Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who was favourite for Saturday's G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S., has been retired from racing after suffering a minor injury. He will stand next season at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland.
“It's a huge shame as we were really looking forward to Saturday and confirming him to be the champion that he is,” said Starman's trainer Ed Walker.
“I've always thought he was the best around and he's certainly the best I've ever trained.”
Bred and raced by David Ward, the 4-year-old has enjoyed a successful season, with his standout victory coming in the G1 Darley July Cup. He also won the G2 Clipper Logistics Duke of York S. on his seasonal debut and has been placed in both the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 Betfair Sprint Cup. That last run at Haydock saw him beaten just a short-head when second to Emaraty Ana (GB).
Currently rated the top sprinter in Europe, Starman is a son of the Montjeu (Ire) mare Northern Star (Ire), a winner over 10 furlongs in Ward's colours and the dam of two multiple winners. He won his first three starts as a 3-year-old, including the listed Garrowby S., and retires with earnings of £476,380.
He joins a strong roster of stallions at the O'Callaghan family's Tally-Ho Stud led by Kodiac (GB), who is backed up by the promising young sires Mehmas (Ire), Galileo Gold (GB) and Cotai Glory (GB). Yet to have their first runners are Kessaar (Ire) and Inns Of Court (Ire).
“We are grateful to Ed Sackville for arranging the deal for Starman to stand at Tally-Ho and we are delighted to welcome a horse of his calibre,” said Roger O'Callaghan. “He's a really high-class horse that caught everybody's attention this year.”
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