Weld’s mare Tarnawa retired to paddock

DERMOT WELD’S high-class mare Tarnawa has been retired to the paddocks.

Three times a winner at the highest level, the Aga Khanowned and bred five-year-old attempted to repeat her victory of 12 months ago in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last weekend, but finished down the field from a wide draw. She will be remembered as one of the best mares of recent years and came agonisingly close this season to winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the very few major Flat races in Europe still to elude Weld.

She retires having won nine of her 18 races and almost £3.5million in prize money.

Pat Downes, manager of the

Aga Khan’s studs in Ireland, said: “She got back on Wednesday and we’d had a chat since the race on Saturday, we decided it was time to retire her now and welcome her to the broodmare brand.

“She’s been an absolute star over four seasons. She has been so consistent and seldom let us down when she raced. This year, I suppose, was a bit frustrating – but in defeat she has run some tremendous races and the Arc maybe took a bit more out of her than we might have realised.

“Going to Del Mar, coupled with the trip over there, just might have taken the edge off her. But she has been a tremendous mare for us.

“I suppose last year’s Breeders’ Cup would be a highlight, but going to France and winning the two Group Ones was a highlight as well.

“She didn’t win her first Group One until last year but, as a three-year-old, she won Group Threes and a Group Two and was such a consistent filly. It was a great pleasure mapping out a campaign for her.

“She was one of those fillies that rarely ever let us down, and they are rare.”