The Gai Waterhouse trained G3 winner Needs Further has been retired.  The son of Encosta De Lago raced just five times before an injury curtailed his career.

Needs Further (4h Encosta De Lago – Crowned Glory by Danehill) started an odds-on favourite when making his debut in the Pagewood Hcp at Randwick in January 2010.  He led but was run down by Darley colt Skilled who went on to claim a G1 in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick.

Sidelined after going shinny, Needs Further returned the following February for an easy six-length kill in a Kembla Grange maiden.  Second up, he stayed home at Randwick and saluted again as an odds-on favourite.

“This is a very good horse in the making,” Waterhouse claimed.  “You will certainly see him over the carnival.  He’s got a lovely cruising speed and a great turn of foot.”

True to her word, Waterhouse lined up Needs Further three weeks later in the G3 AJC Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and he sprinted past Divorces to score by over a length.  He ran the last 200m in 11.93s which was quicker than Black Caviar’s final sectional in the T J Smith Stakes.

Needs Further suffered from an ongoing joint condition which curtailed his spring and autumn campaigns earlier this season.  He was considered a Group 1 miler in the making by Gooree manager Andrew Baddock who said it was tragedy the racing world will never know just how good he was.

“He was always a bit of a standout,” Baddock explained.  “He’s a lovely big strong type and is the best foal we’ve had to date from Crowned Glory.

“She was a Danehill mare we bred and raced and she was unlucky not to win a Golden Slipper.  His grand dam is by Bletchingly and she’s a half-sister to Zabeel.

“When our better colts like Northern Meteor and Smart Missile retire from racing, it’s our policy to retain an interest in them at stud.  In Needs Further’s case we will also be doing exactly that.  I have no doubt he can make the grade as a sire.”

Randwick Bloodstock’s Brett Howard has been appointed to handle stud negotiations.