Azertyuiop to bow out
Shropshire-owned Cheltenham Festival star Azertyuiop has been retired from the track. Owner John Hales was forced to make the decision on veterinary advice last night.
Azertyuiop had spent 16 months sidelined with an overreach injury sustained in the Celebration Chase at Sandown last year.
The son of Baby Turk had recovered from that setback but picked up a fresh injury when he returned to the Ditcheat yard of trainer Paul Nicholls last week, leaving Team Hales with little option.
"It was an easy decision because we were told Azertyuiop would not be able to rediscover his best and we didn't want him to send him out onto the track for races knowing that," said Lisa Hales, daughter of John.
"We had mapped out the recovery plan after Sandown and it was going great. We took him to Heather Dalton's gallops and Tommy Phelan rode him and said he felt unbelievable and was in great shape. But he picked up another injury at Paul's. It looks like he has struck into himself and we have decided to call it a day with him."
Azertyuiop has been a fine servant to Hales, winning on 14 of his 25 starts and claiming more than £600,000 in prize money.
The undoubted highlight arrived in 2004 when Azertyuiop romped to success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, coming just 12 months after he won the Arkle Chase at the same meeting.
And his duels with rivals Moscow Flyer and Well Chief made him a fans favourite.
"Azertyuiop has been a star for us and we couldn't have asked any more," added Lisa. The memories of One Man, Team Hales' former star turn, dying after a fall at Aintree in 1999, remain fresh and Lisa added: "It's nice to be able to retire Azertyuiop and I think that's a relief to the whole family."
