Unfortunately retires to Cheveley Park Stud

Unfortunately, the Group 1 Prix Morny winner of 2017, has been retired from racing and will now take up stallion duties alongside the likes of Pivotal, Ulysses and Mayson at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket.

The operation’s managing director Chris Richardson said of the new recruit: “The highly talented and precocious Unfortunately is a gorgeous-looking individual with a quality outlook.

“Being a two-year-old Group 1 winner, Unfortunately very much compliments and enhances the commercial speed element of our stallion roster.”

The three-year-old, who joins young speed sires Garswood, Lethal Force and Twilight Son, is the highest-rated progeny of the ill-fated Society Rock, having won four of his 12 career starts for trainer Karl Burke, including three victories during a productive juvenile campaign.

Unfortunately made his black-type breakthrough in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin, where he saw off Queen Mary Stakes and Flying Childers Stakes heroine Heartache, among a host of talented rivals.

The highlight of his racing days came on his next start, when he readily dismissed subsequent Group 1 winner - and recent Whitsbury Manor Stud recruit - Havana Grey to land the Prix Morny, doing so in a quicker time than the likes of Lady Aurelia, Shalaa, No Nay Never and Johannesburg. He achieved a career-best Racing Post Rating of 115 for his performance in the elite 6f contest.

Having made a low-key start to his sophomore season, Unfortunately brought the curtain down on his racing career with a resurgent victory in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes, in which he got the better of American Pharoah’s brother St Patrick’s Day by a comfortable half a length.

“From day one Unfortunately proved to be a totally reliable, straightforward colt with great constitution, temperament and had ability to match,” said Burke. “His performances during his two-year-old season were top-class.

“I very much look forward to training his offspring, and have no doubt he will be a great success as a stallion."

Bred and sold by Tally-Ho Stud, custodians of the much-lamented Society Rock, Unfortunately was snapped up by his trainer for just €24,000 when offered at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

His Prix Morny victory proved to be Unfortunately's final racecourse appearance in the silks of his original owners Jeff Laughton and Burke's wife Elaine, with Cheveley Park Stud stepping in to acquire the colt in a private deal before the Middle Park Stakes.

From his sire's first crop, Unfortunately is out of the winning Komaite mare Unfortunate, making him a half-brother to Group 2 Temple Stakes scorer Look Busy. Speed and precocity runs through Unfortunately's pedigree as his second dam, Honour And Glory, is a half-sister to Cornwallis Stakes and King George Stakes winner Singing Steven.

A fee for Unfortunately will be released at a later date.

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