from a stud?
While a figure hasn’t yet been released, it’s likely to be in the early millions – I’d hazard a guess at a range between $2 and $5 million, based on whispers.
That’s cash on the table that you can hardly blame the legion of some 20 part-owners of Winning Rupert from being sorely tempted by.
It’s cold hard versus a return to the track after a few months on the sideline, gearing up to take on the colts in three-year-old sprint races, before the much bigger challenge of mixing it with the open class horses outside of restricted Group 1s. Banking now is a valid option, no matter how much we crave seeing the best horses challenge each other beyond just a few clashes.
While prizemoney grows, it seems the breeders’ pockets just get deeper – even for horses who haven’t actually won anything of real significance.
And if it’s not breeders, it’s money coming from overseas, from one jurisdiction in particular. Hong Kong riches continue to plunder Australia’s better horses. The Hong Kong Classic Mile was renamed the Ex-Australian Guineas by Dominic Beirne in a Twitter exchange, and was duly won by ex-Aussie Rapper Dragon, who was a fine two-year-old. At least he keeps racing, mind you, and Hong Kong racing is all the better for it.
Perhaps it’s another chance to thank our stars that we have champion mares, like Winx. Waller said that while 2017 is aimed at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Cox Plate again, 2018 will be the year that he sends her overseas, with Royal Ascot the likely destination.
UPDATE: Trainer Bjorn Baker has announced Winning Rupert will be retired to stud.
Adam Page
Roar Guru
Well over the top Tristan IMHO. Very well placed horse who ran fast times on fast tracks only, and when he took on the big boys and girls, he failed. He has the right ingredients to be a top sire, but he was no star or anything special.
Jeff Dustby
Guest
He hasn't won anything
Haradasun
Guest
Surely supply and demand forces will equal out in yhe end? how many promising colts does it take before the breeding market becomes saturated?
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
Sad news :(
Scuba
Guest
The suggestion from several racing outlets is that the offer was closer to $8-9m. At that figure it's an absolute no-brainer for the owners. Not in the same class as the likes of Flying Artie and Astern anyway.
Mark Haywood
Roar Pro
Good piece Tristan. As you say, a perennial problem for racing. Dunno how the hell you fix it though... with the money offered I can't say I'd make a different decision as a owner. All Too Hard's retirement was heartbreaking!