Powerscourt Retires to Ashford

Powerscourt, an Irish champion and winner of this year's Arlington Million Stakes (gr. IT), has been retired from racing for stallion duty at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. A stakes winner three consecutive years, the 5-year-old son of Sadler's Wells was being pointed toward the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

"Like many of the very best 10-furlong horses, Powerscourt has that ability to quicken," said trainer Aidan O'Brien. "I very much wanted to win the Breeders' Cup Turf with him, but he wasn't quite right Monday so we've decided to retire him."

Powerscourt quickened in the stretch in the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million after being stopped momentarily in traffic. He found a pocket and powered home first to win by three lengths.
The victory enabled Powerscourt to become the first horse to finish first in consecutive runnings of Arlington's greatest race.

Powerscourt finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Kicken Kris last year, but was disqualified for interference and placed fourth. Later that year, he ran third in the Turf.

A world traveler who raced in seven countries, Powerscourt won or placed in 10 stakes, all group or graded. His big European win came in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-I). As a 2-year-old, he finished second in the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-I).

Bred by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, Powerscourt raced for Sue Magnier, whose husband, John Magnier, is the managing partner of Irish-based Coolmore Stud, the parent firm of Ashford. Sadler's Wells stands at Coolmore.

Powerscourt retired with five wins from 21 starts and earnings of $1,912,272. He is a half-brother to stakes winner Kind and is out of English group winner Rainbow Lake (by Rainbow Quest). A fee will be announced later.