Ligament injury forces Tinto into retirement with talented galloper to go under hammer at broodmare sale

QUEENSLAND Oaks winner Tinto has been retired and will be put up for sale at the May-June Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Damian Browne guides Tinto to victory in the Magic Millions Stayers Cup. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

QUEENSLAND Oaks winner Tinto has been retired and will be put up for sale at the May-June Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Tinto suffered a small tear in a medial ligament in her fetlock after running seventh in last Saturday’s George Ryder Stakes.

She was being readied for a start in either the Queen Elizabeth or Queen Of the Turf Stakes at The Championships next month.

Tinto won seven times for earnings of almost $1.5 million.

After winning the 2014 Queensland Oaks, she was a two-times winner of the Magic Millions Trophy (1800m) and was also second in last year’s Group 2 Villiers.

She was raced by Eureka Stud’s Grania McAlpine and her close friend Annabel Raff.

McAlpine’s husband Scott said it was a difficult decision to sell, rather than retaining her to breed from.

“Annabel wasn’t overly keen on breeding from her and Grania was a little bit the same,” McAlpine said.

“They have both had such a wonderful run with her on the racetrack with the money she has won and they decided to cash in and see what the market thinks she’s worth as a broodmare.”

McAlpine said it was a possibility Eureka Stud would buy her back if she didn’t make a “fair price” at auction.

Tinto’s success was synonymous with the late Tim Bell, who partnered her in four of her wins, including the Oaks.

Tinto and the late Tim Bell combine to win the Queensland Oaks in 2014. Picture: Jono Searle

Originally published as Ligament injury forces Tinto into retirement with talented galloper to go under hammer at broodmare sale