Ritza Hattie’s days on the tracks may be over but she is likely to leave a significant racing legacy.
The four-time Group winner (pictured, yellow rug), who earned almost $250,000 prizemoney in a sparkling career, has been retired by trainer Mark Gatt.
Perhaps best known for her consistency, hard-chasing ability and epic battles with fellow star NSW sprinter Zipping Willow, Ritza Hattie will be paired with sire Brett Lee for what could prove to be an extremely fruitful partnership.
Gatt said the time was right to retire his greyhound, whose final racing appearance came in the recent Golden Easter Egg series.
“I think she wanted to be a mum,” he said. “You have to go with what a greyhound tells you and I think the way she was racing at the end she was saying, ‘that’s enough’.
“She’s been such an affectionate and good-natured greyhound – a real pleasure to race.
“She’s been so good to us and she’s earned the right to relax now.”
A daughter of Bombastic Shiraz x Midnight Flare, Ritza Hattie was one of the reliable NSW performers of recent times.
After debuting in mid-2013, she won or placed in each of her first 20 starts.
That terrific record included wins in the 2013 Group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic and the Group 2 Laurels at Sandown Park, as well as strong runs in high-class company at Dapto and Wentworth Park.
Ritza Hattie enjoyed another notable win in the Group 3 Ambrolosi in April 2014, clocking 29.47 at Wentworth Park in possibly the run of her career.
Later that month she finished second behind Zipping Willow in the Group 3 Ladies Bracelet - one of many great contests she enjoyed with Jason Mackay’s top sprinter.
She endured four months on the sidelines in mid-2014 but retained her super chasing ability, finishing runner-up behind Tommy Brislane at last September's Group 1 Megastar at Dapto in one of the races of the year.
“I think really good chasing bitches are rare, but she was definitely a strong chaser,” Gatt said.
“Her best attribute was her consistency. She had the basic racing ability you need as well.
“She’s up there with Oaks Road as one of my favourite greyhounds I’ve trained.”
Ritza Hattie’s last major victory came in January when she defeated a strong field to win the Group 2 Gosford Cup.
Her 19th and final triumph was a 29.73 effort at Wentworth Park in early March, with her last run a seventh-place finish in the Ambrosoli earlier this month.
Gatt said his charge, who also finished with 23 minor placings from her 50 starts, will stay at his base in the NSW Macarthur region and be paired with legendary sprinter Brett Lee when she comes on season.
“On paper it should be a great partnership, but of course it doesn’t always work like that,” Gatt said.
“Hopefully in a couple of years the pups will do her proud.”
