2000 Guineas winner Makfi retired
This season’s 2000 Guineas winner Makfi will not be seen on a racecourse again, as he has been retired to stud.
Mikel Delzangles’ colt has had an incredible season considering he only cost connections 26,000gns. Despite lacking the consistency to be regarded as one of the stars of 2010 season, Makfi surpassed all expectations by winning the Guineas and then going onto become the only horse to beat Goldikova this season in the Marois at Deauville. However, sandwiched in between those runs were two poor showings at Ascot in the St James Palace Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, where he finished out of the placings on both occasions.
The reasoning behind the retirement are linked to an apparent ringworm problem that the horse picked up after his last race at Ascot, and connections have decided to send him to stud now rather than risk him next season, where his reputation could be affected.
The retirement means he won’t be able to take his place either in the Champion Stakes or the Breeders' Cup Mile, where he was prominent in the betting. Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire will now be Makfi’s home, where he will stand with a covering fee of £25,000.
Delzangles, who had done an incredible job with the colt to reach the lofty heights of Classic success, could not speak any higher of his star.
He told the Racing Post: "Being involved with Makfi has been a great pleasure, and wonderful for a young trainer. He was very easy for a jockey in races, because he could go any pace, and he has everything a horse needs to be a top stallion.
"He has a fine physique, good temperament, a great pedigree and he was a top-class racehorse. It will be sad to say goodbye to him, but he has an exciting future."
But the final word was left to his owner Mathieu Offenstadt who emotionally spoke of the life changing story that Makfi had provided him with.
Offenstadt also told the Racing Post: "He's been the horse of a lifetime - a dream come true. He had everything a champion needs, including pedigree, a turn of foot and personality. Now I want to find him a wonderful mare, well-bred and beautiful, so I can breed my own Makfi's and continue the story."
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