[my miss storm cat]

From Mick Channon...

SOM TALA RETIRES

It's with great sadness that we must announce the retirement of the 2009 Northumberland Plate winner SOM TALA with immediate effect. A reoccurance of an old injury in the Ascot Stakes last week led to an acceptance of the inevitable. The old boy has had enough.


Although only seven, "Sommie" has plenty of miles on the clock, with joints and tendons that were certainly well tested in the tough staying handicaps on summer ground over the past five seasons. Mick reflected today on the career of a proper racehorse.


"Som Tala was a superb servant to West Ilsley Stables and a proper character who will be missed by everybody. He had his problems throughout his career and we just had to go softly with him at times, but he always bounced back and had a truly admirable attitude both in his work and on the track.


"He was placed fourth and second in the Chester Cup and was a perennial feature in the Ascot Stakes where he was 3rd in 2007 and 5th in 2008 - always under weighty marks. Last year's Pitman's Derby was obviously his career highpoint, he was so tough that day and although many accused us of nicking the race under an inspired front-running ride from Tony Culhane, he deserved his day after so many near misses.


"We all love him and it's just great that he's entering into Darley's rehabilitation and retraining scheme. They always do right by their horses and he's deserves nothing else than care and attention before embarking on what we all hope will be a long and enjoyable career away from the racecourse."

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Line of David... (for the sake of trying to keep this up to date)...

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36740