Gifted Wanganui sprinter retired

Time has been called on the career of the Group One performer Ginner Hart.

“He just wasn’t putting in like he normally does so we’ve retired him,” Wanganui part-owner and trainer Alexander Fieldes said.

“He had a few little issues as well and he’s coming up eight now. He was a very good horse fresh-up and on a track with a bit of cut in it.”

Ginner Hart won seven of his 34 starts and was particularly effective at Hawke’s Bay where he was successful three times and finished third in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.

“He hadn’t raced for eight months before that and he just blew out 200 metres from home. Kawi and Ryan Mark beat him,” Fieldes said.

Ginner Hart also won the Gr.3 Lion Red Plate at Rotorua, where he beat Fix and Whosyourmaster, and his placings also included a third in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas.

However, Fieldes remains hopeful of a return to the Hastings spring carnival later this year with the promising Fogarty Fegen.

“He’s had a spell and he’ll be back in work this week,” he said. “He goes alright and he’ll get up to 2000 metres later on.”

Fogarty Fegen placed in five of his first eight starts before he won on his home track in May. “He’s just needed a bit of time,” Fieldes said.