retired | Horse Racing Free Tips

GISW Slow Down Andy Retired from Racing

Last fall's GI Awesome Again S. winner Slow Down Andy (Nyquist–Edwina E, by Square Eddie) has reportedly suffered a sesamoid injury and has been retired from racing, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. The announcement was attributed to trainer Doug O'Neill, who also said the 5-year-old could possibly stand at stud this year.

A homebred for Paul and Zillah Reddam's Reddam Racing LLC, Slow Down Andy defeated Defunded (Dialed In) and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft)–both set to contest the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup on Saturday–in the Awesome Again but was sidelined with some filling in his ankle a few days after the race and missed the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

In addition to the Awesome Again, Slow Down Andy also won the GII Del Mar Derby, the GII Los Alamitos Futurity, and the GIII Sunland Park Derby. He also hit the board in another seven black-type events, including the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, the GI Pacific Classic, and the 2022 Awesome Again. The California-bred retires with a record of 14-5-4-3 and earnings of $1,276,600.

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Millionaire C Z Rocket Retired

C Z Rocket (City Zip-Successful Rocket, by Successful Appeal) has been retired from racing, according to trainer Peter Miller. The 10-year-old was last seen finishing sixth at Oaklawn Monday.

An $800,000 OBS juvenile purchase by Arkansas businessman Frank Fletcher, C Z Rocket had lost 11 consecutive starts when he moved to Miller's barn in April of 2020 after he was claimed on behalf of Tom Kagele for $40,000 at Oaklawn. For his new connections, which subsequently included Altamira Racing and Madaket Stables, the Florida bred won 13 races, finished second nine times and was third on seven occasions from 46 starts, before retiring with earnings of $2,144,691.

Highlighting his victories, he annexed the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship S., GII Pat O'Brien and GIII Count Fleet S. in addition to finishing runner-up in two renewals of the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, held at Keeneland in 2020 and 2022.

“One of the all-time great claims,” the California-based Miller said by phone Monday afternoon. “Made over $2 million, second in the Breeders' Cup twice and retires sound and happy. If that's not a success, I don't know what is.”

Third in his seasonal debut in a Santa Anita allowance Jan. 19, the bay was sixth facing starter allowance company in Hot Springs Feb. 19.

“The last thing I want to see is him get hurt,” Miller said. “He's very sound, but he's lost a step or two and now's the time.”

Miller said C Z Rocket's post-racing life could begin in a Kentucky equine retirement facility.

“If we can get him into Old Friends or Kentucky Horse Park, we'd do that,” Miller said. “And if not, we'll bring him home.”

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South African Star Charles Dickens Retires To Drakenstein Stud

South African wunderkind Charles Dickens (SAf) (Trippi–Demanding Lady (SAf), by Dynasty {SAf}) has been retired to Drakenstein Stud in South Africa, according to published reports.

Bred and raced by Drakenstein, the 4-year-old won 10 of his 13 starts and was placed in his other three for total earnings of R5,119,813 (£211,799/€247,085/$268,544). An undefeated stakes winner at two, the chestnut went six-for-eight at three with a score in the G1 Cape Guineas, followed by runner-up efforts in the G1 L'Ormarins King's Plate and G1 Cape Derby. Back in the winner's enclosure with a victory in the G2 Guineas, he added the G1 Gold Challenge in his sophomore finale. His final three starts were a half-length win in the G3 Matchem S. this October, a third in the G2 Green Point S. in December, and he signed off with a victory in the 2024 L'Ormarins King's Plate this month, a “Win And You're In” for the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Mile.

Drakenstein's Gaynor Rupert told TBA South Africa, “Retiring Charles Dickens was a very hard decision to make. I would have loved to have seen him race until the end of the season, he would undoubtedly have won a few more big races but he has nothing left to prove.

“It is in the interest of the horse and of the shareholders that after much consultation, we decided to retire him and give him plenty of time off before the start of the breeding season.

He was blessed with speed, an incredible turn of foot, sheer brilliance, intelligence and remarkable cadence. I'm sure he will pass these traits on to his future progeny and we can't wait to see them.”

The Equus Champion 3-Year-Old and Equus Champion Miler is out of South African Broodmare of the Year Demanding Lady, who won the G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge. Charles Dickens is a full-brother to the G1 Cape Derby runner-up Charles (SAf) (Trippi) and to the stakes-winning Somerset Maugham (SAf) (Trippi), who was third in a pair of Grade 3s. This is the extended family of Group 1 winners War Command (War Front) and Rollout The Carpet (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who was also the champion 2-year-old filly in New Zealand.

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TAA Hosts Second Annual Holiday Giving Campaign

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will host its second annual Holiday Giving Campaign beginning Nov. 28 and running through Dec. 31. The 2023 campaign, designed to increase awareness for accredited Thoroughbred aftercare and to raise funds for the accredited organizations responsible for ensuring a quality life for equine athletes after their racing careers, is set to follow the success of last year's inaugural campaign which raised over $180,000.

“Our Thoroughbred horses provide us with so much, and each donation to the campaign goes a long way in supporting a network of 86 accredited organizations. Our organizations do an amazing job of taking care of the retired racehorses, so as we prepare for the holiday season, I hope that we can all simplify our gift giving and donate to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance,” said TAA President Jeffrey Bloom.

Throughout the campaign, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will announce new daily match sponsors with some of the most prominent names in racing. Each sponsor will match all donations up to a specified amount for his or her day. Match sponsors will be announced daily in various industry publications along with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance website, social media, and email. Individuals interested in donating can do so here beginning Nov. 28.

The post TAA Hosts Second Annual Holiday Giving Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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