MOHAATHER RETIRED
Stable star Mohaather has been retired after significant bone bruising was diagnosed in his near hind fetlock.
The news comes less than a month after his breathtaking triumph in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood when he displayed searing acceleration in beating a top class field which included the winners of this year’s English and Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Marcus Tregoning has always had the utmost faith in the four year old colt and was aiming him at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot before a possible tilt at the Breeders’ Cup mile.
But injury has put paid to those plans and now Mohaather is set for a new career at stud.
He has been trained with a rare sureness of touch by Tregoning who showed great patience in bringing him to a brilliant peak this summer after he was on the sidelines for much of last year with another significant injury.
Tregoning was quick to pay tribute to the best horse he has trained since his move to Whitsbury.
He said “Mohaather was exceptional, a lovely horse to train, easy at home, and gave his best every time – a dream come true.
“The injury is such a shame because we would love to train him next year. He was such an exciting horse but now he has to go to father lots of fast children, hopefully.
“It would be nice if we could get one or two of them but time marches on and we have to find the next one. Hopefully we will.”
Angus Gold, Racing manager to Mohaather’s owner Sheikh Hamdan, praised Tregoning and his staff in a statement released today.
He said “On behalf of Sheikh Hamdan I would like to thank Marcus and his team for the outstanding job they did with Mohaather.
“It was noticed at the end of last week that the colt was not moving as well as he had immediately after the Sussex Stakes.
“Precautionary X rays taken over the weekend revealed severe stone bruising in his near hind fetlock joint which will put paid to the rest of this campaign.
“As a result Sheikh Hamdan has taken the decision to retire the colt who won Group races at two, three and four. What is sad is that he will not get the chance to take on the milers in the QE11 and Breeders’ Cup”.
