EATONS GOLD Retired – In his 10th season of racing

Yes it’s true – the seemingly immortal EATONS GOLD, who had his first race in New Zealand in December 2010, has been retired after aggravating an old knee injury when racing at his home track at Penang Sunday 15th September. The winner of 11 races, 9 in Singapore and 2 in Malaysia and the winner of almost NZ$600,000, EATONS GOLD was an irrepressible character, who always kept his trainers, riders and handlers on their toes.

“Eaton” was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndications at the 2010 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Premier sale for $75,000. By Jetspur out of Road Ranger, he had a typical Australian speed pedigree and the attributes of a sprinting type to go with it. A really natural  2yo type, the 2011 Karaka Million in NZ was clearly in his sights, but an important trial date in early November was missed due to trials being canceled. He trialed two weeks later, running 2nd to Super Easy (Darci Brahma), who went on to become a Singapore Champion and now a successful Stallion at Stud and then had his first race date at Awapuni in early December 2010 – however struck a Heavy track, that experience flattened him, he needed to have a break and Karaka Million aspirations went out the door. He was then to to race at Waverley in March, but reared up in the barriers and was late scratched by the Stewards. This meant that his 2yo opportunities in NZ were extinguished, so connections made the decision to send him to Singapore to race.

Fortuna’s Singapore Trainer, Mark Walker, soon had Eaton  to rights with his first two runs in Singapore in Initiation Grade producing a 5th and a 2nd and then a win at his 3rd start in the same Grade. A win two starts later in Novice Grade confirmed that Walker and the Fortuna NZ Stable had a nice sprinting type on their hands. The realities of Grade Racing in Singapore then kicked in however and while racing competitively in Class 4, running lots of prizemoney placings it was a further 15 months (March 2013) before Eaton broke through for his first win in Class 4. A 4th career win in the same Grade followed eight months later.

After some indifferent runs in early 2014, Eaton was found to have a potentially career ending knee issue, surgery was performed and the horse was sent to Sandy Lines in Malaysia for rehab and recuperation and although rehab was successful, it was going to be 399 days before Eaton would grace the Kranji race track again – and what a return it was, winning a Class 4 race by two lengths in the hands of Rizuan Shafiq.

4 more wins followed over the next two years bringing his Singapore total to 9 and in April 2017 with Eaton now a rising 9 year old, but still sound and fit, a decision was made to send him to Malaysia to see out his racing career and ease into a nice retirement. He was entrusted to Trainer, Sharee Hamilton, at Penang and his Malaysian stint saw two more victories on his home track of Penang.

EATONS GOLD – 9th win at  Kranji  April 2017

EATONS GOLD had 96 race day starts in his career for 11 wins, 10 2nds, 11 3rds and 14 4ths .

Singapore Trainer Mark Walker described the horse as follows – “we always had to be alert around Eaton,” he said, “he was a real character – give him an inch and he would take a mile – but he was a great favourite here at the Singapore stable.” 

Fortuna NZ Stable boss, John Galvin, said “Eaton was a much loved horse by his syndicate Members – while he was no Champion, he always gave his best and delivered great results for his ownership group.”

EATONS GOLD will now enjoy a well deserved retirement, most likely at a Riding For Disabled School in Malaysia.