Permit In Retraining For New Career
- Sunday, 19 April 2015 08:04
The autumn carnival has brought the curtain down on the careers of two Chris Waller stable stalwarts now heading in completely different directions.
Sacred Falls has arrived at New Zealand's Waikato Stud where he will take up the mantle from his champion sire O'Reilly who died late last year.
The winner of the Group One NZ 2000 Guineas for Tony Pike, Sacred Falls won the Doncaster Mile twice in Waller's care and added the George Main Stakes to his record in the spring.
He finished ninth in his attempt at an unprecedented third Doncaster earlier this month. His $4.6 million prize money makes him the highest earner to go to stud in New Zealand.
Permit never reached the Group One heights of his stablemate but did end his racetrack career on a winning note in the Manion Cup.
His absence from the stable will however be brief.
"Permit is being retrained to come back as the stable pony," Waller said.
"He is out on a farm working with yearlings and learning what to do.
"When he finishes his apprenticeship he will come back and work with the bad boys and girls.
"He has been a great horse for the stable and I'm glad he will have a new job."
Permit won two races in France and another seven in Waller's care, earning his owners more than $712,000.
His first Australian victory came in December 2011 and he raced through four seasons.
Another Waller-trained Group winner, Arinosa, has also been retired and she will go to the breeding barn in the spring.
Arinosa retires as a three-time Group winner with earnings of almost $600,000.
