Never Been Kissed Retired for Breeding

The former Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Never Been Kissed (Tivaci-Movie, by Savabeel), a winner of the Gr1 Flight Stakes, has run her final race and will be retired to stud. Bred and raced by Mark and Gary Chittick's Waikato Stud, the 3YO filly made a winning debut at Hawkesbury before three starts later winning the Flight Stakes where she became the first elite level winner for her young sire. In her Flight victory, Never Been Kissed defeated Hinged (Worthy Cause) and Startantes (Star Turn), with both of those placed fillies later franking the form and winning the Gr1 Surround Stakes and Gr1 Tattersall's Tiara respectively. Ending her Spring campaign in the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), Never Been Kissed finished second to high-profile colt Profondo (Deep Impact). With a further four runs during the Autumn, Never Been Kissed retires with three wins and two placed efforts from nine starts, she's set to head for a covering with Arrowfield Stud's exciting Japanese shuttler Maurice (Screen Hero), the sire of this season's Gr1 winners Hitotsu and Mazu. Covering 156 mares last season at a fee of $44,000 (inc GST) Maurice will stand this season for $82,500 (inc GST), with the price hike clearly representing the deeds of his progeny on the track.

Never Been Kissed (outside) claims the Gr1 Flight Stakes (pic: Steve Hart)