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Northern veteran retired
No Doctor Needed, the established veteran of the northern open class ranks, has been retired after the recurrence of a tendon injury.
His longtime trainer Steve Telfer confirmed the move on Tuesday after discussions with the horse’s owners.
“He’s just got ongoing tendon issues so we’ve made the decision to retire him,” said Telfer.
“He’s been a lovely horse to deal with and has taken us to a lot of the big races, where he always tried hard and was there or thereabouts.”
The just-turned nine-year-old won 16 races and over $332,000 in a career that also saw him contest three New Zealand Cups from 2015 to 2017.
Telfer says stable life agrees with No Doctor Needed and he won’t be lost to Stonewall Stud anytime soon.
“He’ll stay here on the farm and probably look after a few weanlings and yearlings.
“In six months’ time, he might be able to do some light work in front of the babies.
“He’s a horse that just loves the routine and loved racing, so it will be a big adjustment for him.”
Country Cups star heads to Sydney
One of the stars of last season’s Country Cups circuit has been sold and will do his future racing in Sydney.
Funatthebeach took out the Geraldine, Ashburton, Central Otago and Invercargill Cups during a stellar summer for trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen last season.
But as the season wore on, he found himself up in grade and competing against the likes of stablemates Turn It Up and Ashley Locaz and went nine starts without a win.
His owners, Trevor Casey and Peter Hailes, have sold him to clients connected to the leading Menangle stable of Shane and Lauren Tritton.
Funatthebeach flies out of Christchurch next week.
Gath and Jenkin strike again
The experienced buying combination of trainer Andy Gath and owner Norm Jenkin have struck again, acquiring two promising trotting mares in Monaro Maro and Miss Blissful.
The pint-sized Monaro Maro, a daughter of Superfast Stuart, won five races this season for Blenheim trainer Merv Bryers, though that number would have been higher had she brought her best manners every start.
Soon after she competed in the Harness Jewels at Addington, Gath swooped, and she has joined his Victorian stable alongside the likes of Tornado Valley, McLovin and Sunday’s Victorian Trotting Derby winner, Majestuoso.
“Her best is quite good,” said Gath, who took possession of her last week.
Waikato mare Miss Blissful, destined for open class this season after an excellent four-year-old term, will likely head to Gath next week.
Co-trainer Jason Teaz said he and wife Megan were shocked and disappointed to be losing their stable star just a week after she returned from a winter spell.
Miss Blissful is a finalist for Harness Racing New Zealand’s four-year-old trotting mare of the year award, alongside Kenny’s Dream, Show Gait and Zsa Zoe.
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