:D

* * *

Super Strut...

http://www.drf.com/news/article/98708.html

Happy retirement to Shake the Bank, Esquire.....

http://hgrahammotion.com/news.html

The lovely and talented diva.....

Darjina.

2nd today in the Sun Chariot.

Dreaming of Anna...

http://www.drf.com/news/article/98864.html

... and Bustin Stones.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/98851.html

An update on one lucky enough to be on this thread and not the other.

They say there's always magic in the air.

http://mythoroughbredblog.blogspot.c...-comeback.html

Donna Keen :{>: :{>: :{>:

As expected today...

ZARKAVA

* * *

Phoenix Tower...

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...ower_Snap.html

Alwajeeha (Dixieland Band), who
won the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth
II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1) on
Saturday, probably will be retired.
Owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin
Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stables,
the three-year-old filly has won three
of nine career starts and banked
$486,927 in career earnings.
“Sheikh Hamdan normally retires
fillies after their three-year-old season,”
said Neal McLaughlin, assistant and brother to Alwajeeha’s trainer,
Kiaran McLaughlin. “He will probably do that with her; she has nothing
left to prove.”

i.e., she's done enough, in sheikh-speak

The Aga Khan said, “whilst no one will regret more than my management team and I not to see Zarkava race again, as she is such a supreme athlete, we have decided to retire her to the Aga Khan broodmare band, as she will be an invaluable asset to this essential part of our activity. The quality and youth of our broodmare band is of the utmost importance to ensure we remain breeders of racehorses capable of performing at the top level. The Aga Khan Studs have produced three exceptional fillies in three consecutive years: Mandesha, Darjina and now Zarkava. Their addition to our broodmare band will enhance the economic value and the potential for success of future generations of Aga Khan bloodstock at a time when competition is becoming increasingly global.

With that said, I really can't blame The Aga Khan for retiring her, homebreds of this caliber are really hard to come by via Bloodstock sales with Coolmore and Godolphin spending millions of dollars as it were monopoly money.

For the sake of keeping this up to date, Big Brown...

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25573

She has nothing left to prove... my ASS. She won one crappy grade 1 with an absolute perfect trip, after folding like a used Playboy in other races with less of a trip.

I came into work today even though it was technically a day off. I have nothing left to prove now, I'm retiring.

The day of unexpected retiree's continues. Add Philscki to the mix of Big Brown and Alwajeewah.:D

She might run one more time...

http://www.drf.com/news/article/99030.html

so they can hurry to the breeding shed too. it's great.

Awww, Maybe Better injured and retired... :(

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=137253

Irlanda - winner of 6 races, including a G2. Came last in a race on Saturday and was found to have a heart irregularity.

Nice mare, hope she has a happy retirement.

Hope so too.

To be honest I saw you were the last to post and hoped to see Sir Slick's name here.....

Maybe one day soon.

Devil Moon...

http://www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz/sp....aspx?id=37180

Niagara Causeway...

http://www.oaktreeracing.com/news/sn...edgolden101708

Zanjero...

http://www.bloodhorse.com/NOW/News/B...ews/47592.aspx

Racing Post...

New Approach ends season on Champion high

Lee Mottershead

2,000 Guineas odds
REPORT: CHAMPION STAKES, Saturday

WE will not see him race again, but there can now be no doubt of his brilliance.

At Epsom he had been impressive and at Leopardstown workmanlike, but at Newmarket on Saturday New Approach was simply magnificent. An afternoon billed as Champions' Day turned into the day of one true champion.

Those who backed the Derby winner into 6-5 favouritism went into the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes with few worries. As the Irish star powered into the final furlong and retirement with an ever-increasing lead, they had considerably fewer.

It was nothing less than an annihilation. After taking over from his pacemaker Upton Grey three furlongs out, New Approach powered further and further clear, eventually passing the post a dazzling six lengths in front of nearest pursuer Twice Overwith Linngari back in third. As if more proof was needed of the brilliance of the display, Newmarket's 1m2f course record is now his.

For trainer Jim Bolger and rider Kevin Manning, New Approach's success put the seal on a sensational season and a wonderful afternoon. Just 35 minutes earlier they had teamed up to win the Darley Dewhurst Stakes with Intense Focus. Big-race doubles do not come much bigger.

Confirming New Approach's retirement, Bolger said: "It was his last run and he has done everything right and it is all over now. He is the finest horse beyond a mile that I have trained."

He added: "He was in super form coming up to this week and I couldn't have been happier with him. He had it all worked out himself and gave me the two fingerstoday. He even stood in the unsaddling enclosure when we put the saddle on and didn't move.

"He was as near as to perfect as you could get going to the start and he was bombproof during the race."

Manning said: "He was very impressive today, and of all his wins, today was his best.

"The pace horse went agood seven-furlong pace and everything went according to plan. I get the easy job - full credit to Jim and the boys."

New Approach's triumph also continued a great day for Sheikh Mohammed, whose wife Princess Haya ownsthe son of Galileo, as the Dubai ruler had earlier enjoyed his biggest ever Australian win when Godolphin's All The Good sprang a 40-1 shock in the Caulfield Cup.

National Colour.....

http://www.sahorseracing.com/news.asp