End called to One Cool Cat's race career

Former Classic hope One Cool Cat has run his last race for Aidan O’Brien after breaking down on the Ballydoyle gallops this morning.

The three-year-old suffered a fracture to his condylar bone on his near-hind leg after finishing a piece of work in preparation for this weekend’s Prix de l’Abbaye.

One Cool Cat spent the afternoon being operated on at Troytown where the prognosis was said to be very good. It has yet to be decided whether he will begin his stud career at Ashford in Kentucky or Coolmore’s Irish base.

“It is highly unfortunate that One Cool Cat’s racing career has come to an end as I always hoped that one day he would display on the racecourse the brilliance he has always shown us at home,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The son of Storm Cat was long championed by the handler as one of the fastest horses he had ever trained but despite being a dual Group One winner as a juvenile, he beat only one home in the 2000 Guineas in May.

However, the imposing colt was found to be suffering from a heart defect following that race and after missing the Irish equivalent went on to try his hand at sprinting.

The drop back in trip looked to have rejuvenated One Cool Cat as he powered home in the Group Three Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh last month, but it failed to see him successful at the top level.

The colt went on to finish third in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York but could only manage sixth in Haydock Park’s Sprint Cup earlier this month.

One Cool Cat had been partnered by Jamie Spencer on his five starts this season and he said: “It is very disappointing news. He is a high-class horse and we probably hadn’t seen the best of him yet.”