Former champion sire Tertullian retired after injury recurrence

Injury has brought to an end the breeding career of Germany's former champion sire Tertullian.

Gestut Erftmuhle took the decision to retire the 23-year-old son of Miswaki after a recurrence of an injury to the genital area that had already disrupted his covering activity in the past year.

Tertullian might not be a household name outside of Germany, where he topped the country's sire rankings in 2014, but he achieved notable success on the international stage.

His best performer at home is Guiliani, winner of the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis who stands at Erftmuhle and has first foals being born this year, while among his German-bred runners who excelled elsewhere were Doomben Cup winner Mawingo and German 2,000 Guineas scorer Irian, later a Group 2 winner in Hong Kong and twice runner-up in the Hong Kong Cup.

Tertullian was trained by Peter Schiergen for owner-breeder Gestut Schlenderhan and was a rare example of a German sprinter-miler able to mix it with Europe's finest, with five Group 3 victories to his name including the Prix de la Porte Maillot at Longchamp and two renewals of the Premio Chiusura at San Siro.

Out of a half-sister to the great Urban Sea, dam of Galileo and Sea The Stars, Tertullian had been advertised as standing at a fee of €5,000 this year.

Erftmuhle owner Heinz Hoenning told galopponline.de: “It is the same penis injury that Tertullian suffered last year. The impairment is not so bad now, but if I were to let him cover two or three more mares, then nothing could work any more.

“He is otherwise in good health and deserves to enjoy his retirement.”

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