The racing career of talented five-year-old Alfa Oro (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) has come to an end.
Purchased by trainer Matt Laurie out of Regal Farm’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft for $240,000, Alfa Oro went on to win six of his 11 starts for his connections, and placed on three other occasions.
The son of Bachelor Duke showed plenty of early promise, winning first-up as a juvenile at Pakenham before finishing runner-up in his only other start as a two-year-old.
He was touted as a potential Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) candidate before a life-threatening trackwork injury intervened.
“It was just a routine piece of track work,” Laurie said. “He suffered a spiral fracture in a front leg and had some major surgery with a steel plate and 12 screws inserted.
“We were fortunate he was able to be saved.”
Alfa Oro missed his entire three-year-old season and after a 20-month absence from racing a runner-up finish at Pakenham in April last year preceded five victories.
“I must admit at his first run back I had a bit of a tear in my eye after running second at Pakenham,” Laurie said.
While he had three further starts, the decision was made after his fifth-placing at Caulfield last Saturday to retire the gelding.
“He has given us some amazing thrills after winning five races in succession, including victories at Flemington, Caulfield, and Moonee Valley,” Laurie said.
“He retires with a big motor that unfortunately his body won’t allow us to see.”
