Trainer Charlie Appleby has confirmed that 2018 Epsom Derby champion Masar has been retired following a disappointing run at Newmarket.
The colt of New Approach carried the royal blue silks of Godolphin to success in the Classic before a leg injury curtailed the rest of his season.
That had followed a third place finish in the 2018 running of the 2,000 Guineas behind Saxon Warrior.
Masar recovered from a bad start at the stalls to finish fifth in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last month but trailed home sixth when favourite in last week’s Princess of Wales’s Stakes.
He was expected to be an entry for the upcoming Sky Bet at York but Appleby says Godolphin have now made the decision to retire him to stud.
"After deep discussions with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the decision has been made to retire Masar.
"He's a horse who has given us many great days, including a day at Epsom last June that none of us will ever forget.
"From a personal point of view, he was my first Classic winner - and while it will be sad to see him leave the yard, we have to do what is the right thing for the horse, and I'm pleased he's retiring form racing fit and well."
