“Such A Shame”: Brisbane Cup Winner Retired

DEFENDING Group 1 Brisbane Cup champion Orchestrate dropped a back muscle in a trial at Albion Park on Wednesday and his racing career has drawn to a close.

The son of Barcia Bale-Speculate was on the comeback trail in search of a repeat Brisbane Cup victory.

He had not raced since being injured in a heat of the Group 1 Gold Bullion at Albion Park on January 26.

Trainer Tony Brett confirmed he and syndicate head Tom Kinnear conferred after the trial and made the decision to retire him to stud.

“Tom is working in Singapore now but he is in Brisbane for a week and came out to see him trial,” said Tony.

“It is such a shame because he was going really well in his comeback.

A simply faultless from the Tony Brett prepared Orchestrate to win the 2022 $525,000 @SkyRacingAU Brisbane Cup over kennelmate Just A Sort and Victorian star Photo Man!#QLDisRacing@RaceQLD @tabcomau @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @SEN_track @GRV_News @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/IEDOPHjKTO

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) July 7, 2022

“It's disappointing, but he has done enough for us.”

Orchestrate has raced 52 times for 24 wins and 17 placings earning $574,000 and was crowned Queensland greyhound of the year in 2022.

Bred and raced by Tom Kinnear and his family, he won the Group 1 Brisbane Cup last year in a quinella result for Tony Brett beating Just A Sort with Photo Man in third.

He has also won the G3 Origin Sprint, G3 Rockhampton Cup, Listed Albion Park Young Guns and Australia Day Trophy.

Orchestrate was second in the G3 Origin Sprint, G3 Super Sprinters, Million Dollar Chase Consolation and third in the G2 Flying Amy Classic and a finalist in the G1 Gold Bullion.

It is certain he will be given his chance at stud. Kinnear will make plans for the dog's stud career.

Orchestrate comes from a litter of nine of which eight were winners and also included Assassinate (18 wins, $65,000), Interrogate (13 wins, $45,000) and Manipulate (9 wins, $54,000).

He is bred on the identical Barcia Bale/Premier Fantasy cross found in leading stud dog Mepunga Blazer.