Racing: Campbell calls time on Longchamp: He has had enough

Longchamp has been retired after a successful career. Photo / Race Images

Multiple stakes winner Longchamp has run his last race.

The decision was made to retire the six-year-old following a below-par performance at Ruakaka last Saturday.

"I wanted to give him one more go on a better track, but he's had enough," Cambridge trainer Andrew Campbell said.

"I'm pleased to retire him sound, it would have broken my heart if something happened to him. He has been a fantastic horse and given us a lot of thrills."

Longchamp has been a special member of the stable for Campbell, who trained his sire Tavistock to group one successes in the Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m) and in the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m).

"He was Tavistock's first winner and he has won a couple of Opunake Cups as well, he's been a great horse to us," Campbell said.

A $40,000 Karaka purchase for many of the original owners of Tavistock, Longchamp won at Otaki at the first time of asking as a two-year-old and finished fifth in the Karaka Million (1200m) at his next appearance.

The best performance of his classic season saw him finish a close third behind Turn Me Loose in the group two Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m).

"He was only beaten a half-head and a neck, he was a very good horse and wasn't far off the best," Campbell said. "He had a few issues so had limited starts."

Longchamp won seven of his 27 outings, including two editions of the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m), and also ran fourth behind Kawi in the group one Tarzino Trophy (1400m).

● Injury has derailed this year's plans for the exciting stayer Woodloveto.

The son of Redwood has won three of his seven appearances and connections were considering feature race options in the new season before he was laid low.

"We had in the back of our minds a race like the New Zealand Cup for him as he only goes left-handed," Cambridge trainer Samantha Logan said.

"We've had a setback with him though. He was back in work for a month when I noticed some swelling in his hock.

"He was never lame, but we found a small chip which has been taken out so he's on the back-burner."

Woodloveto is now unlikely to be seen out again until next year.

"He needs four weeks of box rest and then another six weeks in the paddock," Logan said.

"He'll probably be out for the summer, but we're not too concerned. He's a young staying horse and he's worth waiting for."

- NZ Racing Desk