“What A Ride”: Grand Warrior Jabeni Retired

THE career of grand warrior Jabeni has drawn to a close after suffering a dropped back muscle in a heat of the Gosford Gold Cup on Tuesday night.

The 27-time winning son of My Bro Fabio has been trained for the past 12 months by Cessnock conditioner Blake Moroney who was feeling mixed emotions following Tuesday's career ending outing.

"He's given us one hell of a ride," Moroney said.

"It wasn't the best way to go out but he's given us so many great memories and he'll get to live the life of luxury now with his owner Bob Barnden.

"Each time you went to the races with him you knew he'd give his absolute all and I feel privileged to have been able to train him this past year.

"There were plenty of highlights during that time including finishing  a close second to Photo Man in a semi-final of the Million Dollar Chase.

"Back in late October he won a very strong 600 at Gosford as well. I thought that was one of his best wins – he loved Gosford."

Masters races are supposed to be for veteran greyhounds whose best form could be behind them but Jabeni ignored that script by posting the fastest time of the night at #WentworthPark on Saturday…

Read More: https://t.co/wz4LsYgpSx#thedogs #greyhoundracing @NSWGBOTA pic.twitter.com/dk5So5kmGT

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) November 20, 2022

With 27 wins and a further 42 placings from 101 career starts, Jabeni retires at 4 ½ years of age and almost three years to the day from his Maitland debut.

In the past six months the powerhouse chaser has been the most recent flagbearer for the benefits of Masters racing.

"It gave him a new lease of life," Moroney said.

"To be able to race for good money with a dog of his age is really important.

"While he was still competitive in that top grade the idea of doing that week in and week out against the young up and coming dogs is a bit of a stretch."

In September, Jabeni finished third in the $100,000-to-the-winner Masters Meteor Final (520m) at Wentworth Park, the race won by recently retired Fire Legend, trained by Blake's uncle Mark.