By MICHAEL GUERIN
It took a while but Father Time has finally caught up with Buster Hanover.
The grand old man of New Zealand trotting has been retired as the scars of battles lost and won started to take their toll.
The former Interdominion Grand Final winner returned to something like his best form this season and even made a race of it with Lyell Creek on one occasion. But his efforts at the New Zealand Cup carnival suggested it was time to hang up the trotting boots.
"It just didn't go as well as it could at the cup meeting so it was time to retire him," said trainer Mark Purdon.
"He has been a great horse and won a lot of good races so we will miss him."
Buster Hanover spanned two great eras in trotting - being a major rival for champion mare Pride Of Petite and present hero Lyell Creek.
His retirement comes at a difficult time for Purdon's open class stars.
The leading trainer's other open class trotting star Sundon's Way will miss the Auckland Cup and Moonee Valley carnivals after disappointing performances at the New Zealand Cup meeting.
"He simply isn't racing as well as he can so he will have a month off and be set for the Interdominions in April."
And the career of New Zealand Cup runner-up Bogan Fella hangs in the balance.
He is suffering from a recurrence of suspensory trouble in his near front leg and will miss the rest of the season.
"That will make it tough for him to come back at his age, especially as this is the second time he has had this problem."
The blow could hardly have come at a worse time. Purdon discovered the injury last week just hours before Bogan Fella was to be trialled for sale to the United States.
Racing: Buster bowing out after gutsy career
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.