Grand campaigner Quito retired

David Chapman’s admirable sprinter Quito has been retired after returning sore from his last run in the July Cup at Newmarket.

The evergreen 10-year-old won a total of 20 races, including seven times at Listed level, in a career that began back in 1999.

Chapman said: “He’s always had trouble with his joints and has had surgery on them in each of the last two winters.

“He was very sore when he came back from Newmarket, so we’ve decided to call it a day. Although he did tremendously well for us, I have always maintained that, because of his joints, he never really fulfilled his true potential.”

The son of Machiavellian struck up a fine partnership with Tony Culhane who rode him to 14 of his career victories.

“Tony Culhane got on better with him than anybody else, and got to know him so well,” Chapman told the Racing Post.

“My grand-daughter Ruth (Clarke) did a wonderful job on him at home and at the races – she got on better with him than I did.

“He had a lot of natural ability, a great engine.”