Trainer John Bridger calls time on Megalala career at age of 17
Megalala, whose longevity, sheer will to win and exuberant front-running tactics made him a hero at places like Brighton, Lingfield and Kempton for more than a decade, has finally been retired at the age of 17.
Winner of 20 races from 148 starts during a remarkable career which began in April 2005 in a Fontwell bumper, the son of Petardia became in June 2016 the oldest horse to win on the Flat in Britain since 1945 when scoring at Lingfield.
That proved to be his final win, and his last race came at Windsor last October. Trainer John Bridger had been planning to continue with him this year, but is happy to have made the decision to retire him in one piece.
“He’s retired now,” Bridger said. “There’s nothing wrong with him, but if I ran him and something went wrong people would never forgive me.
“He is 17 and there comes a time when you’ve just got to stop. We’ve now reached that time with Megalala.”
The trainer added: “He’s out in the field with four or five others and he looks great. You could run him tomorrow, you really could.
“He’s been a wonderful horse, and will stay here with me. He’s part of the furniture. He’s been brilliant to me.
“If they were all like him this game would be easy. All you had to do was feed him, keep him fit and he’d do the rest.
Megalala’s first victory came at Brighton, a track which proved his happiest hunting ground, in a 7f claimer in September 2006.
He ended his career having won eight times at the seaside venue, on the majority of those occasions dictating matters from the front and refusing to be passed.
Megalala proved successful at most trips from 7f to 1m4f, and his place in racing folklore is assured.
Wins 20
Second and thirds 32
Career starts 148
Total prize-money £73,648
Most successful course Brighton (eight wins)
Most wins in a calendar year Five in 2011
Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com
Published on 29 August 2018inNews
Last updated 19:44, 29 August 2018
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- Kieran Shoemark lands another plum Meydan ride for Gosden stable on Trawlerman in Saturday's Dubai Gold Cup
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- Kieran Shoemark lands another plum Meydan ride for Gosden stable on Trawlerman in Saturday's Dubai Gold Cup