Vincent retired to stud
Vincent, the horse that Mark Purdon felt was going to be harness racing’s next superstar, has been purchased by the Alabar and Nevele R studs in partnership.
The imposing son of champion international sire, Art Major has been retired from racing and will stand at stud this coming season.
When Vincent cruised home in 54.4 to win the Auckland Cup on New Year’s Eve, the world lay at his feet.
It was his last start. Injury curtailed his four-year-old campaign and now the lucrative stud deal sees him with new career.
Jean Feiss, who raced Vincent with her husband Bill, said: ‘‘Vincent has been such a dream horse for us we were prepared to do everything possible to get him back to the track. He’s already had his initial stem cell treatments.’’
‘‘However, Alabar and Nevele R presented us with an offer to purchase him and we knew in our hearts that accepting it was the right thing for Vincent’s long term future. He deserves a great home and to be given the very best chance at stud.’’
Purdon was full of admiration for the horse. ‘‘He was a great young horse, the best of his year as a three-year-old.
‘‘He came back great as a fouryear-old and I thought he would eventually take Lazarus’ place and go on to be the best horse in Australasia.’’
’’It’s a great shame he’s not coming back to racing but we’re looking forward to training a few by him.’’ Prior to his final victory in the Auckland Cup, Vincent had done what the pundits said he couldn’t and won the Gr2 Franklin Cup fresh up (0.1 of a second outside his own NZ record for a 2700m stand) and backed that up with a cake-walk, 54.6 last half win in the Gr2 Futurity Stks at Cambridge.
Vincent recorded 16 wins from 19 starts with four Group 1 victories.