Masar retired to stud
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The Sun Met will be run at Kenilworth Racecourse on 1 February.
– Masar, who last year became the first horse to win the Derby carrying the famous blue silks of Godolphin, has been retired to join the Darley stallion roster, trainer Charlie Appleby revealed on Tuesday.
The son of New Approach, who gave Appleby his first domestic Classic win when overcoming Dee Ex Bee, Roaring Lion and Kew Gardens under William Buick, has failed to match that form in two starts since returning from injury last month.
After finishing an honourable fifth in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot on his return, Masar came home last of six in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket last Thursday.
Appleby said: "First and foremost, Masar has come out his Newmarket race well but after deep discussions with his highness Sheikh Mohammed we have decided to do what's right for the horse and retire him.
"He gave us all an amazing day when winning the Investec Derby, when he was the first to win it in the blue colours and gave me my first domestic Classic win as a trainer. Before that, he had run out a high-class winner of both the Solario and the Craven
London
Stakes.”
He added: "Masar will be sorely missed at Moulton Paddocks but he will be joining another great performer of ours, Blue Point, on the Darley stallion roster in the near future."
Much discussion over the possible retirement of Masar was made at last week's July festival at Newmarket but connections gave it a few days to let the dust settle before making a call.
Appleby said of the four-yearold, who was ridden out most days at home by Brett Doyle: "We would have been chasing our tail with the horse through the rest of the season and he owes us nothing. He achieved the pinnacle of British racing in winning the Derby and his form was high-class from two to three. To come back from the injury he had showed immense courage and all at Godolphin are very proud to be associated with him." – will lead the girls, who were the winning team in 2018. She will be joined by Japanese sensation Nanako Fujita and Australian rider Jamie Kah.
Great Britain and Ireland will be captained by Tadhg O'Shea, with jockeys' title contender Danny Tudhope also set to ride.
Filip Minarik will lead the European team, while further Japanese interest has been added with Yuga Kawada captaining the Rest of the World team.
Nick Smith, director of racing and communications at Ascot said: "The jockey line-up is looking strong, and will be confirmed as soon as retainer commitments are known. We are delighted with the domestic and international line-up.
"In Danny Tudhope, who leads the British jockeys’ championship and rode four winners at Royal Ascot, and in star Japanese jockey Nanako Fujita, who is that nation’s highest-profile female rider ever and winner of the recent Women Jockeys' World Cup at Bro Park in Sweden, we have two of the most 'of the moment' jockeys riding at present."
Regarding the increase in prize-money, Smith added: "Framing races to provide quality horses, appropriate to the quality of riders we invite to ride in the event, is important, and we hope that £60,000 handicaps, in limited fields of 10, with prize-money down to last place, and no entry fees to pay, will add further appeal for owners and trainers." –