Leg injury halts Pour Moi career

Investec Derby winner Pour Moi has been retired after suffering a leg injury, it was confirmed today.

The Andre Fabre-trained colt had been favourite for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 2 at around 3-1.

However, doubts about his participation started to circulate on Friday night, and bookmakers moved to take the Coolmore-owned son of Montjeu out of the ante-post market.

Speaking to Press Association Sport, Fabre said today: “He badly over-reached himself on his off-fore and I’m afraid he won’t run again. It’s difficult to mend.

“What he did at Epsom was amazing, to go from last to first. For a horse to get there so easily, the turn of foot he showed was a sign of great ability.

“When a horse comes from behind, they are sometimes difficult to rate, but the way he accelerated in the Greffulhe was good and in the Derby it was amazing.

“I have never trained a middle-distance horse that had such acceleration.”

Of the injury, Fabre went on: “It happened two days ago and when it was scanned you could see what the damage was. It was deeper than we thought.

“I’m sure he will be a super sire. He’s a beautiful, well-bred colt with a fantastic action and a change of pace.”

Pour Moi's victory at Epsom saw him sweep from the rear of the field to beat Treasure Beach, also in Coolmore ownership and subsequent winner of the Irish Derby, by a head, with young jockey Mickael Barzalona famously standing up in celebration before the line.

Coolmore supremo John Magnier said: “While Pour Moi’s injury is a great shame, we are very fortunate to have such a brilliant Derby winner retiring to Coolmore, where he will join two other recent winners of the race in Galileo and High Chaparral.”