Darryl \u2018Digger\u2019 McLellan has announced his retirement due to an ongoing shoulder problem.<\/p>\n
The 54-year-old said \u201cit wasn\u2019t the way\u201d he wanted his career to finish but \u201cnot everyone gets to finish on their terms\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shoulder has had enough,\u201d McLellan<\/a> said. \u201cIt\u2019s the same shoulder that forced me to retire last time.\u201d<\/p>\n McLellan suffered the injury to his left shoulder in a 2011 race fall at Newcastle.<\/p>\n His last winner came aboard his second last ride aboard Zelestial<\/a> in a Class 1 Handicap (1400m)<\/a> at Coffs Harbour<\/a> on June 29.<\/p>\n \u2022 PUNT LIKE A PRO<\/a>: Become a Racenet iQ member<\/a> and get expert tips \u2013 with fully transparent return on investment statistics \u2013 from Racenet\u2019s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips<\/a> section. SUBSCRIBE NOW<\/a>!<\/p>\n McLellan admitted his comeback hadn\u2019t played out how he would have liked but he remained grateful to have been able to return to the saddle and ride for another eight years.<\/p>\n \u201cIt didn\u2019t go how I\u2019d hoped but I still rode winners and I\u2019ve very happy that I got to have a career as a jockey,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to dwell on things and now it\u2019s time for the next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Mitch Cohen\u2019s Blackbook: Five to follow from Winter Challenge day at Rosehill<\/a><\/p>\n McLellan\u2019s career started in 1989 and he rode more than 1700 winners including 28 black-type races (two Group 1<\/a>s, seven Group 2<\/a>s, five Group 3<\/a>s and 14 Listed<\/a> races).<\/p>\n \u201cObviously winning my first Group 1 aboard Magic Of Money in The Galaxy<\/a> and the Sydney Cup<\/a> on Henderson Bay were big thrills,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the win that meant the most to be was winning the Newcastle Cup<\/a> on Silent Impact in 2000.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was during the Olympics and it was a stand-alone Saturday meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cI never saw more people at Newcastle than I did that day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Via Sistina, Fangirl, Tom Kitten and others set to ramp up spring prep with Tuesday trials<\/a><\/p>\n In 1992\/93, McLellan was crowned Champion Sydney Apprentice.<\/p>\n Being a natural lightweight rider, McLellan experienced some great opportunities during his career aboard the best horses he ever sat on.<\/p>\n \u201cLonhro and Saintly without a doubt were the best,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI won the Warwick Stakes on Lonhro at three and I got to win a race aboard Saintly at Newcastle early in his career.<\/p>\n I know what a good horse feels like.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Robusto too tough in Winter Challenge as Baker eyes Group 1<\/a><\/p>\n Among his other career highlights, McLellan recalled a horse he believes was a special talent, but his career ended before he got the chance.<\/p>\n \u201cCourt Command could have been something special too,\u201d he said. \u201cHe won the Golden Rose<\/a>, but he was never the same after his spring three-year-old campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cI won the last-ever Peter Pan aboard Sportsman and a few mates were in the ownership so that was a great day, and I also went close in a Doncaster<\/a> aboard Lease. It took Sunline to beat him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you think about it I should have won three more Group 1s.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Peter Pan became the Golden Rose a year later and I won that race twice before it became a Group 1 and the Warwick Stakes is now the Winx Stakes<\/a> and it\u2019s a Group 1 too.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I\u2019ll just tell people I won five.<\/p>\n \u201cI consider myself lucky that I get to retire with some great memories.\u201d<\/p>\n