It's hoped that a new career at stud beckons for Sans Frontieres, winner of the Irish Field St Leger in 2010, following his retirement from racing.
Tendon injury ends racing career of Classic hero
Sans Frontieres, the 2010 winner of the Irish Field St Leger, has been retired due to the recurrence of a tendon injury.
The six-year-old entire was being prepared for a return to the track for the first time since his Classic triumph at the Curragh when he sustained his latest setback.
It is hoped a career at stud awaits the son of Galileo.
Owned by Sir Robert Ogden and trained by Jeremy Noseda, he was restricted to just nine starts with his most important successes coming in his last three outings.
He tookk the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket and the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury before his finest hour in Ireland, almost exactly two years ago.
"We have unfortunately had to retire Sans Frontieres," said the owner's racing manager, Barry Simpson.
"We got him very near to a run and he has been in tremendous form recently and working very well, but sadly he has damaged his tendon again.
Potential Stallion
"The good thing is that he is still a colt. He is a triple Group winner and hopefully he will have some future as a potential stallion.
"He is wonderfully-bred by Galileo out of a Shirley Heights mare (Llia), so he may well appeal to one or two of the studs.
"He was 120-rated and never fulfilled his potential.
"It was only when he won three consecutive Group races that he started to show his ability and sadly we have not been able to capitalise on that.
"Nevertheless he has been a terrific horse and a great flag-bearer for Sir Robert.
"He was very lightly-raced, but he had tendon trouble following the Irish St Leger before he was due to go to America for the Breeders' Cup.
"We have brought him back twice and got near to running both times, but sadly this morning he damaged his tendon again and therefore we have no other alternative but to retire him. He has got a future ahead of him, hopefully."
