Popular galloper Theseo, a genuine weight-for-age performer for much of his career, has run his last race.
A winner of more than $3.2 million in stakes in a 40-start career for trainer Gai Waterhouse and Star Thoroughbreds, Theseo was retired after finishing down the track in the Group One George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
A rising eight-year-old, Theseo emerged as an elite racehorse with his 2008 Epsom Handicap victory – the first of five at Group One level.
“I don’t think the old horse is going as good as he was,” jockey Nash Rawiller said after the George Ryder.
The last of Theseo’s Group One wins came in last year’s Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill.
His autumn campaign was interrupted in the early stages of his preparation before he resumed in the Chipping Norton Stakes last month.
Star Thoroughbred principal Denise Martin said the gelding would take up residence at 2 Mile Lodge near Bowral.
“Ryan and Kim Faulkner have a beautiful property and he will have a lovely home there,” Martin said.
“Gai believes he will make a lovely eventing horse in the future.
“He has been very special and was the first horse I ever spent more than $100,000 to buy.
“He cost $120,000 and won more than $3 million. It has been wonderful for his owners.”
Theseo won 11 times in 40 starts over distances ranging from 1200 metres to 2200 metres.
AAP TURF