So Si Bon retires a happy and sound horse

After a stellar career that encompassed eight seasons of racing, time has been called on the career of Lindsay Park-trained galloper So Si Bon.

With nine wins from his 95 starts and more than $2.3 million in prize money, So Si Bon retires a happy and sound horse.

So Si Bon started his career with Robbie Laing at Cranbourne before moving to Lindsay Park where in his final days of racing he was prepared by Ben and J D Hayes.

Ben Hayes said So Si Bon was a special horse to all at Lindsay Park.

“Remarkably he has been the soundest horse to ever be trained here at Lindsay Park Euroa which is highlighted through his durability and consistency over the year,” Hayes said.

“To have run at Stakes level 61 times throughout his 95 starts is simply amazing and very rare.

“He will be missed around the stable by every single one of our staff members.”

So Si Bon had two starts as a two-year-old back in 2016 for Laing and as a three-year-old ran fifth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and fourth in the Victoria Derby.

He was transferred to Lindsay Park after attempting to savage another runner in the 2017 Sandown Classic and was eventually gelded in 2018 after again trying to savage former stablemate Missrock in his first run for his new stable in the Newmarket Handicap.

So Si Bon scored his last win at Sandown in January and had his last start when sixth to stablemate The Summit at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

Lindsay Park vet Dr Dave McKellar said as part of regular surveillance on So Si Bon it was noticed the gelding had some mild effusion in his fetlock joints.

“Whilst he was still sound, we conducted survey radiographs and noted there was some early changes in his fetlock joints that indicated he was at slightly elevated risk of injury,” McKellar said.

“Given what a warhorse he has been and our respect for animal welfare at Lindsay Park, I’ve recommended that we retire him.

“His immediate future will be a nice long holiday of four months in the paddock for the best part of the spring and he should have a long and fruitful career in whatever the future holds for him.”