Hitotsu’s career ended by infection
FREAKISH Group 1 superstar Hitotsu has run his last race and will be retired to stud after sustaining a nasty infection.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper won the Victoria Derby in the 2021 spring before claiming the Australian Derby in Sydney in the 2022 autumn as well as a memorable Australian Guineas triumph.
A suspensory ligament injury ruled him out of the last spring carnival and now a series of setbacks, most recently a serious leg infection, will cause his shock retirement.
“Hitotsu got a cut to his leg and then it got infected,” partowner Ozzie Kheir said. “They have flushed it (the infection) out about a week ago and he is stable.
“We resisted the temptation of retiring him after his remarkable three-year-old season to stud as Ciaron and Dave were adamant that he had so much more upside and we hadn’t seen the best of him.
“Unfortunately plans in racing don’t often go to script.
“Hitotsu has taken us on an amazing journey in such a short period of time and showed that special horses can be trained in a very unconventional way and that’s all credit to the stable that weren’t afraid to try something different.
“We will now start the process of finding him the best place to continue his next chapter and follow his progeny for many years to come.”
Meanwhile, another Kheirowned and Maher and Eustace-trained rising star has sustained a tendon injury and is out of the autumn carnival.
The future of Yonce, who has won six of her seven starts, will be determined after talks between the trainers and connections. It is possible she could be retired to be a broodmare.