SHOCKED trainer Alex Wong Yu-on learned yesterday that star Class One galloper Champman River had been voluntarily retired by his upset owner.
Champman River had amassed $1 million in prize money this season and Wong could not believe that the seven-year-old had been taken out of training.
He said: 'The owner rang me up and said it was not worth persevering because the horse was having to carry 144 pounds. He has not actually won for me this season but has placed three times and got a million dollars. I have never actually heard anything like this before.
'I can safely say that the horse is absolutely sound and, if I had the choice, I would rather train him than Deerfield.' Wong, who notched a handy winner at Happy Valley last night, was still trying to come to terms with the shock loss of a stable star much later in the night.
'I could say, too, that he is one of the easiest horses I have ever had to train. When I had to sign the paper, I really hesitated. It was something I did not want to do.' A Jockey Club veterinary surgeon confirmed that Champman River had been retired voluntarily by the owner and was sound to race.
Even though trainer Steven S. L. Leung and jockey Kevin Manning have parted company, the local handler is still losing horses.
