The curtain has come down on the racing career of a stakes winner on both sides of the Tasman.

Trainer Shaun Ritchie has confirmed the retirement of the Sir Peter Vela-owned five-year-old Atacama.

The Pentire mare won seven of her 23 starts, including last year’s Listed Matamata Cup before she was sent to Melbourne where she triumphed in the Listed Cup Day Plate at Flemington.

Atacama finished fourth in both the Gr.1 NZ Breeders’ Stakes and the Gr.2 Travis Stakes at her two most recent starts.

“She’s had feet problems and she wasn’t quite finishing her races off so the decision was made to retire her,” Ritchie said.

-Courtesy of NZ Racing Desk