Group One-winning miler Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj) has been retired after suffering an injury while preparing for a tilt at the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1600m) later this month.
Prepared at Otaki by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard through the latter half of his career, Wyndspelle was a model of consistency, netting connections close to $700,000 in prizemoney.
The six-year-old son of Iffraaj claimed a deserved Group One victory when winning the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) two-starts back and bowed out with a narrow second placing in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) last month.
Racing at the highest level from age two until six, Wyndspelle was Group One placed on both sides of the Tasman, remarkably filling the minor placings at the elite level on seven occasions.
“He strained a suspensory ligament,” Benner said. “He gives everything when he races and with rehab it would take three to four months to go again. He has done enough now and he owes us nothing and has been a very good, sound racehorse.
“Otaki would have been a nice target to finish on, he was probably only going to have that race anyway, but it is what it is.
“He has got a great CV, seven times Group One placed at all age groups and distances, and winning the Group One. He is a special horse.
“Hopefully that Group One win will secure him a job at stud somewhere, that’s always been the goal. He has a good pedigree and a beautiful look and has been a sound racehorse.
“He is a warhorse, there are not many horse who week-in and week-out give you 110 percent like he does. He was a gentleman to train.”
Managing part-owner Jen Campin said the decision to retire Wyndspelle was an easy one and she was looking forward to the next chapter, with a number of stud farms having already expressed an interest in standing the good-looking stallion.
“Never has a horse deserved a Group One win more than when Wyndspelle won the Captain Cook Stakes,” Campin said.
“Retiring Wyndspelle was an easy decision and we were always going to act in the horse’s best interest.
“He’s now six and has given his best in every start, right from his early career as two-year-old where he was runner-up in the Diamond Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) through to his final performance in the Thorndon Mile (Gr.1, 1600m), where he was runner-up in that race for the second year in a row.
“He was a racehorse owner’s dream and we couldn’t have asked for more. He raced at the top level and three of his Group One placings were behind Melody Belle.
“I am sure he will find a good home at stud and we look forward to the next chapter.”
