Globetrotting South African star JJ The Jet Plane has been retired following the recurrence of a near-fore suspensory ligament problem.
Photo by Dubai Racing Club
The seven-year-old won14 races including the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin, the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai twice and five South African G1 sprints.
Natalie Houdalakis, wife of trainer Lucky, reported his retirement after the return of the injury that prevented him from racing for nine months last year.
"It has flared up again and we decided that, before we did any more damage it was time for him to retire," she said.
"He was a fantastic horse and he did wonderfully well for us."
JJ The Jet Plane raced in the UK in 2009 for trainers Mike de Kock and then Richard Hannon.
He finished third in the July Cup and fourth in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot before he was sent back to Houdalakis in South Africa.
The suspensory problem flared in Dubai 12 months ago. He will spend his retirement on a farm in Natal.
