Happy retirement Melburnian

“Here comes Melburnian with the white face and she is swinging away…Nathan Moscrop is now looking behind him…and Melburnian wins the opener - and she wins it well.”

Everything had fallen into place for our stunning seven year old mare as she swept to a five-and-a-half length victory over hurdles at Kelso last Saturday.

The mare who had never been out of the first four for us. The mare who was a half sister to Melbourne Cup runner up Heartbreak City.

But such is the ups and downs of horse racing, the 7lb the handicapper hiked her for that impressive win is no longer a subject of annoyance as we plot her next run.

Sadly today we are announcing her retirement from racing after picking up a tendon injury.

She has been an absolutely sensational ambassador for Ursa Major Racing and Rebecca Menzies.

Since picking her up at the sales at the end of January she ran six times in the Battenbergs - and every one of them was admirable. 

She came second and fourth over hurdles before two months off.

We headed to Newcastle for a spin on the all weather to see where we were fitness wise. She answered the question in emphatic fashion - a 50/1 second beaten only half a length and unlucky not to win. 

She was back.

A solid second at Catterick followed, before a race not run to suit saw her plug on for fourth again at Newcastle. 

With her favoured give under foot she returned to hurdles at Kelso last Saturday and bolted up by almost six lengths, showing everything we thought she would ahead of a big winter 

Alas, horses are not machines and on Thursday morning Melanie had suffered a small tendon injury.

Given the joy she has brought us and Team Menzies - and her connections before that - it felt only right to call time on her racing career and look towards life as a broodmare. 

Racing Manager Craig Talbot said: “We are all absolutely devastated to call time on Melburnian’s racing career, but we are immensely proud that she was never out of the first four for us in six runs. 

“She is adored by her owners and racing fans across the country who are able to pick her out from her distinctive white face and socks. 

“I want to thank Rebecca and her team for the brilliant ten months we have had with her and she will forever have a place in the Ursa Hall of Fame.

“Given her fantastic form over hurdles and on the flat - and the fact she is related to some very classy individuals she will male someone a lovely broodmare and we will now find her a forever home.”

Melburnian ran 37 times, winning four. She was placed on a further eight occasions and accumulated £80,000 in prize money. 

Thank you Melburnian.