Gatt Labels Lenny His Fastest

PREMIER Wentworth Park trainer Mark Gatt has paid Ritza Lenny the ultimate accolade, saying "I've never had one faster," after announcing the dual Group winner's retirement.

Ritza Lenny won 30 of his 67 starts and staged a remarkable return to the track at the start of the year after being sidelined for the majority of 2017 due to an amputated toe, winning the Group 2 Bulli Gold Plate and qualifying for the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder Final.

However, Thirlmere-based Mark Gatt and his father Frank, who purchased the superbly-bred son of Barcia Bale and Lagoon Lowanna for $8500 at the 2014 Richmond Riches Puppy Auction, have decided to call time on Ritza Lenny's career after he was injured when winning what would be his final start at Bulli on June 16.

"He did the stopper ligament in the last race he won at Bulli," Mark Gatt explained.

"I'm not sure when he did it; he's as tough as anything. He's just turned four and he's been through a fair bit. He would keep going on three legs, so I've got to look after him.

"He can enjoy retirement and hopefully get some girlfriends! I've already used him with Ritza Hattie because he's got a beautiful temperament, he chases like a demon, he's a rocket, he's well-bred – his mother Lagoon Lowanna goes back to Bruce Fletcher's ‘Thai line' – and he's a great kennel dog. The best thing about him is that he's such a great chaser, which is priceless these days."

Ritza Lenny was a two-time winner at Group 2 level, taking out the Bob Payne Spring Sprint in 2016 before claiming an against-the-odds comeback victory in this year's Bulli Gold Plate.

He was also placed twice at Group 1 level in the Peter Mosman Classic and Dapto Megastar in 2016 and ran fourth in the Paws Of Thunder earlier this year.

"He's right up there with any other dog I've trained," Gatt offered.

"Oaks Road (2012 NSW Greyhound of the Year) was a great dog and while I don't like to compare dogs and they were also very different dogs, Ritza Lenny was as good as Oaks Road. I've never had one faster than Ritza Lenny; I'll say that.

"His only hang-up was his box manners, but whenever I put him post-to-post he basically broke records, including at Dapto and Richmond.

"He had that toe taken off – and it wasn't just the toe, he had the whole ligament taken out as well – but he came back and won the Bulli Gold Plate and broke 26 seconds. He also ran in the 29.50s at Wentworth Park after the injury.

"To be honest, with the dog's ability he probably underachieved, although in saying that he won about $240,000 and he was unlucky in the Peter Mosman and Richmond Riches Final, which could've been another $175,000. He also missed the best part of his career – between two and a half and three and a half – with the toe injury.

"He was a super dog to us and he'll be very hard to replace."

Gatt took advantage of Ritza Lenny's lengthy stint on the sidelines to test the stud waters, serving three bitches; and Gatt demonstrated his confidence by using high class bitch Ritza Hattie, a four-time Group-winning daughter of

Bombastic Shiraz and Midnight Flare.

"Ritza Hattie's pups are four months old now and they're beautiful," Gatt said.

"He also had litters to Socozie and Withcott Miracle.

"I'm also going to use him with Ritza Ruby and I think he'll suit Ritza Millie, which is a Collision bitch. Andy Lord and Tyrone Whittington and Greg Sprod are also going to use him with some well-bred bitches. There's been a lot of other people asking about him too.

"His stud fee will be $1100 for frozen and he'll be available after he has a couple of weeks to relax and get over his injuries."