No Half Measures bows out following Champions Sprint run

Richard Hughes feels No Half Measures has done herself proud after running her last race in the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot.

The four-year-old was the toast of the yard when winning the July Cup at Newmarket in the summer, a first success at Group One level for Hughes as a trainer after plenty in the saddle during an exalted career.

Her next run came in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, another Group One, but she could only come home in ninth place after a troubled passage through the race.

At Ascot she was a 28-1 chance under Neil Callan and though not returning to winning ways, she still ran with great credit to finish fourth when beaten only a length and three-quarters in a field of 19.

“We were thrilled with the run, we might have been a little bit unfortunate that it didn’t come up soft like other years because she will go on soft ground,” said Hughes.

“She still ran very well and proved that it was no fluke at Newmarket, it justified her.

“She had a terrible trip at Haydock but we had just had to put a line through that, she bounced out of it and proved that she is a Group One filly.

“We were really pleased with the run, that’s her last run and she’ll go off to the breeding sheds now so she’s gone out on a high.

“She’s a filly we’ll never forget, that’s for sure.”