Raksdeal’s left (near) front leg has filled again and the talented mare has been retired.
Southland’s horse of the year for 2014 had her first workout for the season at Wyndham on 25 September.
She finished second, 10 lengths behind the winner, and came through the run satisfactorily. She stepped out again a week later, was allowed to do a bit more, and won.
Trainer Clark Barron’s pleasure with the run soon diminished when the leg puffed up.
It was a return of the suspensory ligament injury which first became an issue in June 2014 when Raksdeal was in Australia preparing for the Gold Coast and Queensland Oaks.
She returned home without racing and was spelled for about a year.
Although more often the bridesmaid than the bride, Raksdeal was never far from the best.
Her only win at two was in a $2000 race at Invercargill but she scored a group three second to Venus Serena at Addington and a group three third to Rocknroll Arden at Ascot Park.
Best of her four wins at three was an $8000 race at Invercargill but her placings included seconds in the group two Southland Oaks and group one New Zealand Oaks, third in the three year old Diamond and fourth in the Nevele R Series final.
In addition, Raksdeal was second when Ideal Belle set a national 1700 metre record 2:00.4 for three year olds at Alexandra Park on 20 December 2013, and second when Willow set a national 2200 metre record 2:39.1 for three year olds in the group one Sires Stakes fillies final at Alexandra Park 11 days later.
She will be put in foal this spring, probably to Mach Three.
Raksdeal is the first foal of Raksplace whose second foal Rakarolla was also sidelined.
A gelding, he debuted over a mile at Central Southland raceway on 20 December last year and clocked 1:57.9, but went amiss afterwards.
Barron said he is about ready for a return to the workouts.
The third foal of Raksplace is Raksmach by Mach Three. He is with Peter Hunter and started three times last season for a third, fourth and seventh.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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