High-class stayer Sangster retired

23 October 2014

Millionaire galloper and triple Group One winner Sangster has run his last race.

The decision was made following the son of Savabeel’s unplaced performance in the Gr.2 Herbert Power at Caulfield earlier this month.

Sangster had previously finished runner-up at Moonee Valley behind the Gr.1 Cox Plate aspirant The Cleaner in his first appearance in Melbourne for the spring.

“He’s been racing in top-line events and Group One races ever since he won the Derby and he’s never had the best knees or joints,” said Trent Busuttin, who prepared the six-year-old with his partner Natalie Young.

“He came through his very unlucky run in the JRA Cup super and we were confident going into the Herbert Power, but he jarred up and was sore so we elected to retire him and find him a good home.”

Sangster was a debut winner at Hawera as a two-year-old and was successful in his first three-year-old appearance at Warwick Farm.

He progressed to finish third in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes and two runs later he triumphed in the Gr.1 VRC Derby in the hands of Hugh Bowman.

Sangster was winless on his next preparation, but he showed the benefit of a lengthy spell when he returned to win the Gr.1 International Stakes, the Gr.2 Avondale Gold Cup and the Gr.1 Auckland Cup in consecutive outings.

Purchased at Karaka by Busuttin for $19,000 out of Kilgravin Lodge’s 2010 Ready to Run Sale draft, Sangster was sparingly raced and retires with six wins and seven placings from his 29 career starts. – NZ Racing Desk.

Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek

Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.

5 November 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.