Modern-day staying great Tornado Tears has retired after sustaining a wrist injury.

In an end to a ‘whirlwind’ career, Tornado Tears – dubbed “Batman” due to his distinctive mask-like facial features – departs the racing scene a six-time Group 1 winner.

The ageless staying monarch, trained by Robert Britton, is also a member of the sport’s exclusive ‘million-dollar club’. He sits seventh on the all-time stakes list, having amassed $1,003,835.

Tornado Tears was also crowned the 2018/19 Victorian Stayer of the Year. And a glowing accolade was being hailed a contemporary equivalent of the “Warrnambool Warrior” – four-time G1 Sandown Cup winner (1986-89), Bold Trease.

During his lengthy reign, Tornado Tears (Feb ’16 Fernando Bale x Tears Siam) raced on 69 occasions for 35 wins, eight seconds and six thirds.

Highlights were his G1 ‘staying sextet’: 2020 Topgun Stayers, 2019 Bold Trease, 2019 Zoom Top, 2018 National Distance Championship, 2018 Albion Park Gold Cup and 2018 Sandown Cup.

He was also runner-up in both the 2019 G1 Galaxy and 2019 G1 National Distance Championship.

The King has abdicated… Long live the King!