“AEROPLANE” SYD OUT OF EASTER CUP AND RETIRED

Ian Fortune

Murt Leahy was downbeat yesterday afternoon when confirming that the hugely exciting Here Comes Syd will be an absentee from the second round of the Bresbet Easter Cup and will sadly be retired from racing action after picking up an injury to his stopper bone.  

In a very short racing career, the exceptionally fast son of Droopys Sydney and Lemon Ariana had some real highlights including a sensational 28.13 run in just his second career outing. Incredibly, he came from lengths off the pace to clock such a fast time.

Murt Leahy was in no doubt he had the pace to amongst the very best in training, describing his charge as “an aeroplane”. He went on, “It’s such a shame. He was just so fast. Honestly, if I told you what he did in trials you wouldn’t believe me.

“We had just got him right and were looking forward to a big year but it wasn’t meant to be. The pace he displayed on Saturday was unbelievable. When you consider it was Swords Rex and Galloping Sydney he was catching, it shows how quick he was.

“He found nothing from the final turn and we knew something must have gone wrong. It’s the stopper bone and it’s the end. We’ll give him the opportunity to mate a few bitches. He’s a son of Droopys Sydney and his dam is from the Lemon line. Breeding doesn’t come any better.”

It really is a terrible shame. From this scribe’s point of view, I’ve always been a fan. His 28.13 return was something special and the pace he displayed in defeat on Saturday was breath taking. If he does manage to pass on his awesome pace to his progeny, he could have a very bright future as a sire. We wish Syd the best in a long happy retirement.