MONTMARTRE, brilliant winner of the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris last summer, and favourite for the Arc until injury intervened, has been retired by his owner the Aga Khan.
The career-ending setback was a recurrence of the injury that he sustained when romping home by four lengths from Prospect Wells at Longchamp in July, after which he usurped his Alain de Royer Dupre-trained stablemate Zarkava at the head of the Arc market with some bookmakers, including Ladbrokes and Totesport.
Zarkava went on to win the Arc for the Aga Khan, after which she was retired to stud.
Montmartre, a four-year-old son of Montjeu, raced only five times, winning three and finishing second on his debut.
He first began to look the part when coasting home in the Group 3 Prix du Lys last July, before coming with a storming late run to win the Grand Prix effortlessly. However, in doing so he jarred himself and ultimately never fully recovered.
De Royer-Dupre said: "It is very sad but we had no option. Since his race at Longchamp last July, we have tried everything but there was no solution. Montmartre was one of the exceptional horses to have passed through my hands."
Georges Rimaud, who manages the Aga Khan's breeding operation in France, said: "We will need two or three days before deciding on Montmartre's breeding career. There are a lot of options and we will do what is best for the horse."作者:
何良 時間: 20/2/2009 12:11 AM
