Shock injury forces unbeaten Bow Echo into premature retirement

Top-class European colt Bow Echo has been retired from racing through injury after completing an unbeaten six-start career with three Group 1 victories.

The three-year-old won the 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes, with his victory over Gstaad at Goodwood now his final race.

Bow Echo had been under consideration for Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in France before his shock retirement was confirmed.

In a statement, his trainer George Boughey said: “It has been the honour of a lifetime to train Bow Echo. He has given us some extraordinary days and taken everyone involved on a journey we will never forget.

“To retire unbeaten, having won the 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes says everything about what an exceptional racehorse he has been.”

Boughey added: “Bow Echo’s remarkable story began with his owner-breeder, the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, and it is a great sadness that he was not here to see what a lifetime of breeding was able to produce.

“We will all miss seeing Bow Echo at home and on the racecourse, but we are incredibly excited for his next chapter and in time, to see a new generation of his progeny on the racecourse.

“Bow Echo’s unbelievable constitution and extraordinary ability have set him apart.”

Bow Echo is only the sixth horse in Pattern history to complete the 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes treble in the same season, with Frankel the last to achieve the feat in 2012.

The son of Night Of Thunder began his career with a four-and-a-half-length win at Newbury before claiming the Listed Ascendant Stakes and Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes.

He then won the 2,000 Guineas before defeating Gstaad again in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes.

Liam O’Rourke, director of studs, stallions and breeding for Godolphin and Darley, said: “While it is very disappointing that we will not get to see Bow Echo on a racecourse again, he has been an outstanding flagbearer for his champion sire Night Of Thunder and is no doubt one of the most exciting stallions to retire to stud in recent years.

“Although his injury will prevent him from running again, he is otherwise in great health and we are immensely proud of all his achievements.

“Our thanks must go to George Boughey and all the team at Craven House, who have handled him superbly throughout his remarkable career.”