Sun Sets On Blue Moon Rising's Stellar Career

THE career of mighty chaser Blue Moon Rising has drawn to a close with injury curtailing a swansong tilt at next month's $100,000 Masters Meteor at Wentworth Park.

The two-time group 1 winner retires with 138 starts beside his name for 44 wins, 36 seconds and 22 thirds for $530,783 in prizemoney.

And while his record is something to behold, it only really tells half the story, the warhorse son of Fernando Bale and Chica Destacada to go down as one of the most talented and versatile chasers to race in the modern era.

"It's going to be hard to find another one like him – I don't think we will actually," said trainer Minnie Finn of the 27-time Wentworth Park winner.

"The plan was to probably retire him after the Masters race next month but he tore a back muscle in a slip on Wednesday.

"It's the first real injury he's had except for a split webbing here and there … he's been so easy to train. When they give everything they've got like he does all the time it makes it pretty straightforward."

BLUE MOON RISING: One In A Million

From a litter dubbed the "Fab Four" which also consists of Poco Dorado, Veloce Nero and Two Times Twice, Blue Moon Rising, owned by Peter McDermott and Dennis Donoghue, contested 15 group finals during his fabulous career, seven at group 1 level.

His two group 1 triumphs were achieved at The Meadows, securing the Super Stayers and Topgun Stayers last year in typical Blue Moon Rising fashion.

The words gritty, tough and tenacious spring to mind.

"He's just an iron dog – we could take him anywhere over any distance from any box and he'd give you 110 percent," Finn said.

"I don't know how he's going to go in retirement. He'll be a nightmare I think as he just loves to run and compete.

"We've had some people interested in using him at stud so that'll be the next step – we are just arranging all that now.

"In this day and age using a dog like him at stud that will throw so much chase is important. I'd use him for sure." 

Just three runs back, Blue Moon Rising claimed the NSW National Distance Championship at Wentworth Park, following his now retired siblings Poco Dorada (‘18) and Veloce Nero (‘19) securing that title the two years' prior.

"Poco and Veloce's pups to Collision are 13 and 14 weeks old," Finn said.

"It'll be strange not going to the races with him (Blue Moon Rising) anymore but he's given us some great memories.

“Nothing lasts forever.”