STABLE stalwart, seven-year-old Rudra, has been retired from racing.

An old ligament injury flared up a few days after the game chestnut had finished second in the Gr 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at the end of last month and Mike de Kock commented:  “The time has come for Rudra to retire. He’s been a great ambassador to Lammerskraal Stud and he brought his owners years of pleasure on the racetrack.”

Rudra, by Parade Leader from Tawny Red, by Northfields, raced 35 times for six wins and 16 places, yielding near R3,1 million in stakes for the partnership of De Kock, Tony Moodley, Paul Bayvel, Chris Gerber and Ferdi Ladeira.

His greatest moment came in November 2008, when he rose from the Maiden ranks through only a Progress Plate to win the Gr 1 Summer Cup in runaway fashion under Kevin Shea. He had two further attempts at Johannesburg’s flagship event, finishing fifth to stablemate Flirtation in the 2010 renewal and then looming up dangerously into third behind Dancewiththedevil, in 2011.

Rudra also won the 2010 Listed Wolf Power Handicap after a 14-month interruption to his career following injury after his Summer Cup win, and, in gentlemanly fashion, posted two more wins and a host of places for his owners after that.

Mike added:  “Rudra may have a career left as a showjumper.  His part-owner Ferdi Ladeira’s wife, Liz, will be schooling him. We’ll miss the old warrior in the yard. He was good to all of us!”