Coolmore empire benefits as Derby winner is retired

Highlighting the fickleness of Flat racing, Pour Moi – who came from last to first to win the Epsom Derby under teenage jockey Mickael Barzalona – suffered a severe overreach to his near-fore fetlock.

The Andre Fabre-trained colt, who has not raced since Epsom, was immediately withdrawn from the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 2 and will become part of the Coolmore breeding empire.

“He badly over-reached himself on his off-fore and I’m afraid he won’t run again. It’s difficult to mend,” said Fabre.

“What he did at Epsom was amazing, to go from last to first. For a horse to get there so easily, the turn of foot he showed was a sign of great ability. I have never trained a middle-distance horse that had such acceleration.”

Of the injury, Fabre went on: “When it was scanned you could see what the damage was. It was deeper than we thought. I’m sure he will be a super sire.”

Betfred make the Aidan O’Brien-trained So You Think the new favourite for the Arc at 4-1, with King George winner Nathaniel and last year’s Longchamp victor Workforce cut to 9-2 from 5-1.

Meanwhile, Johnston’s Namibian, a Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood winner, remains in intensive care following surgery for colic.

Although Johnston said the three-year-old colt is “back on his feet”, he will not be seen for the rest of the season – including next month’s St Leger.

“He has undergone major abdominal surgery and part of his bowel has been bypassed,” explained the Middleham trainer.

“He will remain under intensive care for a few days, at least, and we must now hope that there are no complications. Whatever happens, he will not be racing again this year.”

A CRACK at the Prix de l’Abbaye could be next for Tangerine Trees after his game all-the-way success in the Listed Beverley Bullet Stakes at the East Yorkshire track. Trainer Bryan Smart has the Group One at Longchamp on October 2 in mind for the six-year-old after he bounced back to form in this Listed race – despite giving weight all-round.

Powering up the stands rail, he had Duchess Dora and Dinkum Diamond in close proximity through the final furlong, but was not for passing.

Tangerine Trees (10-1) was having his first run since finishing last of 19 in the King Stand’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“That was some performance. I’m really delighted. My worry was the 7lb penalty,” said North Yorkshire-based Smart.

“We’ve had a few niggly problems with him, but we’ve ironed them out now.

“I must give credit to Tom Eaves. He was determined to get that rail early on. That was a right performance and our 60th winner of the year. Things are going grand.

“He’s in the Abbaye. I’ll talk to the owner but we might as well place him in that. We’ll keep him fresh for that.”

North Yorkshire trainer Paul Midgley enjoyed a 24-1 double with Polish World and Cool In The Shade.

GRAND National-winning jockey Jason Maguire hopes to return to action this week after being airlifted to hospital following a fall at Cartmel on Saturday.

His agent, Chris Broad, said yesterday: “He’s stiff and sore, but thankfully there’s nothing broken.

“He’ll probably just have a few days off now, which is as good an outcome as we could have expected.”

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