
Dose of ringworm brings forward Makfi retirement
By Racingpost.com Staff 2:42PM 5 OCT 2010
MAKFI, the only horse to finish ahead of Goldikova this season when a hugely impressive winner of the Prix Jacques le Marois, will not be seen on a racecourse again after being retired.
The 2,000 Guineas winner, trained by Mikel Delzangles, will not take up possible engagements in either the Champion Stakes or the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Makfi will stand at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire with a covering fee of £25,000.
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David Redvers, owner of Tweenhills, said of the Dubawi colt: "His owners wanted to see him race again, but he has been on the go non-stop for more than a year, and it's been a long season competing in top-class races. He had his first race this year in April before he won the Guineas.
"He now has a dose of ringworm, and while it will clear up quickly there is no guarantee he will be 100 per cent for his next race. At that level you have to be at the top of your game.
"The form of his Prix Jacques Le Marois victory, when he beat Goldikova and Paco Boy, was brilliantly upheld in the Qatar Prix de la Foret on Sunday. On balance this was the right time to retire him - he will arrive at Tweenhills Stud in November."
Redvers added: "We have been besieged with applications by mare owners who want to use him next year, and it is likely his book will be closed by the final day of the December Sales [December 3]."
Owner Mathieu Offenstadt said: "He's been the horse of a lifetime - a dream come true. He had everything a champion needs, including pedigree, a turn of foot and personality. Now I want to find him a wonderful mare, well-bred and beautiful, so I can breed my own Makfi's and continue the story."
Trainer Delzangles added: "Being involved with Makfi has been a great pleasure, and wonderful for a young trainer. He was very easy for a jockey in races, because he could go any pace, and he has everything a horse needs to be a top stallion.
"He has a fine physique, good temperament, a great pedigree and he was a top-class racehorse. It will be sad to say goodbye to him, but he has an exciting future."
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