Talented mare Casino Princess (NZ) (Casino Prince) has been retired from racing.
The six-year-old daughter of Casino Prince has been a model of consistency for her trainer Cliff Goss, winning six of her 13 starts, highlighted by an impressive victory in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) in June.
Earlier this month, the mare demonstrated all of her class to win an open mile at Matamata, but the race ended up being her swansong after bleeding for the second time in a limited racing career.
“She bled in training and it was her second time,” Goss said.
“The first time she bled, she went on to win five races afterwards, but she’s now ineligible to race in New Zealand.”
While disappointed for the mare, Goss has plenty of fond memories to look back on with Casino Princess, particularly her most recent effort.
“Her last win was a big highlight, she had a kid (apprentice jockey) on her and she tried very hard,” he said.
“She wasn’t going to win, but she’s stuck her head out and wanted to get there. I would say that was her best performance, because she was just so determined.
“She’s been one of the sweethearts of racing, she’s such a kind mare and you don’t get many like her. These good fillies can be a bit grumpy, but she was never that way, always trying to help you rather than pull away from you.”
A black-type victory places Casino Princess in good stead for a career as a broodmare, with Goss indicating she will be sold with the assistance of Trelawney Stud, where his daughter Cherry Taylor is a Director and Bloodstock Advisor.
“She’s gone over to Trelawney Stud today (Thursday) and she’s going to be put up for sale as a broodmare there,” Goss said.
“She’ll be a nice broodmare, but I wouldn’t breed from her because I’m just too old now.
“You have to wait three or four years to get a horse to race out of her once you start breeding, so I’ll try to sell her and she would be a lovely mare for anyone looking to buy her.
“She only had 13 starts for six wins and was only out of the money twice in her career, she’s done a great job.”
The nonagenarian trainer has no intention of slowing down with the retirement of his stable star, with the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sales firmly on the agenda.
“I’ve got a very nice El Roca three-year-old, he’s a good horse,” he said.
“I am going to the Ready-To-Run Sales in November and I’ll hopefully find another like her, I’ll be looking for a filly there.”
