Canadian champ Gandria retired

TORONTO, Ontario - , who was Canada's champion 3-year-old filly in 1999, has been retired, owner Jurgen Schemmer announced Friday.

Gandria, who suffered a suspensory injury, was sent to the farm earlier this month and will become part of the Arosa broodmare band. Breeding arrangements have not been finalized.

Racing for Schemmer's Arosa Farm and trainer Jim Cheadle, Gandria defeated Woodcarver in Fort Erie's 1999 Prince of Wales Stakes after running second to that colt in Woodbine's Queen's Plate.

An Ontario-bred by Green Dancer out of the Vice Regent mare, Regent's Paradise, Gandria was purchased for $60,000 at the Canadian Breeders' Sales select yearling sale at Woodbine and earned $694,004 with a record of six wins, five seconds and four thirds from 23 starts.

She also won the Algoma at Woodbine and finished second there in Grade 3 Canadian, Maple Leaf, Star Shoot, and Fury.

Her third-place finishes came in the Grade 1 at Alabama at Saratoga; Woodbine's Grade 3 Durham and Eclipse handicaps, both against males, and Woodbine's June 17 Ontario Matron, the last start of her career.

Last year, Gandria was a close second to Saoirse in the Sovereign Award voting for top older filly or mare.

"She's been the highlight of my career," said Cheadle, from his Woodbine office Friday. "I'm looking forward to her babies."

Schemmer and Cheadle will be represented in this year's running of the Prince of Wales, which takes place Sunday, by the filly Asia.