Lame Magician out of Breeders’ Cup

Defending champion Magician has been ruled out of a repeat bid for glory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Saturday, having been found to be acutely lame on his off-fore.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt beat The Fugue by a half a length last year in a pulsating renewal, cutting down John Gosden’s filly in the shadow of the post under an inspired Ryan Moore.

Magician has not run since finishing second in the Arlington Million in Chicago in August, but hopes were high for another big effort before he retires to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky.