‘She's Done Enough': Baby Jaycee Retired
BABY Jaycee, one of Australia’s finest female sprinters of recent times, has been ruled out of the Group 1 Australian Cup series and retired.
BABY Jaycee, one of Australia's finest female sprinters of recent times, has been ruled out of the Australian Cup series, with trainer Bob Douglas confirming the Group 1 winner's retirement on Tuesday morning.
A likely match made in heaven with champion sire Fernando Bale is sure to have breeding aficionados salivating.
Baby Jaycee hadn't raced since October 19 when she started $1.40 in a G2 Cranbourne Cup heat at Sandown Park, where she led clearly before sustaining a back muscle injury.
Baby Jaycee had been heading towards a possible return in the Australian Cup series, but after trialling at The Meadows on Monday veteran Victorian mentor Douglas decided to call time on her career.
"I'd been working her up for the last few months and had to bite the bullet because I'd nominated her for the Australian Cup heats and she needed a 500," Douglas explained.
"She'd just lost that bit of early pace.
"She should be running in the 5.00s and she was going 5.20.
"She'd done enough.
"I compare it to the old boxers who come back for another fight and get knocked out. Everybody remembers the old bum losing their last fight and not the 50 they won. I couldn't do it to her."
From early in Baby Jaycee's career, Douglas paid her the ultimate accolade, anointing her a "miniature Carlisle Jack", in reference to his Golden Easter Egg-winning superstar of the early 2000s.
A January '21 daughter of Bernardo and Leprechaun Storm, bred by Paul Bartolo, Baby Jaycee won 30 of her 54 starts at 56 per cent.
Her strike rate was remarkably similar to Carlisle Jack's 34 from 62 record (55 per cent).
The highlight of Baby Jaycee's career came when winning the 2023 G1 Sapphire Crown.
It was a case of what might have been, as she finished runner-up three times at G1 level; the Australian Cup, Golden Easter Egg and National Futurity, as well as the G2 Laurels.
"I've always said she was three (lengths) off being an absolute machine," Douglas said.
"But that three or four she was missing, she made up for in ticker. Her biggest asset was her chase.
"The Sapphire was a great run, but she had a bit of luck because Wow She's Fast went amiss.
"I reckon one of her best wins was dead-heating in the Ballarat Oaks. She got turned both ways and was entitled to run last.
"Another big run was in the Easter Egg semis when she came from behind against the bitch that beat her in the Futurity (Wyndra All Class). But there were too many good runs."
Baby Jaycee's rise to stardom was particularly satisfying for Douglas, returning the 2023 Ken Carr medallist to the spotlight after six decades as a trainer, stud master and administrator.
"Especially when you've got one foot in the grave!" Douglas quipped.
"I probably won't get another one. If I do I'll be training them in one of those mobility scooters!
"But you never say never.
"When Dashing Eagle (1992 Sapphire Crown winner) retired, I said I'd never get another one like him. But then straight away I got Tivoli Man, which won the Ballarat and Bendigo Cups. Then there was Carlisle Jack and Classy Customer, which was one of the best stayers in the country. I've had a bit of luck!"
In a double-barrelled blow for Douglas, his 2023 G2 Horsham Cup finalist Call Me Marley, a 20-race winner, went amiss when leading in FFA company at The Meadows last Saturday night.
"He was home and then it looked like his leg just went from underneath him," Douglas offered ruefully.
"I don't think he's done a back muscle. If he has, it isn't as bad as Baby Jaycee. But he'll be out for a few weeks."
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