The racing career of Majestuoso is now over after the reigning Victorian Horse of the Year aggravated an old injury and was retired last week.
Trainer Andy Gath said the ongoing issue has been somewhat of a mystery, but described it as ultimately a suspensory problem that had sidelined the squaregaiter for close to a year before his return in February 3’s Great Southern Star.
“It was going to be another nine months and rehabilitation, so it was an easy decision (to retire),” Gath said.
Owned by Norm Jenkin, Majestuoso came into Gath’s care early in his career after just three official starts for former trainer Rickie Alchin.
He proved another shrewd buy by Gath and Jenkin, winning 26 races after his debut for the Long Forest barn in mid-2018.
Among those triumphs were seven at Group 1 level, including the V L Dullard Trotters Cup, Great Southern Star Final, Knight Pistol, Australian Trotting Grand Prix and Cranbourne Trotters Cup through a glorious 2022 campaign that resulted in a Victorian Horse of the Year crown.
“He was a challenge, but he was exciting as well,” Gath said.
“He won the (2019) Victorian Trotters Derby and that was one of my better thrills in harness racing.”
Majestuoso finishes with 27 wins from 65 starts for prizemoney earnings of $714,440.
