Captain Joy retired Tracey Collins has decided to retire stable stalwart Captain Joy after his runner-up effort at Dundalk on Friday night. The ten-year-old raced 45 times, winning ten, and was placed 13 times. His career highlight came in March 2016 when he was successful in the All-Weather Mile Championship at Lingfield under Pat Smullen. The son of Dark Angel has proven a great servant for connections and carried the famous yellow and white colours of the late Herby Stanley, since finishing third in a handicap at Naas in 2012. The grey has been a real stable favourite at Collins' Conyngham Lodge and his career earnings amount to almost €300,000. Collins said that it was an easy decision to call time on what has been a fine career:- “We just felt that the horse owed us nothing and we knew going into Friday’s race that he was in very good form, and it would have been great to out on a winning note, but it wasn’t to be. “He has been a star of a horse for us and he competed in Dubai at the Carnival, but that success at Lingfield in 2016 was the highlight, and he has been an absolute pleasure to train. “Mr Stanley passed away last week and he was a terrific supporter of the yard for a long time and I just felt that was it was appropriate to call time on Captain Joy’s career now. “He ran to his mark the other night (96), and he has been rated as high as 110 at one stage and he has been a 90 plus horse since 2012. “It’s a sad time for everyone in the yard, in particular for Hazel Wallace, who has looked after him so well, but he’ll have a home for life here at Conyngham Lodge.”
