REIGNING Bendigo Cup winner Top Of The Range has been retired due to an ongoing health issue.
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Trained by Mike Moroney, Top Of The Range won five races from 30 starts, highlighted by his victory in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) last year, when ridden by Western Australian jockey William Pike.
The seven-year-old gelding, who also finished second in the 2019 Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) behind Surprise Baby, suffered another case of atrial fibrillation on the weekend.
Top Of The Range was found to have had an irregular heart rhythm following his last placing in the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo in March.
He would have just one more race start for a seventh in the Terang Cup (2150m) in April.
Ballymore Stable racing manager Anthony Feroce confirmed the retirement this morning.
"Sadly he had another case of atrial fibrillation on Saturday morning, but when things came back into synch on Sunday we felt that given that's happened a few times now, it's best to retire him," he said.
"We were very happy (with his career), it's unfortunate what has happened, but chatting with the owners we thought it was the best thing for the horse, just in case it happens in a race. We don't want the horse getting hurt, or jockeys getting hurt.
"We have found a lovely home for the horse and he has done a great job for the owners."
Feroce rated the Bendigo Cup win as the undoubted highlight of Top Of The Range's career.
The Moroney-trained gelding carried plenty of sentimental support into the race following the trainer's decision to engage the services of popular jockey Pike.
The Western Australian, who recently claimed his fifth Australian metropolitan jockey's premiership, had previously ridden Top Of The Range when he finished second in the Adelaide Cup.
After his stirring Bendigo Cup victory, the Savabeel gelding went on to finish fifth in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington before heading for a 20-week spell.
Feroce said Top Of The Range was being aimed at similar races to last year, including a defence of his Bendigo Cup crown.
While that is no longer a possibilty, he said the stable would still earmark the race with two or three other horses.
"A horse like Chapada could be a chance; (Warrnambool Cup placegetter) Mirimar could head that way, or there might be something else that puts their hand up," Feroce said.
Top Of The Range retires with career earnings of $550,110.
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