Thank you Burnt Sugar and Happy Retirement
Fri 30 Aug 2019
We say a very very fond farewell to BURNT SUGAR from racing. He sustained a set back in his last race in the International Stakes at Ascot and so in his best interests, he will be retired from racing, to go to a special home and enjoy a happy retirement. Everything that he deserves.
A fabulous horse for his syndicate, having taken his owners to Festival days, Group races and Heritage Handicaps around Europe, winning over four times what we bought him for. We purchased him at the 2017 Tattersalls Horses-in-Training sale for £70,000 and placed him with ROGER FELL. Rated 93 at the time, under Roger's tutelage, he rose to a highest Official Rating of 105 and won £284,437 of race prize money.
His owners have been to Royal Ascot, The Qatar Goodwood Festival, King George day, Irish Champions Weekend and Arc day with their horse and have had a ball.
His first big pay day was in the EBF Sovereign Premier Handicap - at Leopardstown, in September of 2017: He simply powered on past the field in commanding fashion under Declan McDonogh. Winning by 2 lengths, he picked up a cool €88,500! Having enjoyed a top days racing as part of Irish Champions weekend, how better to finish the day than enjoying cheering their horse into the winners' enclosure!
The following July, he lined up in The Class 2 Bunbury Cup - at Newmarket: Before the race, Oli Bell had picked him as his selection on The Opening Show and his price gradually reduced from having been 20/1 the evening before, to 7/1 at post time. We were worried that the going might be too firm for him, but Newmarket had done a superb job with watering the track and we have to say, Paul Hanagan rode the most perfect race for Burnt Sugar to show what he can do! Watch the replay of that win here: http://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/video/20180714/2793756/16678178
Two Saturdays later he lined up on King George day at Ascot, in the Class 2 Gigaset International Stakes: He capped what has been a remarkable training performance from Roger, to win again, this time under Shane Kelly. Shane said after the race, "I was travelling so well there was nothing in front that I could take a lead from anymore, we just had to go. He's a good horse!" He earned his joint highest RPR of 109 from this race (the same rating given to him after the Leopardstown win.) There were jubilant scenes in the winners enclosure afterwards and his owners were interviewed by Oli Bell on ITV Racing. There is a lovely photo of them in the gallery with their silver plate, as we all carried on celebrating in the Ascot Owners and Trainers lounge!
There's nothing quite like winning during Festival race-days and both races were shown on ITV Racing. This feat of winning two valuable Class 2 Saturday handicaps within two weeks, earned him a nomination at the ROA (Racehorse Owners Association) annual awards in the 'Flat Special Achievement' category! You can see all the wonderful horses he was nominated with in the gallery.
His syndicate manager Mike Prince says: “It’s always nice to make plans for our horses, but for him to pull off back to back Heritage handicaps was an exceptional performance by both Burnt Sugar and Roger. He was an absolute pleasure to be involved with.”
We wish him a very happy retirement and thank Roger and his team for a fabulous campaign with him, providing his owners with these the amazing days at the races.
Thank you Burnt Sugar.