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Retirement looms for the well-performed mare Annie Higgins and trainer Lance Noble is hoping for a perfect end to her career at Ellerslie next week.
The dual Group Three winner of the Waikato and Counties Cups is likely to make her final raceday appearance when she steps out in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup on March 5.
“It’s probably going to be her last run and after that I think she’ll go to the broodmare paddock,” Noble said.
“She’s cherry ripe and I hope she can go out on a high note – she’s been a very good mare.”Annie Higgins was a last-start sixth in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup and had previously finished strongly for fifth in the Gr.2 City of Auckland Cup and fourth in the defence of her Waikato Cup title.
“She’s been racing consistently except for the Wellington Cup and that was a little bit disappointing the way the race was run,” Noble said.
“Apart from that she’s been solid and relaxing and hitting the line well.”
Annie Higgins will also be reunited in the Auckland Cup with Leith Innes, who rode the O’Reilly mare to her Counties and Waikato Cup wins and a runner-up finish in last year’s Gr 2 Wellington Cup.
“It’s a big plus having Leith back on, he’s had the most success on her and she’s got a lovely weight with only 53kg.”
The winner of six of her 30 starts for breeder-owner Marie Leicester, Annie Higgins is currently rated a $12 chance for the cup. Runaway Avondale Cup winner Who Shot Thebarman is the dominant $2.60 favourite.