Dan Morton ramps up preparation for Ascot Pinnacles carnival

As Ascot trainer Dan Morton ramps up preparation for this year’s Ascot Pinnacles carnival with an array of the stable’s top quality horseflesh, he’ll be doing it without one of his stars who has been retired.

Kissonallforcheeks, a multiple stakes winning daughter of Written Tycoon with $1.7 in stake earnings after 10 wins and as many placings from 28 starts, has succumbed to a throat injury and won’t race again.

“Unfortunately, she won’t race again, she’s succumbed to a bit of a throat issue,”Dan Morton told Tabradio.

“She had an op and it went well, but she was going to be compromised coming back to racing.

“I’m mindful her coming back to racing is at the elite level.

“You are kidding yourselves if you are not 110 per cent right.

“We’ve opted to retire her and she is going to be a valuable broodmare for someone.”

Kissonallforcheeks made her debut at Ascot in 2019 when she ran sixth to Starfield Impact in the Crystal Slipper Stakes (1100m).

Her signature Perth wins included the G3 Peters Stakes (1500m), the Listed Lee Steere Classic (1400m) and Listed WA Breeders (1400m).

She also ran placings in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m), Kingston Town Classic (1800m) and Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

In Melbourne, Kissonallforcheeks won the G2 Let’s Elope (1400m) when under the care of Caulfield trainer, Nick Ryan and G2 Shaftesbury Handicap (1400m).

‘She was probably unlucky not to have won a Group 1,” Morton said.

“She was a Group 1 mare all day in my eyes.

“A bit of a shame she didn’t get one, but she’ll be a nice mum all the same.”

Meanwhile Morton said Alaskan God is set to resume in Perth next month ahead of a potential Melbourne campaign in the spring.

Alaskan God was Perth’s star three-year-old following five straight wins comprising the WA Derby (2400m)-Melvista Stakes (2200m) double.

The Playing God gelding has not raced since the Perth Cup (2400m), the final race of a Pinnacles campaign that yielded no wins or placings.

Morton said Alaskan God was showing positive signs ahead of his winter return.

“He’s back in full swing and has a real spring in his step.” Morton said.

“I’m really liking what I’m seeing at the moment.

“I’ve got him earmarked to step out on August 5, it’s not too far away now.”