Shock English Derby winner Wings Of Eagles has been retired from racing a month after his Epsom success after he was found to have fractured a leg when finishing third in the Irish Derby on Saturday.
Wings Of Eagles finished just a neck and a short head behind Capri and Cracksman, having beaten Cracksman by about a length when the two horses finished first and third in the Derby at Epsom.
Aidan O'Brien's colt was not obviously lame after the race and was prominent in ante-post betting for races including the St Leger in September, but a career-ending injury fracture of his left front sesamoid bone was diagnosed on Sunday morning, report the Guardian.
O'Brien said here that the fracture was so significant that it cast a fresh light on Wings Of Eagles' performance on Saturday.
"We're very lucky that it didn't come apart during the race," the trainer said.