The 2011 Australian Derby winner Shamrocker has become the latest spring carnival defector with trainer Danny O’Brien confirming the mare’s retirement.
Shamrocker, who missed this year’s autumn carnival, had a spring comeback cut short after an indifferent performance in a Flemington jump-out earlier this month.
Shamrocker taking out the 2011 Australian Guineas - Photo by Steve Hart
News of her retirement comes a week after early Melbourne Cup favourite Lucas Cranach was lost to the spring because of a bone chip.
O’Brien consulted with the history-making mare’s owners before deciding to abandon another campaign.
“We gave her a long break to get over her issues, but even with that and a nice searching prep this time in, when we put her under pressure we don’t think she’d fully shaken everything off,” O’Brien told Racing Victoria.
“She’s a two-time Group One winner, so unless she could come back to her absolute top and win another Group One there’s not much point pushing her as a racehorse when she’s already got the record she has.
“With that in mind, it’s the right time of the year to be making this decision and she’s got her future in front of her in the breeding shed.”
Shamrocker, who became the first filly to complete the Australian Guineas-Australian Derby double, will be sent to Coolmore Stud’s boom sire Fastnet Rock.
Now a five-year-od, Shamrocker retires with four wins and four minor placings in 18 starts, collecting almost $2 million in stakes.
“She created history,” O’Brien said. “She was the only filly to win the Australian Guineas and the AJC Derby.
“Miss Finland tried to do it and Triscay tried to do, but Shamrocker was the first filly to ever do it so she’ll always have a special place to me.”
