MISS ANDRETTI HAS LEFT THE RACETRACK

The racing history books will show that Miss Andretti was retired from racing on Saturday, August 30.

It will show that her connections made that call, but, if the truth be told, it was Miss Andretti herself who made the decision.

Up with the pace until the home turn in the 1100m event, Miss Andretti couldn’t go on with it - and neither did she want to!

She called time on her career, emphatically saying, ‘that’s it, I’m out. No more!’

Miss Andretti almost seemed to take a backward step as the field surged past her and raced away while she did little more than canter down the straight, losing ground with each stride as she made her way down to the winning post for one last time – absolutely exhausted of all of her once mighty racing prowess.

Almost as if to add insult to injury, Craig Newitt, Miss Andretti’s regular pilot was not on her back at the end of what had mostly been a glorious journey.

Newitt was on the winner of the race, Bel Mer.

He spoke of mixed feelings – but that didn’t disguise the fact that he had moved on. He spoke of his relief when he heard that Miss Andretti had not broken down, as some riders had thought and had mentioned to Newitt when he was pulling Bel Mer up after the winning line.

That relief was felt by all racing enthusiasts. At least the worst case scenario had been avoided.

Trainers like to say, ‘the horse will tell us when it’s time,” but as yet nobody is fluent in horse language – not even the world’s top trainers - so what horses are telling us remains open to various interpretations.

Therefore there is no right or wrong call at the time when the first doubt comes into play.

Most would prefer the decision makers to err on the side of caution but, at the end of the day, the right to make that decision is only vested in one entity, the connections of the horse itself.

There is praise for getting it right and blame for getting it wrong – but only after the fact when, with the benefit of hindsight, everybody knows exactly what decision should have been made.

With $2,8 million banked in stake earnings and Miss Andretti having a guaranteed exorbitant value as a broodmare whenever she retires to stud, there was scant motivation to put Miss Andretti out on the track one more time.

So was it the wrong decision to race Miss Andretti on Saturday?

For my part, initially I wasn’t happy that her connections were persevering with her, but as the race grew closer, I couldn’t help but want to watch what was going to happen with an increased sense of anticipation.

Could the fire of the old Miss Andretti flare for just one last time? And, if it could, how good would that be?

In a brief moment of optimism, that trait which carries all racing enthusiasts, I could half understand the dilemma facing the connections of Miss Andretti.

Sadly, it took Miss Andretti only a couple of forlorn strides at the top of the straight to bring me back to the reality I had recognised before the run – just as I am sure the connections of Miss Andretti were aware of that likely outcome.

It wasn’t a good way to end a memorable career of a champion racehorse … but at least the result was conclusive.

While the memory of Miss Andretti’s demise is still fresh, it will soon disappear, engulfed by better reminders of glory days and glittering success, capped by that extraordinary day out at Royal Ascot.

Miss Andretti may have left the track but the second phase of her career, that as a broodmare, will soon be in play.

This will not be the last time her name will make headlines.