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Announced today that the horse will have 1 more run before being retired. Will attempt back to back wins in the Peterborough Chase.
Usually wins 1st time out so definitely has a chance. John Hales certainly does the right thing by his horses and he knows the horse doesn’t owe him anything. Not many horses can claim to have beaten Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card in the same race. Hope he enjoys his retirement
Seems odd at the start of a new season to go into it with a horse primed for retirement. Good horse, though and good luck to him.
Seems odd at the start of a new season to go into it with a horse primed for retirement. Good horse, though and good luck to him.
Has always done best first time out. In fact I don’t think he’s been beaten first run of the season. Hales will be hoping for a finish to his racing career similar to that of Neptune Collonges, although obviously not as big a race.
Be great if Al Ferof can go out on a high. Agree with Joe, does seem a little strange to announce now.
Suspect they realise Al Ferof isn’t giving his old sparkle at home.Value Is EverythingIt was announced a few weeks ago
John Hales beginning of September
“For the next season we will see Al Ferof go into
retirement after his last planned race which
is the Peterborough chase at Huntingdon
which he won last season. Dan Skelton and
I have agreed that win lose or draw Alfie will retire. He has been a superb horse to own. His
outstanding achievements include winning the
Supreme Novices at the Festival with Sprinter
Sacre and Cue Card trailing him home. He also
came third in the King George for the last three
years which showed his class and consistency.
I always believed his greatest performance was
winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup off top
weight at Cheltenham. He was magic that day.
After the Peterborough Chase we will find a
nice home for him to enjoy his retirement.
He is a very active horse with a kind
temperament and he will make someone a
very nice Hack and may do some dressage”Copy of post I put on TH back then
Al Ferof will be retired after racing in the Peterborough Chase whatever the result. John Hales has bought a replacement to be trained by Dan Skelton as well, a four year old from France called Captain Forez by Network the same sire as Sprinter Sacre. He was very impressive in his only run at Auteuil finishing a close second. He is a very big horse standing over seventeen hands so the stable will take plenty of time with him and he may only run three times this season.
Sustained an injury and we won’t see him on a racecourse again
Al Ferof has been retired…
Today was a sad day as the popular yard star Al Ferof has been retired. He unfortunately sustained a minor injury which given his age means he has run his last race. It was highly likely his run to defend the Peterborough Chase was to be his last but it was not to be. The injury is a small tear to his flexing tendon, otherwise known as a ‘leg’ but it’s a very small tear and he’s not in any pain or has been lame at all. He’s headed home to Lisa Hales’ to join Neptune Collonges and a decision will be made about the next chapter of his life in the spring after a nice long rest.
He’s been a great horse for the Hales family over the years for Nicholls’ Team Ditcheat and last year for us and he’s certainly going to be missed. His career highlights were a Supreme Novices’, a Henry VIII Chase, 2xAmlin Chase, a Paddy Power and last year’s Peterborough. We consider ourselves lucky to have had such a horse and we all wish him well for the future, he’s got plenty more fun days ahead of him.Happy retirement. Out in one piece and relatively young. I’m sure One Man and his fate are never far from Hales’s mind.
Happy retirement.
Looking back – what a supreme that was. Pity we never got to see Spirit Son again
Would have been nice to see him romp home in the Peterborough but rather relieved if I’m honest. I always get a bit of a chill when I hear the “one last race” line. Happy retirement old friend
Al Ferof came across as one of those horses who never really fulfilled the immense promise that I thought he was capable of. Like a Ferrari with a dodgy spark plug. A very good horse indeed but should’ve been brilliant.
Wish him a very happy retirement though :-D
Echo Tonge’s sentiments there, glad to hear that he has been retired without the ‘one last race’.
Enjoy your retirement Al Ferof and may it be a long and happy one.
Good decision from John Hales and, as Joe mentioned,no doubt his decision influenced by the sadness he experienced with the sad loss of One Man.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...
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