Sidelined at the start of last spring with a suspensory ligament injury, triple Group I winning Maurice (Jpn) colt Hitotsu has now been retired due to a leg infection.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained stallion has had a series of setbacks with the most recent arising from a cut to a leg that subsequently became infected.
A $100,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Arrowfield draft, Hitotsu had eight starts for four wins earning over $3million in prizemoney with Group I wins in the VRC Victoria Derby, ATC Australian Derby and VRC Australian Guineas
Managing part-owner Ozzie Kheir confirmed the unfortunate news on Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, Hitotsu has had another setback," Kheir lamented.
"Hitotsu has taken us on an amazing journey in such a short period of time and showed that special horses can be trained in a very unconventional way and that's all credit to the stable that weren't afraid to try something different.
"We resisted the temptation of retiring him (to stud) after his remarkable three-year old season as Ciaron (Maher) and Dave (Eustace) were adamant that he had so much more upside and we hadn't seen the best of him.
"Unfortunately, plans in racing don't often go to script.
"We will now start the process of finding him the best place to continue his next chapter and follow his progeny for many years to come."
Hitotsu will be the first son of Maurice to stand at stud in Australia with his other Group I winning son here Mazu being a gelding.
Bred by Arrowfield Stud in partnership, Hitotsu is from unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Love is Fickle, a half-sister to Group II winning sire Love Conquers All and stakes-winner She’s Meaner, the dam of Group II winner Lean Mean Machine and granddam of stakes-winner Ballistic Lover, who sold ass a broodmare last year for $1million.
The grand-dam of Hitotsu is Group I Avondale Cup winner She’s a Meanie, so he has a quality pedigree to go with superior racetrack performance.
