Al Kazeem
Roger Charlton with Al Kazeem after his victory at the Curragh in MayThe great Al Kazeem is retired from racing and leaves Beckhampton to go to stud again
Al Kazeem is leaving Roger Charlton's Beckhampton training yard - retired from racing and going to his owner's stud. This will be the second time he has been retired and gone to stud. The first time he proved sub-fertile and returned successfully to Beckampton and to racing.
But in May Al Kazeem suffered an injury when he won the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh - the second time he had won the race. After a month off he got back to cantering and was sound. But his owner John Deer thought it time to retire him.
He was bred at John Deer's Oakgrove Stud near Chepstow - and is now going back there to stand again in 2016.
Al Kazeem was one of the racing world's top middle distance racehorses.
Before his first retirement, Al Kazeem had a string of wins. From May 2012 to July 2013 he won five top-ranking races in a row.
When he returned from stud the seven-year old won two races - including that victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on 24 May 2015.
Roger Charlton said: "At Beckhampton we will miss him greatly. He strides out of his box with tremendous enthusiasm every day."
"He is so honest and never gives up, so much so, that John and I are worried that he may injure himself further in our attempt to bring him back for the Group One Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot."
"He was a pleasure to train, but one can't underestimate the care that goes into looking after a horse like Al Kazeem."
His earnings to date stand at £1,573,596.
You can watch Al Kazeem take his second Tattersalls Gold Cup here - a very thrilling race.
Photo: copyright WBY Horse Racing Photography - by kind permission of Daniel Heap