Triple Singapore Gold Cup winner El Dorado left Singapore on Tuesday morning to return to his country of birth Japan for a well-earned retirement.

In a significant milestone for the Singapore-Japan horse-racing ties, the eight-year-old gelding by Stay Gold became the first galloper to do the reverse trip Singapore-Japan when he flew to Hokkaido after his owners Masa and Yuki Otani managed to convince Japanese authorities to establish a new protocol regarding bloodstock importation between the two countries.

Dozens of Japanese-bred horses are sold to Singapore every year, but no Singapore-based horse, be it a Japanese-bred or otherwise, had hitherto been exported to Japan due to an absence of agreement.

“I’m glad he’s left for Japan as it wouldn’t be easy to find a place for him here,” said the Japanese trainer. “He fully deserves a nice retirement after what he’s achieved for us, especially in Hokkaido where the weather is very nice.

“Mr Otani did tell me he was successful in clearing the protocol with the Japanese authorities back in January. El Dorado will be quarantined in Japan for two weeks before he can go to Mr Otani’s farm in Hokkaido.”

An out-and-out stayer, El Dorado equalled the 54-year-old record held by Three Rings when he captured the 2011 renewal of the $1.35 million Group 1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2,200m) for the third time after 2008 and 2009, ridden by Australian jockey Ronnie Stewart on all three occasions.

He was gearing up towards an unprecedented fourth time when an untimely injury during trackwork forced him into early retirement. After vets inserted three screws during an emergency operation held on the same day, the tough warrior fully recovered, but the next problem for Otani was to find a home for him.

In a racing career that began in Restricted Maiden company in November 2006, El Dorado has recorded nine wins and nine placings from 48 starts for prizemoney in excess of $2.8 million. He even has a race named after him, the El Dorado Classic run over his pet trip of 2200m and which was first run last year and captured by Devonshire. This year’s renewal will be held on October 27.

Takaoka was not sure if the new quarantine protocol was a one-off, but said it has certainly opened up new doors of opportunities for the breeding industry in Japan.

“It’s a very good decision. Some breeders in Japan have already said they would be keen to bring in a good mare from Singapore one day,” he said.