Grand old campaigner Waikato takes a step closer to retirement when he runs in the Group 3 $200,000 Garden City Trophy over 1200m on Sunday.

Trainer Laurie Laxon has two more starts penciled following the Garden City Trophy – the Group 1 $500,000 Panasonic Kranji Mile over 1600m on October 7 and the Group 1 $500,000 Raffles Cup over 1800m a fortnight later – for the nine-year-old.

But Laxon said he would have no hesitation in retiring Waikato immediately should the gelding perform poorly in Sunday’s race.

Laxon has never been short of a good horse in his stable, with names like Better Than Ever, Mexican Rose, Big Easy, Raul, Recast and Why Be to name just a few.

But the evergreen Waikato is a favourite – even more so because Laxon retained ownership of the gelding right from his early days.

While he may not have earned the highest accolades, Laxon pointed out that Waikato has contested five international races, performing creditably, with the exception of this year, on each occasion.

“We haven’t had a horse here run in five Singapore international races and I don’t think we’ll see it for a long time,” said Laxon.

“He ran in two sprint races early on before running in the last three Singapore Airlines International Cups.

“He’s close to retirement now. He’ll have two more runs after Sunday in the Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup, but if he doesn’t run well on Sunday I may retire him then and there.

“I’ve got a new one now that has replaced him. Huka Falls has won his only two starts and I really think he’s a very promising horse.

“Waikato can go back home to New Zealand and enjoy his retirement. He’ll either go back to my place (Elkayel Heath) or he might go to Pencarrow Stud where he can be a nurse maid to some of the younger horses.”

Waikato has started on 71 occasions, registering 19 wins and 22 minor placings with prizemoney just shy of $3 million.

Danny Beasley, who has the ride on the gelding on Sunday, has partnered the nine-year-old in his recent trackwork and believes the ‘old boy’ still has the zest for racing.

Beasley has had six rides on Waikato for one win and two minor placings and said he felt as good as he ever has.

“I rode him in a gallop on Saturday morning and it convinced me to take the ride on him,” said Beasley.

“And he worked pretty well again on Wednesday morning.

“He loves racing on the Long Course as it gives him time to pick up the others in the run home.

“He’s used to carrying big weights in his races and this time he comes in all right at the weights with his rating.

“He maybe a nine-year-old but riding him in his work he feels more like a five or six-year-old.

“He’s still got plenty of life about him and when he gets out on the track he still has plenty of enthusiasm for his work.”

Laxon will also be represented in the Garden City Trophy by former Group 1 winner Intercept.

The 2010 winner of the Group 1 Patron’s Bowl over 1600m has had just the one run back following a long spell, finishing tenth in a 1400m race on July 29.

That was his first run in 12 months after finishing down the track in the Group 2 Committee’s Prize over 1800m on July 31, 2011.

Intercept is being aimed at the Singapore Triple Crown Series which incorporates the Kranji Mile, The Raffles Cup and the Group 1 $1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m on November 11.

“He had a fair spell but he seems alright at the moment,” said Laxon. “He’s heading down the Triple Crown path so he has to start off somewhere.

“The 1200m will be too short for him but he’s had a couple of trials and this run will bring him on quite a bit.”