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Top Tug retires after distinguished career

13 November 2019

After a fine career in Club colours spanning more than four years, stalwart dual-purpose campaigner Top Tug has been retired.

The eight-year-old son of Halling was trained at three and four years for his previous connections by Sir Michael Stoute, before being purchased as a prospective hurdler by the Club at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale in October 2015.

Top Tug joined Jumps trainer Alan King and, in spite of his hurdling apsirations, made a winning debut for the Club in a Flat race at Lingfield in April 2016. Later that summer he ran for the first time at Royal Ascot, when he finished a respectable seventh in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, a race in which he would run in each of the three seasons that followed. His best result at the Royal meeting was a fine fourth in 2017.

Echoing his Flat achievements, Top Tug was a winner on his hurdling debut, at Kempton in November 2016, and while he was an above-average hurdler, he showed his best form on the Flat. Rated 106 at his peak on the level, in addition to his fine Royal Ascot form, he also took Club Members to many other high-profile meetings, including York's Ebor and May meetings, Doncaster's November Handicap, Glorious Goodwood and Newcastle's Northumberland Plate.

Soundness issues have forced Top Tug's retirement from racing, but after a period of turnout at the farm belonging to the Club's sister company, EquiPrep, the Elite Racing Club team will look at possible rehoming options for him.