安小姐今日包尾而回，準備退役
Champion sprinting mare Miss Andretti has probably run her last race after finishing last to Bel Mer in Saturday's Clamms Seafood Stakes at Caulfield.
A five-time Group One winner, the Horse of the Year for season 2006-07 as well as the course record-breaking winner of the 2007 King's Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot, Miss Andretti struggled home a tailed-off last of the 14 runners in Saturday's Listed 1100m sprint.
"I will be recommending that she be retired," trainer Lee Freedman said.
"It's up to the owners but I would think she will be retired."
Freedman had been lukewarm about the mare, saying that everything seemed well with Miss Andretti going into the race but warning that being a seven-year-old mare she might not come back.
After opening at $2 she drifted out to start $3.20 favourite and settled second in running for new rider Dwayne Dunn before dropping right out in the straight.
Miss Andretti's partner in all of her big race wins, Craig Newitt, was committed to riding Bel Mer ($10) in Saturday's race and duly won on her.
Trainer Mick Price revealed after the event that he had spoken to Newitt a couple of times recently about his timing in races.
"I said to him 'you need to get it 100 per cent right in big races, rather than get run down' and to his credit the ride wins the race," Price said.
"He's been a bit too aggressive which is fine, but I said to him 'you need to ride them like D Oliver'."
Bel Mer is now bound for the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 13, a race in which Newitt rode Miss Andretti to her first Group One win two years ago.
"She couldn't have been more impressive," Newitt said of Bel Mer.
"She's spot-on for the Manikato."
Bel Mer ran down Red Element ($5), who did it hard in front from the outside barrier, to score by a head with Monet Rules ($11) a head away third.
The David Hayes-trained Red Element will also go to the Manikato while Monet Rules, prepared by Leon Corstens, may also join stablemate Kaphero in the race.
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