Order of St George has been retired, with trainer Aidan O'Brien hailing the 2016 Gold Cup (G1) winner "an incredible stayer who had the class to be competitive in an Arc."
The 6-year-old had been in contention to bid for a third Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (G1) victory at the Curragh Sept. 16, but O'Brien said he did not want to be greedy and decided the best option was to call time on the three-time group 1 winner's career.
"We've decided to retire Order of St George," the trainer said. "We did not want to be greedy and risk him on Sunday. It's nothing serious, just age has caught up with him, and we thought it was the right thing to do for the horse.
"Order of St George was an incredible horse. He was a big, strong animal who was always very clean-winded. He was an incredible stayer but had the class to be competitive in an Arc. He handled soft ground, heavy ground, good ground, and quick ground. He was versatile both in terms of ground and trip. He won a lot of races and was probably a little unlucky to be pipped in one or two others as well."
Order of St George awaits a stud career after winning 13 of his 25 starts for earnings of nearly £2 million (US$2,821,488), with his Irish St. Leger victories in 2015 and 2017 coming by a combined 20 lengths.
He suffered a narrow defeat to a Frankie Dettori-inspired Wicklow Brave in the 2016 Irish St. Leger, and he finished third and fourth in the last two Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes (G1) at Chantilly behind stablemate Found and Enable.
Order of St George's absence from Sunday's Irish St. Leger means Joseph O'Brien is likely to head for the Curragh, rather than Doncaster, with Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) winner Latrobe, who finished seventh in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) last month.
The trainer said: "Looking at the two races at the moment, it looks like the Irish St. Leger might be the easier, so I'd say that's where we'll go. I don't think the trip will be a problem, and he's been in great form since York."
Only 10 remain in the Irish St. Leger after Tuesday's forfeit stage, and from those, Aidan O'Brien is set to send Kew Gardens, Southern France, The Pentagon, and Nelson to Doncaster for the William Hill St Leger.
"Everything is good with Kew Gardens, and all roads lead to Doncaster," said the trainer. "I've been very happy with him since York (where he ran third in the group 2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes). I'd say that Southern France, The Pentagon, and Nelson could all join him at Doncaster.
"Idaho and Flag of Honour would be the two we have in mind at the moment for the Irish St. Leger."
The Ballydoyle trainer believes the real Saxon Warrior will stand up in the Sept. 15 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1) and reports the brilliant QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner in rude health for his rematch with Roaring Lion, who beat him at York last time and previously at Sandown.
"We're very happy with the way Saxon Warrior came out of York," he said. "He really was so sick after Sandown, and we had to cuddle him to get him back. We were delighted with how he performed at York, and we'd like to think you'll see a different horse at Leopardstown. I'm looking forward to the race."
Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion are the standout names among the 10 remaining in the Irish Champion, although the Pascal Bary-trained Study of Man could prove a tough opponent.
Royal Ascot winner Blue Point has been ruled out of Sunday's Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) at the Curragh due to a dirty scope, with Havana Grey promoted to favorite.