Champion filly retires to stud

Petrushka, the champion three-year-old filly of last year, injured herself at Epsom last week and has been retired. She will be sold as a broodmare at the autumn sales, either at Keeneland in Novemberor at Tattersalls, Newmarket in December.

After disappointing in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday it was found that Petrushka had suffered a strain to her right fore tendon.

Harry Herbert, managing director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, owners of the filly, said: “This obviously explains her Coronation Cup running which was too bad to be true.

“It is a bitter blow, not only for her shareowners in Highclere’s Library syndicate, but also for Sir Michael Stoute and his team who have done such a fantastic job in directing her racing career.”

Petrushka won her only race as a two-year-old at Leicester. She kicked off the following year with an impressive show in Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket. She went onto win three consecutive Group 1’s, the Irish Oaks at The Curragh, the Yorkshire Oaks at York and the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp.

Herbert added: “Petrushka is very correct individual with an awesome pedigree. Fillies like this don’t come around very often. She looks sure to make a tremendous impact as a broodmare.”