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http://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/s....aspx?id=47490
Jolie's Shinju retires
Michael Lee of the Singapore Turf Club
Just when it looked like new life was being breathed into her racing career, former glamour mare Jolie’s Shinju has suddenly been retired in the wake of her last race.
Last Saturday’s Yew Tee Classic Stakes was meant to be the 2009 Singapore Derby winner’s stepping stone to a second crack at the Melbourne riches, but the inaugural 1800m race turned out to be her swansong instead – and an early ticket to the breeding barn.
Dr Tan Kai Chah’s valiant Japanese-bred mare had slotted into her customary role of leader with her usual aplomb, but by the home turn, she was already sending signals of distress.
Once an impregnable fortress when in front – as many found out to their dismay in last year’s cleansweep of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge culminating into the Derby - Jolie’s Shinju tamely sank to wind up fifth, more than 10 lengths off record-breaking winner Superb.
Dr Tan’s worst fears that the Jolie’s Halo five-year-old’s dodgy legs may have succumbed to the rigours of one race too many were confirmed in the next three days.
“I knew she was in trouble when she turned the corner. She stumbled a couple of times and instead of stretching out like she normally does, she compounded pretty badly,” recalled the prominent liver surgeon.
“She didn’t feel any pain after the race, but the next day, her right fetlock had become swollen. That was of great concern, to say the least.”
The telltale signs were not rosy, but Dr Tan and trainer Hideyuki Takaoka knew only an X-ray and an ultrasound scan could seal her fate.
“The X-ray did not show any substantial change to the previous X-rays of that leg before the race,” said Singapore Turf Club veterinary surgeon Dr Curry Keoughan.
“But today’s (Tuesday) scan showed a very small injury to the lateral branch of the suspensory ligaments.
“If given time, some horses can come back from such injuries, but they may or may not become chronic later.
“At this stage, given the other little problems she has had with her knees, in her case, it may however be better to decrease the risk. I therefore recommended Dr Tan to retire her.”
Besides her well-documented leg issues, Jolie’s Shinju’s medical history also includes a case of the thumps and a cardiac irregularity which were held largely responsible for her Melbourne campaign going belly-up with dismal runs in three feature races and only one first-up third to Whobegotyou in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley last September to salvage some pride.
The Hippocrates Stable owner did not take long to rule out a Lazarus-like comeback. After all, the Japanese-bred five-year-old mare by Jolie’s Halo out of Danzig mare Endearing Quality, has scored nine wins and seven placings from 27 starts for prizemoney in excess of $1.3 million.
“She’s run her final race. I could have brought her back if she recovered but I don’t want her to break down,” said Dr Tan.
“If she was a gelding, I might have kept her in training. But she’s such a valuable mare who has given us so much joy and glory – we only owe it to her.
“I was always going to retire her anyway. The plan was for her to start her broodmare duties but now she will go earlier.”
After a heartening sixth to Lizard’s Desire in last month’s Singapore Airlines International Cup, Dr Tan soon flagged his intentions of reviving his Australian dream.
Jolie’s Shinju was being prepared to win at least one race on home soil (Chairman’s Trophy on July 30 was next in line) before pursuing her racing career with Australian trainer Tony Noonan in Mornington, Victoria in a bid to add some black-type gloss to her broodmare value.
With all these plans now scuppered, Dr Tan, who will keep his shares in her as she embarks on this new chapter of her life, has yet to decide where she will head.
“First I will have to inform Tony of the change of plans. As for the farm she will go to, I haven’t decided anything yet,” said Dr Tan.
“If she goes to Australia, she will more likely go to my friend’s stud at Arrowfield.
“But the Japanese contingent is also very keen to have her over there. We’ll wait and see.
“Wherever she goes, I hope she will become a good broodmare, and who knows, we may one day race one of her foals or fillies here in Singapore.”