Catcher In The Rye might be retired

Catcher In The Rye, runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas, may not race again after suffering a serious leg injury while exercising at home.

The Danehill colt, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was a fast-finishing one length second to Clodovil at Longchamp last month.

He had been expected to run in tomorrow’s St James’s Palace Stakes, but was taken out at the five-day stage.

“Catcher In The Rye struck into himself on the gallops here at Ballydoyle about two weeks ago. He badly injured himself below the knee and did a lot of damage to the back of his tendon,” O’Brien told the Racing Post.

“It will be a little while yet before we know the full story, but it’s quite possible he will have to be retired.”

Catcher In the Rye, who ran in the colours of Sue Magnier, has raced only four times.

Placed in both starts as a two-year-old, he opened his account at Leopardstown maiden before his fine run in France.