Four Time Group 1 Winner Retired To Stud

REIGNING Australian Greyhound of the Year Simon Told Helen has been retired and will begin stud duties at Meticulous Lodge.

The decision has been made to retire the champion son of Barcia Bale following his third place finish in ‘The Collerson' at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Trained by David Burnett throughout his illustrious career, Simon Told Helen (ex Who Told Lindylu) bows out as the winner of eight group races, four at group 1 level, and $912,961 in prizemoney.

“The ride is over … but what a wonderful ride it's been,” Burnett said.

“It would have been great to race onto the Temlee and Australian Cup on his home track at The Meadows and hopefully send him out a winner but it's not to be.

“He's a special dog and provided myself and the owners so many fantastic memories. All good things must come to end and today's that day.”

Simon Told Helen retires to stud, where he'll stand at $2,500, as the winner at 26 of his 48 racetrack appearances with a further 15 placings.

He raced at group 1 level on no less than nine occasions throughout his glittering career, his four wins by way of the Silver Chief and Maturity Classic at The Meadows, Perth Cup at Cannington and Harrison-Dawson at Sandown Park.

“The biggest thing for me was winning the Silver Chief,” Burnett said.

“When you think you have a good young pup that's the race you are after. To go to the Silver Chief and beat the likes of Shima Shine, Christo Bale, Tiggerlong Tonk and Who Told Stevie when he was at the bottom age was very rewarding.

“I felt like I'd really done my job after that win – the satisfaction from that was another level.

“And also to go to Perth and win the Cup was special being so far away from home.

“There's just been so many great memories. It's hard to put one on top of another.”

The exhilarating chaser also finished gallant seconds in the Melbourne Cup, Topgun and Dapto Megastar, highlighting the remarkable level of consistency he displayed throughout his stellar time on the track.

His remaining group successes came in the Group 2 Geelong Cup, Group 2 Queensland Derby, Group 3 Cup Night Sprint and Group 3 Great Chase, performances which played a significant role in the superstar sprinter receiving Australian Greyhound of the Year honours in 2019/20.

“I look back now to when Simon Told Helen and Who Told Stevie were just 14 month old pups,” Burnett reflected.

“I put them out of the puppy boxes at Ballarat at that age and they both went 17.83. That was when I started to get an idea they were special.

“Not long after I put them out of the 400m boxes at Geelong and Simon Told Helen went 22.46 while Who Told Stevie went 22.28. I thought they were clocking the lure but they weren't.

“They had to go on with it from there and they did.”

It was initially anticipated that the star sprinter would race on and tackle the Temlee, Australian Cup and perhaps the Golden Easter Egg before retiring and beginning his time at stud.

But two below par performances by his lofty standards at Wentworth Park is understood to have accelerated the decision to call time on his wonderful career.

“It's easy to say now but he clearly doesn't like Wentworth Park,” Burnett said.

“But that's done now. Even being disappointing he's finished third twice in a heat of a group race and then the consolation Saturday night.

“I want to say a big thanks to vet Des Fegan and my muscle man John Barbara for keeping Simon Told Helen fit and healthy throughout his career.

“You know he had 48 starts and was swabbed 48 times. That would have to be some kind of record.”

Back in October, Who Told Stevie, a brother to Simon Told Helen, sadly passed away following a shock illness understood to be a fluid imbalance after suffering a blood clot.

“I'm just proud to be able to say I was their trainer,” Burnett said.

“Things will certainly feel a little different around the kennels now.”