2-time Group 1 winner Adayar is retired to stud by Godolphin

Adayar, the outstanding 2021 Epsom Derby winner who went on to become the first since his grandsire Galileo to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the same year, has been retired from racing, Godolphin announced Friday.

The Godolphin homebred sired by Frankel took the Group 1 Epsom classic by 4 1/2 lengths before powering to another wide-margin victory at Ascot in the King George (G1). In completing the double, he added his name to an illustrious list that includes Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Shergar, Nashwan, Generous, Lammtarra and the aforementioned Galileo.

“Adayar provided the team with two outstanding days on the racecourse at Epsom and Ascot and has been a firm favorite in the yard for the past three seasons,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He has been an absolute pleasure to train. ... He will be sorely missed at Moulton Paddocks, but we look forward to watching him in his new career at stud and are quite sure he will be a huge success.”

After winning the May running of the Gordon Richards (G3) in his first race as a 5-year-old, Adayar finished third at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales's (G1). His last race was 15 days ago, when he finished a distant second to Israr as the 1-3 favorite in the Princess of Wales's (G2) at Newmarket.

Including the 2021 King George, William Buick all but two of Adayar's races. With earnings of $2,471,050 at the current rate of exchange, Adayar finished his career with a record of 13: 5-4-1.

Stud plans for Adayar will be announced later.