Dual Derby winner Australia retired injured

News just out but not much details yet

They say some sort of hoof problem, will add an article later

Ugh. So next week's Qipco has been dampened.

Bloody hell, sorry for connections and racing public

From sporting life


Kevin Buckley, UK representative for Coolmore, told Channel 4 Racing: "Unfortunately Australia developed a problem in his right-hind hoof during the week.

"Following consultation between the resident farrier at Ballydoyle, our vet, John Halley, and the respective owners, the decision was made yesterday to retire him to Coolmore.''

Described by trainer Aidan O'Brien as the best horse he has ever trained, Australia earned over £2m in prize-money during a superb career which yielded five victories from eight starts.

The three-year-old announced himself as a major player in a Group Three at Leopardstown in September 2013, when he accounted for Free Eagle by six lengths.

A narrow third upon his return to action in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, he went on to claim victories in the Epsom and Irish Derby, after which he won the Juddmonte International at York.

His tall reputation was, however, slightly tarnished in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last month when York runner-up The Grey Gatsby gained his revenge in a dramatic race.

Australia would nonetheless have been one of the star attractions on Champions Day next weekend, but Buckley was adamant the Ballydoyle team could not afford to take any risks at this stage of his career.

He said: "We were all looking forward to it (going to Ascot), but, as you can appreciate, any type of setback like that jeopardises the training regime.

"Hence we had to take that decision he wouldn't be ready for the Champion Stakes."

David O'Loughlin, Coolmore director of sales, added: "Australia nearly won the best Guineas in the modern era. He's probably quicker than Galileo."

Really sad to hear, one of the best 3year olds I've seen.. Although injury is one of those things and cudnt be prevented, I think, I believe he would have soared to greater heights this campaign, got out jockey'd by Moore in irish champ stakes, rumours of Moore being lined up an offer to be main jockey for ballydoyle and coolmore, after JP's Gleneagle F* up.. Aus and moore that was a partnership I was waiting to see.. But now will never happen..

@ Gilz. What did JP do on Gleneagle?

@ Mac .. Gleneagles had the field beaten, JP had his whip in the wrong hand and squeezed two runners on the inside instead of switching his whip, although gleneagles had them beaten got relegated to 3rd..