Begg farewells stable stalwarts

Grahame Begg will farewell two of his stable stars after announcing the retirement of All Silent and Ilovethiscity.A half brother to outstanding race mare Private Steer, All Silent won the 2008 Emirates Stakes but has not won since October 2009 and Begg made the decision to retire him after he was unplaced in Saturday's Doncaster Prelude.All Silent had a preparation in Hong Kong but returned to Australia without racing there.He is owned by Begg's parents, retired trainer Neville and Yvonne and h

Grahame Begg will farewell two of his stable stars after announcing the retirement of All Silent and Ilovethiscity.

A half brother to outstanding race mare Private Steer, All Silent won the 2008 Emirates Stakes but has not won since October 2009 and Begg made the decision to retire him after he was unplaced in Saturday's Doncaster Prelude.

All Silent had a preparation in Hong Kong but returned to Australia without racing there.

He is owned by Begg's parents, retired trainer Neville and Yvonne and his 33 starts, which included eight wins, netted more than $1.6 million.

Earlier in the week, Ilovethiscity was retired after suffering a soft tissue injury.

The son of Magic Albert had successive spring campaigns aborted due to injury in 2010 and again last year.

In between, he claimed the Group One Randwick Guineas and just failed to add to that haul when edged out by Sincero in last year's George Main Stakes.

All up he raced 17 times for four wins and five placings, banking more than $900,000.

Connections are trying to secure a stud deal.

Their absence leaves Secret Admirer to fly the Group One flag for the stable this autumn with the mare second favourite for Saturday's Doncaster Mile behind More Joyous.

The mare finished second in the Coolmore Classic won by Ofcourseican and third in the George Ryder Stakes taken out by Metal Bender.

She returns to her home track on Saturday where she has recorded her finest moments with victories in the 2010 Flight Stakes and last spring's Epsom Handicap, both over the 1600 metres of the Doncaster.