Intended Breeders’ Cup runner Blackbeard will miss that target and is to be retired straight to stud for the coming breeding season.

“Blackbeard was a little off after exercise this morning in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup,” said Aidan O’Brien. “Unfortunately, when we had him x-rayed the radiographs showed a small chip in his right knee and a decision has been made to retire him. He’s a typical No Nay Never; strong, early maturing and very fast. He ran every month from April to September and improved and improved from one race to the next. The plan is for No Nay Never’s other brilliant son Little Big Bear to be trained for the Guineas along with Saturday’s winner Auguste Rodin while Luxembourg also remains in training for next season.”

“Blackbeard was a very exciting horse to ride,” said Ryan Moore who partnered him in all but one of his eight starts. “He was tough as nails and the ultimate professional who continued to improve throughout the season and had a lethal turn of foot.”

The first foal out of smart juvenile Muirin who was fourth in a vintage Moyglare Stud Stakes on only her second start, Blackbeard was purchased as a foal for 270,000 guineas while his full sister topped this year’s Goffs Orby Sale at €2.6 million.

Ballydoyle’s first two-year-old runner of the season when a comfortable winner at Dundalk in early April, Blackbeard progressed throughout the season winning six races including four at Group level. The Group 2 Prix Robert Papin in July saw him lower the two-year-old course record over six furlongs at Chantilly. Next was the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville which he won “in the style of a routine breeze” according to the Racing Post. On his final start at Newmarket Blackbeard became the only juvenile in Europe this year to win two at the highest level when posting a career-best effort in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes.

“The whole Scat Daddy line couldn’t be going any better,” said Coolmore’s David O’Loughlin. “No Nay Never has obviously enjoyed a fantastic season, Justify has made a brilliant start in the US, Sioux Nation is churning out quality winners here in Europe and the first yearlings by No Nay Never’s first son to stud Ten Sovereigns have gone down incredibly well. Blackbeard is very much his father’s son and a hugely exciting prospect.”

Coolmore