3 minute read

Dual Group One winner Xanadu has been retired after a disappointing bid to win her second Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday.

Xanadu went from wining the 2013 Windsor Plate to finishing last this year. She also ran down the track when resuming in last month’s G1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.

Trainer Ken Kelso said it wasn’t a hard decision to make.

“She’s had wind issues. She lacks oxygen basically and it wouldn’t be fair on her to keep going,”Kelso said.

“She’s been a wonderful horse to train and great to do anything with. We’ll miss her but she’ll make a lovely broodmare.”

The daughter of Elusive City was bought out of the paddock from breeders Little Avondale Stud and was raced by the Block Partnership to win six of her 28 starts and stakes in excess of $NZ530,000.

Last year’s Windsor Park Plate was her second G1 success to go with her earlier success in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes as a four-year-old. She was also placed in another five G1 races.

She will be served this spring with a stallion expected to be selected this week.