Arc hero Waldgeist set for retirement after toppling Enable at Longchamp

Waldgeist looks unlikely to be among the European contingent bound for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita next week, with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner almost certainly set to bow out on that glorious winning note.

The value of his victory over Enable in a pulsating finish at Longchamp has already been well advertised by fifth-placed Magical, and connections of Waldgeist appear to be concentrating on his future career at stud, rather than attempting to add to his four career wins at Group 1 level.

The son of Galileo currently remains in training with Andre Fabre and is a best-priced 6-1 for the Breeders' Cup Turf among those firms to quote him.

But speaking in Deauville on Tuesday, Fabre confirmed that finding Waldgeist a prominent place at stud was the priority.

"We're talking to the good [stud] farms and the wish is to retire him," said Fabre. "Nobody is really keen to think about another race at this stage."

Waldgeist's majority owner is Dietrich von Boetticher's Gestut Ammerland, while Newsells Park Stud also has a 25 per cent share – the two farms having jointly bred the five-year-old on a foal share basis with Coolmore, who subsequently sold their share at the end of 2017.

In the immediate aftermath of his second Arc win as an owner, Von Boetticher was already leaning towards retirement for Waldgeist but insisted no decision would be made without input from Fabre.

During the post-race press conference, Von Boetticher said: "It would be natural to say it can't get any better than this and that we should finish, but I have known Andre Fabre now for so many years that I would never make a decision of which he doesn't approve. So far I'm not making a decision."

Dietrich von Boetticher (right) pictured with Waldgeist after winning the Prix Ganay at Longchamp in AprilCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

When pushed on the Breeders' Cup option, he added: "I think with a horse like this everything could be possible. On the other hand, he has done a huge job travelling from one end of the world to the other and run against tough competition in top races so I think not, after all he is a living being and not a machine.

"You should not exhaust a living being and this is about as much as we could all hope to do. We will certainly take into consideration what is good for him and not what is good for us."

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