GLORIA DE CAMPEAO, winner of the richest race ever run in the first running of Dubai World Cup at Meydanin March, has been retired after suffering a tendon injury.

The Brazilian-bred seven-year-old was being prepared for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 23, but suffered a tear to his tendon after trackwork.

Swedish owner Stefan Friborg notified Racing Victoria that the international superstar had been retired and will be sent to stand at stud.

A poster horse for international racing, the seven-year-old ran in three consecutive Dubai World Cups and also landed the lucrative Singapore Airlines International Cup in 2009.

On his last start, Gloria De Campeao was beaten half a length by Lizard's Desire in Singapore, having defeated the Mike De Kock-trained five-year-old by anose in Meydan.

The news comes soon after it was revealed Lizard's Desire was fighting the potentially fatal hoof disease laminitis.

A dual Group 1 winner, Gloria De Campeao, who accrued nearly £6 million in total prize-money, is a son of Argentine-based stallion Impression.

He won graded stakes in both Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo before his owner switched to Europe to join French trainer Pascal Bary in 2007, a transfer that has become a regular move for Friborg's best South American horses.

He raced at the Arc meeting before showing up well on the first of three visits to Dubai at the start of 2008, when he was second in three races including the final leg of the Maktoum Challenge before finishing eighth to Curlin in the World Cup itself.

He did better in 2009, coming second to runaway winner Well Armed at Nad Al Sheba before beating Presvis a head at Kranji in the SIA Cup.

Gloria De Campeao enjoyed his finest hour this year, however.

With the Dubai Carnival moved to the all-weather at Meydan and the World Cup purse boosted to $10m, he made all under Brazilian jockey TJ Pereira to land the richest race on the planet after a frantic photo-finish from Lizard's Secret and Allybar. - Racing Post