The curtain came down on the venerable career of sprinter The Tatling in the best possible style at Wolverhampton on Monday.

On his 176th and final racecourse start, the remarkable 14-year-old powered home to win his last race.  The Tatling was sent off a 16-1 chance in a 1000m sprint and got up in the final strides under Richard Kingscote.

“I know it’s only a small race but to end up with a winner like that from top weight and a bad draw shows he’s still a star in our eyes,” trainer Milton Bradley told At The Races.  “He still looks outstanding and always wants to get on with it.”

Owner Darren Hudson-Wood added: “I nearly cried.  I didn’t expect him to be in the first five.  It’s absolutely incredible.  Thanks to everyone involved with the horse.”

At his peak, The Tatling won the 2004 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and was runner-up in the Prix de l’Abbaye and G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York three times.

The Tatling (14g Perugino – Aunty Eileen by Ahonoora) was claimed by Bradley after a victory at Catterick back in July 2002.  He had previously been trained by David Nicholls having started his career with Michael Bell.

His sire Perugino left Testa Rossa in the first of two separate shuttles to Australia.

The Tatling earned 687,763 pounds.  He cost 54,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls in September 1998 and changed hands again for 11,000gns as a 4yo at Tattersalls in July 2001.