Retirement is on hold for Extra Zero following his last-start Flemington win, but a lack of suitable races means it will be some time until he is seen again.
Extra Zero is not expected to go to the races next month in the Country Cup Final at Flemingotn over 2000m, and only if the track is not wet.
The gelding, who turns 11 on August 1, scored at Flemington on May 20 at his 100th race start.
It was only his seventh career win which includes 32 minor placings.
Senior Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes said he could never bring himself to retire a horse in winning form.
“I own as much of him as anyone and I train him,” Hayes said.
“My thoughts are I’ll never retire a horse that has run a personal best that is sound and healthy and then put him out in the cold and rain.
“I’d rather keep him in and if he loses form then we’ll retire him.”
Hayes said Extra Zero continued to glow in his coat but there was a lack of suitable races.
Last year Extra Zero went hurdling, winning at Ballarat, but Hayes has resisted the temptation to race him over jumps this season.
“The reason I’ve stopped hurdling him is most races are run on wet ground which he doesn’t like and he doesn’t quite run two miles,” Hayes said.
“I just thought if he fell when fatigued after two miles and hurt himself I’d feel terrible and I’m sure the syndicate would too.”
But Lindsay Park is about to have another hurdler join its ranks.
The Queen’s horse Bold Sniper has won two hurdle schools at Sale and Terang recently and is to have his first hurdle start at Ballarat on June 15.
Bold Sniper will need a new rider with Steven Pateman, who has ridden the gelding in his two schools, suffering a broken leg on Friday after being kicked by a horse.
