After seven seasons of sterling service top sprinter Uncle Tommy has been retired.

“I think he’s had enough,” said trainer Weiho Marwing at Ashburton yesterday morning.

Uncle Tommy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Uncle Tommy had his last race in the Senor Santa Stakes at Turffontein last month but was never in the hunt, finishing last, an obvious sign that he had come to the end of his racing career.

“You can’t keep squeezing. I gave him one last run and the next suitable race would be the Thukela Stakes at the end of July,” he reasoned.

“We have found him a very nice place in Cape Town. I think he will be happy there.”

Racing throughout his career in the well-known blue and silver silks of Hassen Adams, Uncle Tommy was a real soldier, winning 13 of his 63 races and placing 28 times for stakes of over R1.74 million.

By Kahal out of the Badger Land mare cousin Linda, was bred by Summerhill Stud.

Uncle Tommy’s last win came at the Vaal at one of the last meetings on the now defunct sand track in October last year. The win came hard on the heels of his runner-up berth behind Deputy Jud in the Gr2 Supreme Cup on the sand giving the winner 6kg.

With a highest MR of 105 Uncle Tommy was at home on turf but as he got older the sand and the Greyville poly became his preferred surfaces with possibly his best effort being second to Tommy Gun in the Gr2 Emerald Cup, run in its final year under the banner of the Supreme Cup.

By Andrew Harrison