A Victorian stalwart could be racing for his career in Friday’s Golden Topaz at Swan Hill.
The $175,000 feature could be the finale for nine-year-old sprinter Inn Keeper if he failed to improve on his poor effort in last month’s Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool.
Inn Keeper had won the Wangoom Handicap in 2021 and placed in another two editions of the race but finished 29 lengths from the winner Outlaws Revenge this year.
Inn Keeper has also won the Golden Topaz, prevailing in 2018, but will have his fifth crack at the event on the first day of Swan Hill’s three-day carnival.
Trainer Symon Wilde said Inn Keeper hasn’t been the same since a fruitless trip to Sydney last winter.
The wet-tracker failed to beat a runner home in two runs and his form hasn’t improved since.
Wilde said the Golden Topaz would play a big part in connections deciding whether to retire the rising 10-year-old.
“We’re deciding on his future a bit,” Wilde said.
“He ran second in the Wangoom last year and we took him to Sydney but he just hated it.
“He came back and we haven’t been able to resurrect him since then.”
Trainer Symon Wilde could call time on the career of veteran sprinter Inn Keeper if the gelding fails to improve in Friday’s Golden Topaz at Swan Hill. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images
Wilde said Inn Keeper remained sound despite his 46-start career, which has yielded nine wins and more than $500,000 in stakes, but his form has dipped in the last 12 months.
TAB has Inn Keeper as a $61 chance in early betting on the Golden Topaz.
However, heavy rain at Swan Hill has left the track as a Heavy 10 for Inn Keeper’s crucial contest.
“Structurally he is very good but I just don’t know about him,” Wilde said.
“We thought if it was wet, we’ll give him a run there and he’ll probably need to show something or he’ll be retired.
“However he goes, he’s done a great job.”
Jarrod Fry will have his first race ride on Inn Keeper in the Golden Topaz.