Legendary Camelot Retires

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The 2012 Derby winner Camelot, who narrowly missed out on racing's Triple Crown last year, has been retired.

Owners Coolmore Stud said the colt, who also won the 2,000 Guineas before coming second to Encke in the St Leger at Doncaster, will start a breeding career in 2014.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He was the perfect racehorse, a beautiful horse with a terrific action.

"Speed, class and a super-intelligent horse to go with it - he had it all."

The four-year-old would have been the first horse since Nijinksy in 1970 to win the three English Classics in one season and claim the elusive Triple Crown.

Following the St Leger, Camelot finished down the field in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

He was then struck down with a bad bout of colic and although he returned to win a Group Three race at the Curragh, he finished behind Al Kazeem in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

A fourth place finish in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June - again behind Al Kazeem - was the son of Montjeu's final outing.

O'Brien added: "Unfortunately we never saw the same brilliance on the racecourse as we had done before his colic operation, but he was showing signs of it at home in recent weeks so it's obviously disappointing that he won't get the opportunity to run again."

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Tales of Camelot Continue at Curragh

Odds on favourite Camelot maintained his unbeaten record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh - but was given a scare by Born To Sea.

Aidan O'Brien was winning the Classic for a remarkable seventh successive season and his latest star colt was always cantering under the trainer's son Joseph.

However when he was let down over a furlong out he jinked left and Johnny Murtagh attacked aboard the eventual runner-up.

For a stride or two he looked a genuine threat but Camelot soon had his measure and went on to win with authority by two lengths.

The winning trainer said: "We really felt it wasn't the right thing (to run on this ground) but he's a great horse.

"He's a real fast ground horse. We appreciate all the hard work everyone's put in, the sponsors, The Curragh - I can't say how thrilled we are to be part of it. It doesn't get any better than this. These are days you can't dream of.

"I never would have believed it could ever happen. He's by far the best we've had - we've never had anything like this.

"He had the speed to win the Guineas, the class to win the Derby and then he had to have class, courage and stamina to win today. Obviously the lads will speak about the Triple Crown now, wouldn't it be something to dream about?"