Boom colt Storm Boy retired after European flops
The one-time Golden Slipper hot pot and Magic Millions 2YO Classic victor failed to flatter in two Northern Hemisphere starts after being sent to Irish maestro Aidan O'Brien to train last year.
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Storm Boy didn't beat a runner home in his first start for O'Brien in the Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh last month and was disappointing again when 10th in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Formerly trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the son of Justify created headlines when sold for a potential $60 million incentive-based deal midway through his two-year-old season.
Storm Boy made an unforgettable start to his racing career with victories in his first four starts, including the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Group 2 Skyline Stakes.
His unbeaten run came to an end with a third placing in the Golden Slipper with his final victory coming as a three-year-old in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes.
Storm Boy has been retired to stand at stud Picture:Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier said the breeding powerhouse was delighted to have Storm Boy back in Australia for the 2025 breeding season.
'His early performances on the track really had to be seen to be believed,' Magnier said in a statement.
'He was jaw-dropping, much like his sire Justify, he broke his opponents' hearts.
'He won five of his first seven starts in a really dominating fashion and was unlucky not to include a Golden Slipper in that tally.'
Coolmore sent Storm Boy to Europe with the hope of winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes but the preparation didn't go to plan.
'Unfortunately we haven't been able to give him the ideal prep,' Magnier said.
'We felt we were getting back to where we needed to be with him, but he was found to be quite lame since returning to Ballydoyle on Saturday.'
Storm Boy will stand for $16,500 this season and joins fellow star Coolmore three-year-olds Switzerland and Private Life at stud.
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