icarus
19-02-2002, 04:36
Fitting farewell for grand old champ By Ken Martinus 18/02/02
``I'LL never forget this horse and in my book he is retiring as a champion.''
These words were spoken by trainer Tony Cruz minutes after 10-year-old Super Team had beaten a smart field of horses, most of whom were half his age or even younger.
Super Team was having his last run in a career that spanned seven years and 75 raceday appearances, earning $6.3 million.
Cruz and owner Wong Yuk-kwan had decided earlier in the month that yesterday's Class 3 dash over 1,200 metres would be the horse's last. Cruz had informed club officials of the decision but it was not announced on course until after the horse had won, sparking some controversy.
There had been claims that punters should have been advised earlier but racing director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said owners had been known to change their minds.
For Cruz, the win was ``something special.''
``After all, when I decided to retire as a jockey he was the horse that helped me win on my last day in the saddle,'' he said. ``This is something you cannot forget, it's a memory that remains with you the rest of your life.''
To add to Cruz's joy, the horse was transferred to his care when he became a trainer and was among his first winners in his new role.
Super Team won a race earlier this year and Cruz decided that it was time for him to reward the horse.
``I spoke to the owner about retiring the horse and we decided before the Chinese New Year holidays that this [yesterday] would be his last run, win or lose,'' Cruz said. ``Winning was one thing, winning at the odds of 30-1 was just terrific.''
Engelbrecht-Bresges said it was a great training feat to keep a 10-year-old in racing and winning as well.
``Hong Kong racing has become very competitive especially in the top classes, so to get a 10-year-old to beat some rising three- and four-year-olds is really phenomenal. Tony deserves full credit,'' he said.
``We took him to the maximum and he delivered,'' said Cruz. ``I couldn't ask for more.''
as mentioned above super team is a 10 yr old and he won a race over 1000M at HV on 23/12/01 whilst still a 9 yr old (just) but his win in the last race on sunday was extra special in that he produced a variant adjusted final time he had not managed for 3.3 yrs.
"Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said owners had been known to change their minds."
yes they have -- it was announced oriental express would retire after his last run last season but he returned this season when he won that race. so what ??
basically super team won 2 of his last 3 races as a 10 yr old during a period when the cruz bros. were on a hot streak unlike any i have ever seen.
seems like a good move to me to announce the retirement of the horse prior to sunday. the HKJC would presumably loathe to announce a positive swab at this particular point in time.
``I'LL never forget this horse and in my book he is retiring as a champion.''
These words were spoken by trainer Tony Cruz minutes after 10-year-old Super Team had beaten a smart field of horses, most of whom were half his age or even younger.
Super Team was having his last run in a career that spanned seven years and 75 raceday appearances, earning $6.3 million.
Cruz and owner Wong Yuk-kwan had decided earlier in the month that yesterday's Class 3 dash over 1,200 metres would be the horse's last. Cruz had informed club officials of the decision but it was not announced on course until after the horse had won, sparking some controversy.
There had been claims that punters should have been advised earlier but racing director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said owners had been known to change their minds.
For Cruz, the win was ``something special.''
``After all, when I decided to retire as a jockey he was the horse that helped me win on my last day in the saddle,'' he said. ``This is something you cannot forget, it's a memory that remains with you the rest of your life.''
To add to Cruz's joy, the horse was transferred to his care when he became a trainer and was among his first winners in his new role.
Super Team won a race earlier this year and Cruz decided that it was time for him to reward the horse.
``I spoke to the owner about retiring the horse and we decided before the Chinese New Year holidays that this [yesterday] would be his last run, win or lose,'' Cruz said. ``Winning was one thing, winning at the odds of 30-1 was just terrific.''
Engelbrecht-Bresges said it was a great training feat to keep a 10-year-old in racing and winning as well.
``Hong Kong racing has become very competitive especially in the top classes, so to get a 10-year-old to beat some rising three- and four-year-olds is really phenomenal. Tony deserves full credit,'' he said.
``We took him to the maximum and he delivered,'' said Cruz. ``I couldn't ask for more.''
as mentioned above super team is a 10 yr old and he won a race over 1000M at HV on 23/12/01 whilst still a 9 yr old (just) but his win in the last race on sunday was extra special in that he produced a variant adjusted final time he had not managed for 3.3 yrs.
"Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said owners had been known to change their minds."
yes they have -- it was announced oriental express would retire after his last run last season but he returned this season when he won that race. so what ??
basically super team won 2 of his last 3 races as a 10 yr old during a period when the cruz bros. were on a hot streak unlike any i have ever seen.
seems like a good move to me to announce the retirement of the horse prior to sunday. the HKJC would presumably loathe to announce a positive swab at this particular point in time.