WELLINGTON - Dual group one winner Aerosmith's Caulfield Cup campaign is over - the 1998 Wellington Cup winner has been retired.
Trainers Peter and Nikki Hurdle have decided to pull the plug on an illustrious career rather than risk breaking the horse down.
Aerosmith had been troubled by a knee problem for the past two years and it has been a testimony to his ability that he has been able to earn nearly $1 million since he first suffered the injury.
Peter Hurdle said the problem first surfaced after he won the Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in January 1998.
"We have been able to treat the problem up till now but the treatment is not really helping him now. If we kept going, we would run the risk of him ending up a cripple," he said.
Aerosmith had his final race in the $250,000 Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings last Saturday, finishing a creditable fourth.
"The writing was really on the wall. At his best he would won the race but he got run down in the straight.
"He was very scratchy when we worked him on Monday morning and after discussing it with the owners, we have decided to retire him," Hurdle said.
A $33,000 yearling purchase for Wairarapa brothers, Alistair and Grant Smith, Aerosmith had 63 starts for 12 wins and 25 placings for stakes of $1,404,005.
He has invariably raced in the best company and since he turned five, 34 of his 37 starts have been in group company.
His two group one victories came in the Wellington Cup and the Whakanuui International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa. He won three at group two level - the Sandown Classic (2400m), Feehan Stakes (1600m) and Turnbull Stakes (2000m) - all in Melbourne.
He twice won the group three Trentham Stakes at his favourite distance of 2400m.
He was named stayer of the year in the 1997-98 year.
- NZPA
Racing: Aerosmith's knee ends his racing
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