Splendid Career Comes To A Close

TIME has officially been called on the racing career of top flight race bitch Miss Splendamiro, the six-time group 1 finalist destined for a trip to the great Fernando Bale for her first foray into the breeding barn.

Victorious at 33 of her 66 starts, her 50% winning strike-rate remarkable given the depth of talent she faced throughout her career, Miss Splendamiro bows out as being rated clearly among the top echelon of bitches to race this past decade.

Superbly bred by Barcia Bale out of Splendorous, she retires with a cool $227,720 in stake earnings for owners Mick Phillips, David Blench, and Rod Yendle – the prize money paling in comparison to the list of priceless memories the four year old chaser has afforded the trio throughout her glittering career.

"It's been a great ride and we're looking forward to the next step with her now in the breeding barn," beamed Phillips on Tuesday.

"She gave us so much enjoyment, getting to travel around the country and meet some fantastic people. Rod (Yendle) had been out of the dogs for a good 10 years before he got involved with Miss Splendamiro, it's given him a huge thrill the past few years … that's what it's all about."

While Miss Splendamiro's crowning glory came in the Group 3 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park in May 2018 – defeating Up Hill Jill in a flying 29.58 – she made no less than nine group race finals in total, six of those at group 1 level.

Included in those group 1 efforts were back-to-back fifth place finishes in the two most recent Golden Easter Eggs at Wentworth Park, in 2018 behind Up Hill Jill when trained by Hank Vanderburg, while this year finishing behind Zipping Bailey when in the care of Dave Geall.

"This year's Easter Egg was probably the race that got away," said a matter of fact Phillips.

"I'm not dirty at all but when you watch the race she had no luck when she went to take the run between Black Forge and Federal Lilly off the back. But that's racing, you move on.

"Both Hank and Dave did fantastic jobs with her for us during her career, we can't thank them both enough."

Some of Miss Splendamiro's other key achievements include placings in the Group 1 Brisbane Cup and Group 1 Paws Of Thunder, while also featuring in this year's Group 1 Australian Cup Final and last year's Group 1 Sapphire Crown.

"One disappointment was getting overlooked for last year's Topgun, that really stung … we thought her form warranted a spot," reflected Phillips.

Last seen on the track when injured in a free for all at The Meadows in late April, Miss Splendamiro returned to trainer Hank Vanderburg's kennels in the hope of a swansong appearance in the fast approaching Masters Meteor Series at Wentworth Park over the Million Dollar Chase Carnival.

Those plans were thwarted however with a recent pin muscle injury derailing any hopes of a tilt at the $100,000 to-the-winner series.

"It would have been nice to finish off in that series but it wasn't to be," said Phillips.

"She's got nothing left to prove and we look forward to her coming on season now.

"We've had quite a few enquiries about her pups being for sale … I can't speak for all of us but I'd say that selling a few is more likely than not when the time comes."