Shamardal retired

Dual classic winner SHAMARDAL (Giant's Causeway), last year's champion

two-year-old in Europe, has been retired, according to a statement on

Godolphin's website. The sophomore colt was set to compete in Saturday's Coral

Eclipse (Eng-G1) at Sandown, where he was expected to face Vodafone Derby

(Eng-G1) winner and fellow three-year-old star Motivator (Montjeu [Ire]).

Kentucky-bred Shamardal, a winner in six of seven starts and unbeaten on

turf, was diagnosed with an osteochondral fracture fragment in his right fore

fetlock, according to the website.

“It is very disappointing that this injury has occurred," trainer Saeed bin

Suroor said. “We were looking forward so much to running him against

Motivator and the others in the Eclipse. He would have had a great chance in the

race as he was in tremendous form.

“Shamardal was a great racehorse -- he won three Group 1 races this year,"

bin Suroor continued. “The first two were classics and then he won very easily

at York in the St James's Palace S. (Eng-G1). He is one of the best horses Godolphin has had."

Trained by Mark Johnston during his two-year-old season, Shamardal was

untouched in three starts, breaking his maiden by eight lengths at Ayr in July.

He then captured the Vintage S. (Eng-G2) at Goodwood, defeating subsequent

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Wilko (Awesome Again) in the process. After

that came a 2 1/2-length score in the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1).

Godolphin originally planned to try the American classics with Shamardal, but

a disappointing ninth-place finish on the dirt in the UAE Derby (UAE-G2)

canceled those intentions. Back on his preferred surface, the colt proceeded to

win the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1), the

Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1) and then the St James's.

In a brief but remarkable career, Shamardal earned $1,931,770.

Shamardal is out of the stakes-placed Machiavellian mare Helsinki (GB), a

full sister to 2002 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Street Cry (Ire). At last

year's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Helsinki sold for $3.9 million

while in foal to Cherokee Run. Just moments later, her weanling filly by

Unbridled's Song fetched a bid of $1.15 million.

Final stud plans for Shamardal are forthcoming.