War to bow out after Breeders’

Declaration Of War will retire to Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary after he has signed off his racing career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday week.

The four-year-old, trained by Aidan O’Brien, has proved himself to be a top-notch performer this season with victories in two Group One races, the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

“Declaration Of War has danced every dance this season and will have one more run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” O’Brien told www.coolmore.com.

“He has an unbelievable constitution and is a lot like Giant’s Causeway, a big, powerful, strong traveller, so we’re hopeful that he’ll run well.”

Coolmore manager Christy Grassick is excited to have the son of War Front to add to the stallion ranks next year.

“Unbeaten as a two-year-old in France, Declaration Of War won two of Britain’s highest-profile Group Ones this summer and is a very imposing horse to look at,” he said.

“His sire War Front is probably the most sought after stallion in America at the moment and his dam is a half-sister to star two-year-old and American classic winner Union Rags. He’s a hugely exciting prospect.”

Meanwhile Ancient Sands could bid to continue his winning streak in the Movember Handicap at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

The five-year-old, trained by Joanna Morgan, is on the crest of a wave having backed up a hurdles success last month with a hat-trick of victories on the Flat in the past fortnight.

His latest win came in a premier handicap at Naas at the weekend over a mile and a half and Morgan would not be concerned about the step up in trip.

“He’ll probably go for the Leopardstown Movember Handicap (registered as the November Handicap). The ground might not be too bad there and it wasn’t too bad at Naas on Sunday,” said the County Meath handler.

“He stays a mile and a half well, so I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t stay a mile and six furlongs.

“I genuinely don’t know why he’s improved so much in the last few weeks. I thought he was a regular 75 (rated) horse but he’s a big horse and maybe he’s just improved with a bit of time. He’s only five and he hasn’t had that many runs. He certainly wouldn’t have struck me as a 97 horse, which is what he is now.”