By MIKE DILLON
Watch Officer will never run in another hurdle race and it is not because he has won $59,375 in his last two winning starts.
Which means he will retire as one of the few unbeaten jumpers in New Zealand racing history.
Owner and trainer Bruce McLeod declared after winning Saturday's $40,000 Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga that he has never enjoyed either training jumpers or watching jumping races.
That is remarkable, given he won many jumping races with Stevie Wonder, Kahui Flash and Flash Face and that Watch Officer has a one-from-one record over the fences.
"I let him have a hurdle race last year because I thought he may never come back to his best flat form and that that was going to be his level," said McLeod.
"But now he is back to his best on the flat he'll never go over fences again, regardless."
A long-acting virus in Watch Officer had McLeod almost in despair.
Two winters ago his stable star was New Zealand's best wet weather galloper by lengths.
"He was going okay last year, but just okay. We knew he wasn't right.
"But from the moment he came back in this preparation we knew he was back to his best. He just looked different."
McLeod said he had considered putting Watch Officer over the revolutionary new hurdles in the new season, but has changed his mind.
His expectations are not enormous.
"I don't think I can expect too much more from him now after winning with 58kg this time.
"Realistically we might be looking at only place money from our level in the weights."
Watch Officer will not race until the Taumarunui Cup in five weeks.
"I can't see anything for him between now and then, except for the Te Awamutu Cup, and that's not his sort of race.
"It's a long time between races at this time of year, but I've done it before with him and got away with it."
Watch Officer won by a long neck from Van Winkle with His Destiny third.
Racing: Hurdles out for Watch Officer
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.