Andrasch Starke, Germany's most successful jockey and who also claimed numerous big-race successes on the international stage, has announced his retirement aged 52.
Starke's finest moment in the saddle came when guiding Danedream to victory in the 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). The following year he teamed up with the same filly to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot.
A 10-time champion jockey in Germany, Starke retires with 2,853 wins, of which eight came in the Deutsches Derby (G1) and three in the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1), Germany's two most prestigious contests.
However, it was his partnership with Danedream that took the rider to the highest heights during his career. Trained by Peter Schiergen for owner Gestut Burg Eberstein, and later Teruya Yoshida, Danedream was a five-time group 1 winner and thumped Shareta by 5 lengths in the 2011 Arc, with the likes of Snow Fairy, So You Think, St Nicholas Abbey, and Workforce farther behind.
Last year, Starke claimed what proved to be his final victory at the top level when landing the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) on Kamunyak, during a period riding in the country on a short-term license.
The rider's failure to secure a similar contract to ride in Japan between March and May this year was put forward by Starke as the main reason for deciding to call time on his career.
Speaking to Turf-Times, Starke said: "That means my career is over. I'm currently riding out with Henk Grewe and spending a lot of time with my children on weekends. That was always somewhat neglected over the years."
Starke recorded his first win in June 1989 and, alongside his domestic success and major international victories, he was also twice the leading rider in Hong Kong's International Jockeys' Championship and claimed wins at the Shergar Cup.
While the majority of his successes came for the likes of Schiergen, Grewe, and Andreas Schultz, Starke also landed black-type victories for Archie Watson and Sir Mark Prescott during his 37-year career.
