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Massale retired; Hennessey has faith in Ocean Emperor; Lady Royale retired

Massale retired

A career-ending injury has ruled talented sprinter Massale out of Friday's Leicester-Lowry 50th Anniversary Taupo Cup.

A rousing first-up winner under 60.5kg at Taupo, Massale had looked poised to fulfil the potential he showed as a two-year-old before falling in the $1 million Karaka Million at Ellerslie.

Matamata trainer Chad Ormsby revealed on Thursday that the Shaft four-year-old gelding had sustained a tendon injury and was retired.

"It's devastating news for our team, and particularly for our owners who have been very patient and understanding," Ormsby said.

"I galloped him on Monday and it was the best he's ever felt. It's just gutting. He's a special member of the team and will remain at the Matamata property to complete his rehab. For now, he'll be a paddock mate to another champion of a different variety in Xcellent."

Hennessey has faith in Ocean Emperor

Gary Hennessy is pleased with the progress of talented galloper Ocean Emperor and is looking forward to stepping him out as the weather improves.

“He’s just come back to the track this week, but he’s done a fair bit of work on the treadmill,” Hennessey said.

“We’re looking at getting him back on better ground and we’ll go ahead from there.

“He’s in that rating 75 band now and if he can pull off one of those it might give us some impetus to target something better.”

A $450,000 yearling purchase, Ocean Emperor, a son of Zabeel, is the winner of two of his six starts to date.

“He’s got a lot of raw talent but he’s also been a bit over-exuberant in his work,” Hennessey said.

“We gave him two or three runs during the winter to further educate him and he performed despite not really handling the wet ground. He’s just got so much ability.

“We’ve got a lot of faith in the horse and we’re looking to get some black print and build some residual value with him.”

Hennessey shares in the ownership of Ocean Emperor along with Andrew Wong and Stephen Yan, the trio that raced five-time Group One winner Ocean Park.

Lady Royale retired

Collett Racing Stables have reported that their Group Two Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Lady Royale has been retired to stud. Having raced on 12 occasions to win twice and place four times, the daughter of Captain Rio had not come up as well as expected this preparation hence the decision to retire her.

Owned by Arthur Avis, who also owns the stable’s Group Two Hawkes Bay Guineas hope Selfie, the stable reports that she has been sold to a New Zealand breeder to be served by Darley’s Hallowed Crown this spring.