GOLDEN SLIPPER SEBRING RETIRES
28/01/09

Golden Slipper winner Sebring has been retired after suffering a recurrence of a leg injury in a track gallop at Randwick.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained colt will stand at Widden Stud in the NSW Hunter Valley next spring after it purchased a majority share in the three-year-old which put Sebring's value at a reported $30 million. Sebring missed the spring carnival because of a cannon bone injury and faded in the closing stages when second in a barrier trial at Randwick on January 16.
Widden Stud's Anthony Thompson said Sebring's work on Tuesday was well below his usual standard, prompting the horse to be rushed to the veterinarians.

"Sebring was examined by Jonathan Lumsden at Randwick Equine Hospital, who diagnosed a recurring soundness issue requiring a minimum eight weeks spell," Thompson said.
"Given the timing of this minor setback and the fact a delayed preparation could impede on the start of his stud career in the spring, we have decided it is in the shareholders' best interests for Sebring to be retired immediately."


Sebring won the first two legs of the two-year-old triple crown when he claimed the Golden Slipper and Sires' Produce Stakes. He narrowly failed to make it a clean sweep when beaten a short head by Samantha Miss in the Champagne Stakes. He was named Australia's champion two-year-old of the season and retired with five wins and a second from six starts for prizemoney of more than $2.5 million.

AAP 2009