French Derby hero: Prix du Jockey Club winner has been retired

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

French Derby winner Le Havre's career is over

France: Prix du Jockey-Club hero Le Havre suffered a tendon injury when winning the French Derby and will not race again.

Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget revealed the news on Friday."As can happen after an extreme effort, Le Havre come out of the Jockey Club with serious tendon problems which will change the direction of his career," said the trainer.

"There is no question now of running him in the Prix Jacques Le Marois.

"With his owner, Gerard Augustin-Normand, it will be decided where the horse will stand atstud, but it is a little too early to mention any names."

Rouget is well clear in the French trainers' title race after a string of Group-race victories, including three of the four Classics run this season.

The career of Le Havre, a son of Noverre, comes to an end after winning four of his six outings.

Bought by Rouget for €100,000 at the Arqana yearling sales at Deauville in 2007, Le Havre first really caught the eye last Aprilwhen taking the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte from Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Naaqoos.

On his next start, he finished two lengths behind Silver Frost in second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) before enjoying his finest hour when beating Fuisse by a length and a half at Chantilly under Christophe Lemaire.