The Mike de Kock-trained three-time Gr 1-winning sprinter Alboran Sea has been retired after sustaining a knee chip when running second in Saturday’s Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint and will be covered by another former De Kock-trained star Soft Falling Rain in the forthcoming breeding season.
De Kock said that the connections of Australian-bred three-year-old Alboran Sea would not be considering operating on the knee and bringing her back to racing.

Firstly, her local record, in which she won the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m as a two-year-old and two weight for age Gr 1 Sprints over 1000m this season, the Betting World Cape Flying Championship and the Computaform Sprint, could hardly be improved upon and any further wins would not increase her already high stud value. Secondly, an overseas campaign has been ruled out due to the arduous five month journey via Mauritius and Europe that has to be undertaken to campaign horses in places like Dubai.

De Kock said he had suspected something had been amiss on Saturday when the Rock Of Gibraltar filly had not gone through with her effort in her normal fashion. She had been in a position to challenge the eventual winner Carry On Alice, but had made little impression and only just managed to hold on for second, which was still a fine effort considering she had to come from an unfavourable high draw. 

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