Al Shaqab’s racing manager Harry Herbert has confirmed that 2016 QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold has been retired.
The four-year-old suffered an injury during the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury earlier this month and connections have decided to call it a day.
He enjoyed a strong start to the 2016 campaign before finishing fifth in his last two outings under jockey Frankie Dettori.
Connections had been hoping his latest setback was not a major blow but Herbert has now confirmed the decision to retire the son of Paco Boy.
“It’s a great shame, real sadness all round,” he told reporters. “It’s a soft-tissue injury that meant we couldn’t carry on with his career at this stage of the season. It’s very sad.
“His run in the Lockinge was very disappointing, but obviously in the cold light of day there’s a reason for it. It’s a shame we couldn’t go on with his career because the horse has absolutely exploded from three to four.
“He has been a terrific flag-bearer for Al Shaqab and provided us with our first Classic winner and of course it was a wonderful season with the St James’s Palace Stakes victory as well, plus a second in Ireland (Irish 2,000 Guineas) and a great run in the Sussex Stakes.
“All credit to Hugo Palmer and his team, who have done such a fantastic job with him.”
