Smarty Jones has run last race
Flat racing may not have seen the last of George Duffield and Keith Dalgleish, but American racing is bidding farewell to one of its biggest stars in years after Smarty Jones was retired last night.
Smarty Jones, who has captured the imagination of millions of American punters with his rags-to-riches march to glory this year, has been retired to stud because connections feel that persistent bruising in his ankles has finally got the better of him.
The bright chestnut, partnered by Stewart Elliott, ran away with the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in the spring and, having failed by just a length to complete the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes in June, was being prepared for a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park in October.
However, the risk of further injury and the lure of a $39m syndication to stud has proved too strong for owner Pat Chapman.
She said: "It's a very difficult decision, but if anything else would have happened it would have broken out hearts."
Meanwhile, Duffield has refuted any suggestion that almost 40 years in the saddle have come to an end because of a persistent shoulder problem, but a scan with a York specialist on Friday will be crucial in assessing whether he will recover sufficiently to return to the job he loves.
Dalgleish has been keeping a low profile since informing his boss Mark Johnston that his long-running weight problems have finally got the better of him over the weekend.
However, the Scotsman's friend and colleague Robert Winston feels that time and a chance to reflect could enable him to resume a highly successful career which is currently in danger of being over at the tender age of 21.
"Keith seemed calm but was deeply upset when I spoke to him, and he told me that he's going to take time out and eat healthily to see how things go," he said.
"He's a growing lad who has shot up in the last year, but given time I wouldn't be surprised if he gets it under control."
Looking ahead, battle plans for some of the best horses in
Europe are gradually being put together on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Dermot Weld has confirmed that his Irish Derby hero Grey Swallow is on course to clash with the mighty Doyen in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on 11 September. Weld is also looking forward to seeing last year's Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle make his seasonal debut in the Royal Whip at the Curragh on Sunday, while Marcus Tregoning is eyeing either Newbury's Geoffrey Freer Stakes or York's International Stakes for Mubtaker.
