The Mid North Coast's oldest racehorse, 12-year-old gelding French Command, trained at Kempsey by Hilary Dew, has been retired after 159 starts for 17 wins and 34 placings for prizemoney nearing $250,000.
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In his latest campaign, he showed a glimpse of form with a slashing third behind Port Macquarie's Condover Hall over 1400m in the heavy ground at Taree on June 28 but there have been four unplaced runs since.
Dew said the Court Command gelding thrived on heavy tracks and with the prospect of firmer ones coming into summer, he felt it was time for his beloved gelding to enjoy retirement on his farm.
"He will be happy with his head in the feed bin although he did love his racing," Dew said.
French Command was a budget buy in Queensland where he won his first race at Gympie, since being a real bread and butter racehorse for Dew.
"He has done a good job and would have had to retire under the rules of racing next season," he added.
It was only in June last year that French Command was in full flight winning twice at two meetings at Port Macquarie on heavy tracks.
The gelding won three times at Port, Lismore and Kempsey, also winning at Muswellbrook, Coffs Harbour and Wauchope.
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