Gallant racemare Lady Kipling has been retired after an unplaced run in the G2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Lady Kipling (6m Savabeel – Akela by Al Akbar) is in foal to Rip Van Winkle and trainer Murray Baker had thought of giving her one more run but the lack of a suitable race and the prospect of lumping too much weight put paid to that idea.

“She is of average size and it is just too tough to carry 59kgs against the males in those handicap races.  There’s nothing suitable until Te Rapa in February we decided to pull the plug.

“I’d like to have plenty more like her in the stable as she was an absolute pleasure to train with such a lovely nature and just so easy to do anything with.”

Lady Kipling won 11 races during her career including the G2 Cal Izusu Stakes and G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes over 1600m.  Her effort for second in the G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham in January 2013 was also a memorable performance.

“She carried top-weight of 58.5kgs, drew wide and raced three deep the whole way and got beaten a head,” recalled Baker.  “She deserved a Group 1 as she had all the talent but just couldn’t quite crack it at that highest level.

“I would like to have plenty more like her in the stable as she was an absolute pleasure to train with such a lovely nature.”

Bred by Windsor Park Stud and the Alchemy Family Trust, Lady Kipling was a $62,5000 buy for Baker at the 2009 NZB National Select yearling sale and retires with $443,000 in the bank.