O’BRIEN PAYS TRIBUTE AS BRAVE WINGS HAS TO QUIT

TRAINER Aidan O’Brien yesterday paid tribute to Investec Derby winner Wings Of Eagles who has been retired after suffering a career-ending injury in the Irish equivalent on Saturday. The surprise 40-1 winner of last month’s Epsom Classic was one of the leading fancies for Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, but was forced to settle for third behind successful stablemate Capri and Cracksman, despite briefly hitting the front inside the final furlong under Ryan Moore. The son of Pour Moi was found to be badly lame yesterday morning and was diagnosed to have sustained a fracture of his left front sesamoid. O’Brien (right) was quick to acknowledge his colt’s bravery. ‘When the lads X-rayed him his sesamoid was completely coming apart so it is incredible that he ran the race he did with that injury,’ he said. ‘You are always worried when a horse pulls out (after a race) and Wings Of Eagles pulled out very sore yesterday. ‘We are all very sorry to lose him as he was a very unusual horse in that he stayed very well, but also quickened very well. It is just one of those things but it’s a real pity. He will now have a pin inserted in his leg, but his racing career is over.’ Ballydoyle was already reeling from the news that talented Somehow has had to be put down. Now they are also facing a race against time to get star filly Minding back on track. The daughter of Galileo hasn’t been seen since winning a Group Two at Naas in May and O’Brien said: ‘John Halley our vet is not happy with Minding and we will leave her alone for another month. We may run out of time with her.’