Prized Euthanized
Prized, who stood at David Benjamin’s Fayette Park in Matamata, has been euthanized at age 28 as a result of deteriorating mobility.
The 1989 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, the first horse to win the race at his first start on grass, Prized was retired to Old Friends, a Kentucky-based facility for retired thoroughbreds, in 2010.
"We brought Prized up every afternoon from his paddock for a cool shower, extra carrots and the adulation of his fans," said Michael Blowen of Old Friends.
"He loved it. It's always very, very sad when we lose a retiree, especially one as accomplished and adored as Prized."
Prized, a son of Kris S, sired 37 stakes winners including dual Group One winners Prized Gem and Prized Lady and Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas winner Sale of the Century.
As a broodmare sire Prized has produced 39 stakes winners, including this year’s Gr.1 Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable and Gr.1 Australian Derby winner Nom du Jeu.
Finalists For Jumper Of The Year Announced
Just Got Home, Palemo, Rangatira and Sea King have been announced as the four finalists for Champion Jumper of the 2013-2014 racing season.
The Rudy Liefting-trained Just Got Home won his maiden hurdle in May before finishing third in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle and won the Wellington Hurdle last weekend.
Rangatira, trained by Stephen Gulliver, won the Wellington Steeplechase and the Great Northern Steeplechase and finished second in the Great Eastern Steeplechase across the Tasman.
The Kevin Myers-prepared Palemo won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, Waikato Steeplechase and was third in both the Wellington Steeplechase and the Manawatu Steeplechase.
Myers also trained Sea King to win the KS Browne Hurdle in New Zealand before he transferred to Patrick Payne’s stable in Melbourne to win the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle and Grand National Hurdle.
The champion jumper will be announced at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year awards at the Claudlands Events Centre, Hamilton, on August 14.
Kapsboy Adds To Family Record
Stakes performer Kapsboy confirmed his liking for the Tauranga track on Wednesday when he produced a tenacious effort for the sixth win of his career.
The half-brother to the Gr.1 Railway Stakes winner Fleur de Lune led soon after straightening and rallied strongly to defeat Guru’s Spirit in a driving finish with the well-supported Mistaar back in third.
“The apprentice allowance came into it and it was a good effort in a tight finish,” trainer Lee Somervell said. “He’s got a long way to go to match her (Fleur de Lune) though.”
Kapsboy was ridden by Ulrika Holmquist, who is apprenticed to Somervell at Cambridge. “He just kept on fighting,” she said.
