Owner-breeder Mandy Gunn was responsible for the breeding of two of those horses in White Hawk and Glass Warrior, who each had their final career start in last month's Group 3 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup.
"I was extremely teary on Launceston Cup Day as I knew that was going to be White Hawk's last run," Mandy said.
"I didn't know it was going to be Glass Warrior's last run, we were going to run her in the St Leger, but she just had a slight soreness in the shoulder and John (Blacker, trainer) said no, she's just been too good to us," added Mandy, with White Hawk running fourth and Glass Warrior eighth in this year's Launceston Cup.
2022 Devonport Cup winner White Hawk and Glass Warrior often clashed in feature races, perhaps most famously in the 2021 Launceston Cup which was won by Glass Warrior in a three-way photo finish that included White Hawk and Sh'Bourne Renegade.
White Hawk was trained by Mandy's sister Angela Brakey, and while for most owners having two horses in the finish of a Group 3 feature would be a point of envy, Mandy says the ultimate result was bittersweet.
"It was hard watching because Ange thought White Hawk had won as he was on the inside.
"I see my sister being really proud but also going so close to winning a big race, but then my other horse wins so there was a whole range of emotions."
In retirement Mandy said that White Hawk will "either be a very special grandpa" or would be a great eventer as he still loves work and retires a sound horse.
Glass Warrior will now become a broodmare.
"One of the great things now will be trying to find a match for Glass Warrior.
"I love the challenge of trying to find a partner to suit the horse and not just do it for commercial reasons," said Mandy who runs Motree Thoroughbreds in the north-east of Tasmania.
Glass Warrior wasn't the only favourite within the Longford stables of John Blacker to call time on his career, with 2019 Listed Conquering Stakes winner Blaze Forth running his final race in Launceston last week.
The 10YO amassed more than $436,000 in prize money across an 86-start career that boasted a victory over superstar Mystic Journey in the 2021 Ladbrokes Stakes.
