Sacred Choice was an odds on favourite to be retired at the end of her Autumn Carnival after the emotional speech given by her trainer Joe Pride earlier in the season.
It was just after her Doncaster Mile Victory and Pride said Sacred Choice had already given he and the connections everything they could have ever imagined from her racing career.
With that many expected the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes to be her final appearance before connections cashed in on her massive value as a broodmare.
She ran a gallant second across a heavy track in that race behind My Kingdom Of Fife but Pride now says after a meeting with connections they have convinced him to keep her going into next season.
“The owners are getting so much enjoyment out of racing Sacred Choice and they would like to keep her going,” Pride said.
“She has gone for a spell in the best form of her career and who is to say she doesn’t return and race at that level in the spring.
Meanwhile he’s also looking forward to the return of his other Doncaster Mile winner Vision And Power.
The nine-year-old is set for a start in either the Lord Mayors Cup over 1900m at Canterbury or the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast.
At the moment though it looks as though he won’t be travelling unless he’s dealt with leniently by the handicappers.
“I’d prefer to keep him at home and see exactly where we are at with Vision And Power,” Pride said.
“He will be nominated for the Gold Coast and obviously we have to look at the weight he gets for the Lord Mayor’s Cup.
“But they have been cruel enough to him lately so I’m hoping the handicapper is a little kind to the horse.”
Vision And Power would have been a major player had he got a start in the Queen Elizabeth stakes alongside Sacred Choice.
Pride is still fuming after his gelding was only listed as an emergency despite winning two races at Group 1 level and claiming prize money over $2 million.
The scratching did eventually come but by then it was too late and Vision And Power was robbed of the opportunity at a shot at another Group 1 in conditions ideally suited to him.
