In this Discussion
- DamienWyer June 2016
- dungy August 2016
- frenc11 June 2016
- FreoHitman June 2016
- hash June 2016
- jum June 2016
- Luckygray June 2016
- paraletic June 2016
- PC June 2016
- RIO June 2016
- spinking June 2016
- thefalcon June 2016
- therealkramer August 2016
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Luckygray retired
West Australian Racing
DamienWyer
7,988 posts
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It is with a deep heart the owners of WA champion racehorse Luckygray (stable name Brad) have decided not to continue on with his next preparation for another shot at the spring feature races.
After successful recovery from two minor surgeries, Trevor has got our champ in terrific physical condition, however following his 11th place in the Hyperion, it seems the long time out (having only raced once over a 24 month period), has taken the X factor from his performances.
We knew Brad would let us know when his time was up. He had an uncharacteristic finish in the Belmont Sprint and when his soul mate and regular rider Shaun O’Donnell dismounted (following the Hyperion), he told us “it was time”.
It was not what we wanted to hear and didn’t want to make a decision on the spot, but now on reflection none of us feel Brad deserves to end his career in an uncertain manner and needs to go out as the champ we all know.
Luckygray has exceeded our wildest expectations and has brought happiness to a lot of people many during some tough times and ill health.
While his campaign in Melbourne was unsuccessful it was an awesome experience to race against the great Black Caviar with a tight 4th against other top line sprinters.
His record in WA is outstanding. From 25 Starts - 14 Wins including (3 x Group 1) (1 x Group 2) and (5 x Group 3).
Group1 Railway Stakes 3 times for two wins and a second.
Group 1 Kingston 3 times for one win, one second and a fifth.
Group 2 Lee Steere 2 times 1 win and a fourth.
Group 3 Roma Cup 4 times 2 wins, 1 third and a fourth.
Group 3 Belmont Sprint 2 times, 1 win and 1 fifth.
Group 3 Hyperion 2 times one win.
Group 3 Asian Beau 1 time for one win.
Owners would like to thank all those involved in looking after him over the past years.
In particular
Gino Poletti and team at Poletti Racing
Trevor Andrews and his team especially Jason Smith who has taken special care of him in recent years.
Lucas Camilleri and Shaun O’Donnell
Fiona Cooke at Whitehill Farm
Last but not least all of his supporters who have made this journey so enjoyable.
Barry Mitchell, Ross Drage and Troy Maver.
will start posting some footage of each win over the next week or so.
jum, DamienWyer, spinking, H-BOMBER, rustyh, notapunta, AceV likes this post.
What a Champ, Enjoy retirement "LUCKY". Loved watching the Big Grey storm down the outside.
:-bdRIO, spinking, hash, rustyh likes this post.
RIO, spinking, hash, Ferris273 likes this post.
Great horse that provided the owners with plenty of highlights, and a little bit of cash...Really good to see them retire him now.
As much as it must have hurt to say it, great call by the jock and even better to hear the owners listening to him..
spinking, JayJay, jum, cisco, H-BOMBER, thefalcon, notapunta, Offthebit likes this post.
jum, RIO, H-BOMBER, thefalcon likes this post.
RIO, jum likes this post.
I was ever so pleased to grace those great tracks in Western Australia.
I particularly loved gazing at that magnificent grandstand at Belmont as I was whizzing down the outside at a zillion miles per hour.
And while I am lapping up all these wonderful compliments, I would love to give one myself.
To dear Brad Lewis and his wonderful team of merry men.
Thanks guys, because of you, I have TWO railways on the mantelpiece, and even I know( I am pretty smart you know, I can even write on fora), I was never ever going to win that one I got on protest.
It was a grand gesture, I mean after all, who wants to get beaten by an unremarkable blow in from the East. From across the ditch no less, which is even worse.
Thank you dearly from the bottom of my heart.
I am pretty annoyed though, that I won't be able to enjoy my retirement in the way I would like.
Hopefully, they will put me in a paddock, among lots of good looking fillies, so that at least I can enjoy LOOKING at them, although I would much rather be doing more than looking.
Bum.
Signing off
Lucky
FreoHitman, RIO, thefalcon, Jordan, notapunta, Gilgamesh likes this post.
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RIO, thefalcon likes this post.
no you just need the right horse, BHB and Real Love were both competitive when they ran first up etc...
if trying to pull off a hit and run mission maybe fly over a month or two earlier, let the horse settle in climatze etc, work the course/s and maybe a trial or something ...
thefalcon, FreoHitman likes this post.
I'm with FreoH, have always said if I got a top performing 2yr old and it came back as a top performing 3yr old (one of those 1 in a million horses) then send it east and leave it there..
Can always come back as a lightly race rising 5 year old if it doesn't work out.
FreoHitman likes this post.
@Luckygray great post you big grey beast.....
Hope you get a down breeze paddock at a nice stud with plenty of quality fillies passing your gate!!!! Trust me, as you get older sometimes a thoughty is just as a good as a naughty anyway!!!
;)FreoHitman likes this post.
wouldn't you rather keep it here, clean up in every race it contested and have the joy of watching in here every fortnight, much easier to keep tabs on it and be involved..
Nup, would've got that buzz from the first couple of campaigns. So if it is at that level send it east and really test it against the best in the land, while based over there...If not up to it, bring it back and have a shot at some of the local stuff on offer.....If you have a horse left.
I'm talking a really top horse like LG, Marasco, Scenic Blast, BHB, etc...Not a good horse like Wink and Nod, and the like.
thefalcon, jum, hash likes this post.
Bradburys luck most famous son would M Priddis lol lol