Wagga trainer Tim Donnelly has revealed his decision to retire Devised after his ninth place finish in Sunday’s $20,000 Cootamundra Cup (1600m).

Devised captured the hearts of racegoers with two huge runs in consecutive Wagga Gold Cups at long odds, only to go down by a nose on both occasions.

It was heart in the mouth stuff in both the 2012 and 2013 editions, where it appeared he may have landed a hometown victory in the Cup.

Donnelly said he will always look back on Devised’s career with a smile, despite the two heartbreaking defeats.

“Absolutely, I’ll remember him for those two Wagga Gold Cups,” Donnelly said.

“It would have been a nice race to win.

“He paid his way though, showed a profit for owners which is the main thing and gave them a lot of fun.”

Devised was purchased for $60,000 from Lloyd Williams and went on to win his new connections $140,000 in earnings.

He won four races for Donnelly, including a Murrumbidgee Cup and Corowa Cup, and ran in four Wagga Gold Cups for two seconds, a fifth and an eighth.

Donnelly said it was not a difficult decision to retire the eight-year-old.

“I would have liked to see him run a bit better (at Cootamundra) to take him to town,” he said.

“He’s looking for 2400 metres now and there’s nothing around here for him.”