Leading trainer John Finn has put the collar and lead on many brilliant greyhounds over the years, but his wife Minnie says he rates Blue Moon Rising right up there alongside all the others.
Time has now been called on the career of Blue Moon Rising, after the son of Fernando Bale and champion broodbitch Chica Destacada tore a back muscle in a slip during the week.
Peter McDermott, part owner of Blue Moon Rising as well as his Group 1 winning sister Poco Dorado and Veloce Nero, announced the news on social media on Thursday night.
“With sadness but with enormous pride for his career, we can confirm that Blue Moon Rising has been retired due to injury, McDermott’s post read.
“We celebrate his amazing achievements and congratulate John & Minnie Finn for their magnificent efforts. 44 wins (27 @ WP) 2 Gp 1s. Congrats ‘Spike’.”
It was only last month the four year old led throughout to win the NSW Distance Championship Final at Wentworth Park, but such was his amazing versatility, Minnie declared at the Time they were looking at setting the dual Group 1 winning stayer for the $100,000 Masters Meteor over the 520m during the upcoming TAB Million Dollar Chase Carnival.
His State Distance Championship win carried more significance when you see his sister Poco Dorado won the title in 2018, and his other sister Veloce Nero won it in 2019.
Blue Moon Rising, won both his Group 1s in Melbourne, the Fanta Bale Super Stayers in March 2019 at The Meadows, and the Top Gun Stayers in November last year at the same track. He retires with 138 starts for 44 wins, 36 seconds and 22 thirds for $529,683 in prizemoney.
Blue Moon Rising was a fan favourite at Wentworth Park where he raced 83 Times. In those starts he raced 34 Times over 720m, winning 13 Times, with 12 seconds and six thirds, and a personal best Time of 41.65s.
Over the 520m, he raced 49 Times, recorded 14 wins, 17 seconds and eight third, and a personal best Time of 29.58s.
Minnie has already declared the dog would be irreplaceable when he retired, but she added that hopefully he can be a success at stud, and surely breeders will be enticed by the bloodlines, and the gritty tenacity and versatility he showed every Time he stepped onto a racetrack.
