Coolmore's Halfway to Heaven, Moonstone retired

Aidan O'Brien has confirmed the retirement of two of this year's European

classic winners, HALFWAY TO HEAVEN (Ire) (Pivotal) and MOONSTONE (Dalakhani).

Both had been considered possible for next month's international meet at Sha Tin

in Hong Kong, but will instead begin new careers in the paddocks.

"We have decided to retire Halfway to Heaven and Moonstone and, as the season

is almost over, we won't be having any more (Group 1) runners this year,"

O'Brien told the Racing Post.

Halfway to Heaven bagged three Group 1 successes this year with scores in the

Irish One Thousand Guineas at The Curragh, the Nassau S. at Goodwood and the Sun

Chariot S. at Newmarket. Moonstone enjoyed her day in the sun with victory in

the Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) at The Curragh, part of O'Brien's clean sweep of all

five Irish classics. She was also second in the Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1).

Breeding plans are yet to be determined. Purchased for

€450,000 as a yearling, Halfway to Heaven

posted a career mark of 9-4-2-2 and earnings of $944,933. A 700,000 guineas

yearling acquisition, Moonstone heads to the breeding shed with a record of

6-1-2-0 and earnings of $611,999.