Saxon Warrior battles no more
INJURY: THE REASON WHY IT’S THE END OF THE LINE FOR SAXON WARRIOR
Alpha Centauri set to enjoy a successful career as a broodmare.
Two stars of the European racing circuit – Alpha Centauri and Saxon Warrior have been retired after big-race defeats at the weekend. Filly Alpha Centauri chipped a fetlock in her shock loss to Laurens in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
That ended a magnificent run of Group 1 wins for the Jessica Harrington-trained daughter of Mastercraftsman – which began with the Irish 1000 Guineas and took in the Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois.
Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos family, said: “Unfortunately the decision has been taken to retire Alpha Centauri on veterinary advice and on consultation with Jessie.
“She had a chip in her right front fetlock, which you could see her feeling in the closing stages yesterday.
“It’s not a catastrophic injury and hopefully she can enjoy a successful career as a broodmare.”
Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s English 2000 Guineas hero Saxon
Warrior has been retired following a tendon injury sustained in the Irish Champion Stakes.
The Deep Impact colt narrowly came off second best in a titanic battle with his old rival Roaring Lion at Leopardstown on Saturday.
He emerged as a top-class colt when winning the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster at the end of last season, before reappearing with his Classic success in May.
Sent off as odds-on favourite for the Derby, he could only finish fourth and was then beaten in the Irish equivalent.
He ran much better when second in the Coral-Eclipse to Roaring Lion, but was then badly hit by the infamous virus in O’Brien’s yard in the summer.
Down the field in the Juddmonte International on his first run back, a race also won by Roaring Lion, he improved markedly, but was yet again behind John Gosden’s colt.
O’Brien said: “He badly damaged a tendon in the race, which was a pity, and when he came home last night we wrapped him up.
“When we looked at him
this morning his tendon wasn’t in a good place. There’s a tear in there and it’s a big pity. “Coming into this year we thought he was a horse with a chance to win the Triple Crown.”
According to O’Brien, the plan was to bring Saxon Warrior for three races after he shrugged off the virus.
“He was just ready to start back at York and we wanted to run him yesterday [Saturday] and then back at a mile at Ascot.
“It’s probably my fault, I probably should have kept him at a mile.” – www.sportinglife.com