Joe Pride has confirmed he will have to work on an autumn carnival rebound without one of his stable's biggest stars.Two days after Rain Affair's winning streak came to an end and smart sprinter Neeson suffered cardiac arrhythmia, Pride and her owners have announced the retirement of Sacred Choice, a two-time Group One-winning mare who ran well below her best in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm."She has said to us 'no more'," Pride told AAP."It's been a fantastic ride winning two Group

Joe Pride has confirmed he will have to work on an autumn carnival rebound without one of his stable's biggest stars.

Two days after Rain Affair's winning streak came to an end and smart sprinter Neeson suffered cardiac arrhythmia, Pride and her owners have announced the retirement of Sacred Choice, a two-time Group One-winning mare who ran well below her best in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm.

"She has said to us 'no more'," Pride told AAP.

"It's been a fantastic ride winning two Group Ones with her but to race at this level for as long as she has means she has to be on top of her game all the time.

"Looking at it, that hasn't been the case for two preparations now.

"When I first got her I thought she might get to Listed level so to win a Myer Classic and a Doncaster Mile puts her right up there."

Pride said he rated Sacred Choice's victory in last year's Doncaster Mile as a crowning moment in a career which netted more than $2.1 million in stakes from nine wins.

"To beat the boys in what is probably the best mile race in the world was probably the highlight for me."

While Sacred Choice will leave a void in Pride's stable, the trainer will live to fight another day with Rain Affair, the richly-talented sprinter who has been described a Group One winner-in-waiting.

Rain Affair was chasing his 10th consecutive win when he finished sixth in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.

The famous straight sprint was Rain Affair's first Group One test and Pride was philosophical about the result.

"I thought he was very brave to finish where he did because he was never comfortable at any stage of the race," Pride said.

Rain Affair returned to Sydney in the early hours of Monday morning and Pride said he would know more about the sprinter's immediate future later this week.

"I will put a rider on him again on Wednesday but at this stage he seems to have pulled up well," he said.

Sydney options for the four-year-old include the Challenge Stakes at Rosehill on Rosehill Guineas day ahead of a return to Group One racing in the $1 million T J Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 21.

Pride said Liverpool City Cup flop Neeson would trial before racing again.

"He'll have an ECG and if that is clear he will have a barrier trial in two weeks," he said.

"I have had horses come through similar problems before without any issue."

As for Randwick Guineas day on Saturday, Pride is resigned to being a bit player.

"I might have a couple of runners (Sienna Red and Rubinacci) in the Aspiration Quality but that's about it," he said.

"I fired off all of my bullets last weekend."