Pakistan Star retires to Living Legends

Enigmatic galloper Pakistan Star has officially been retired, with the internet sensation and former Hong Kong-based superstar set to join Living Legends for the next stage of his life.

The son of Shamardal captured the attention of racing fans all around the world with his remarkable debut win at Sha Tin in July 2016, where he came from tailed-off last to score.

While he then went on to rise to the top of the ranks in Hong Kong, running second to Rapper Dragon in the 2017 Hong Kong Derby, he soon created headlines for the wrong reasons, pulling himself up in the 2018 Group 3 Premier Plate as the $1.20 favourite.

Trainer Tony Cruz was able to get Pakistan Star back to the races the following season and back to his very best, capturing the G1 QEII Cup for visiting rider William Buick and then the G1 Champions and Chater Cup under Tommy Berry.

"I rode him in a trial before the Champions and Chater Cup, it was on the course proper, and I'll never forget it," Berry said.

"He led the trial up, he started to pull up and I got back to about second-last, I gave him a click again and he came back to almost win the trial. It just shows you how talented he was on his day.

"When I won the Champions and Chater Cup on him, he was the dominant stayer in the race, and he treated them with contempt.

"He was a quirky animal, I was going through a bit of stuff with Chautauqua at the same time with him not jumping out of the gates, so I had these two horses that I was riding at the same time, both had their little tricks and nick nacks.

"I like riding horses like that, they've got a personality, they're not easy to get the best out of, but when we do and when we see them at their best, they could do incredible things on the racetrack.

"I think I'll remember him as just being a quirky horse that had a good personality, he was actually a very good ride when you were on his back, he was an absolute gentleman."

That was to be the fifth and final win in Pakistan Star's career, as he failed to return to that same vein of form and was eventually transferred to Paul O'Sullivan's stable.

While he was never far away in his four starts for the Kiwi expat, Pakistan Star would return to his old tricks, pulling himself up again in the 2019 G2 Jockey Club Sprint, which brought an end to his career in Hong Kong.

He was then sent to Doug Watson's stable in Dubai in a final roll of the dice but pulled himself up at his second start in the UAE last month and was banned from racing there.

Now a nine-year-old, Pakistan Star will fly to Australia in the next few months to spend his retirement at Living Legends, where he will be one of several former Hong Kong-based gallopers enjoying life after racing in the paddocks there.

"Living Legends is the international home of rest for champion horses, and I think he's an international horse that's had a whole lot of profile really, for better or worse I guess in some ways," said Living Legends CEO and Veterinary Director, Dr Andrew Clarke.

"He'll bring a lot of interest; I think there will be a lot of interest with international visitors, and I'll certainly be very excited to see how he transitions to his life after racing.

"We're looking to get him into our Legends Under Saddle program, so we'll do our usual program, which first off is to give them a good six months, let them have a really nice break and just clear their heads of racing.

"Then we'll start him with the round yard work and see if he stops when he goes for a ride in the park, I guess!"