134 and out: 'Absolute legend' Duke Of Firenze retired at the age of 14

Duke Of Firenze, the white knuckle ride of a sprinter who earned more than £300,000 in a remarkable 134-race career, has been retired at the age of 14.

He won 12 races, including the Epsom Dash, but was just as well known for his numerous near-misses, as his come-from-behind style meant a jockey had to judge things just right and was vulnerable to trouble in running.

Bred by Cheveley Park Stud out of Coronation Stakes winner Nannina, he was trained by Sir Michael Stoute when coming from last to first under Ryan Moore in the Derby day sprint in 2013 then had two seasons with Robert Cowell.

He was bought for just 16,000gns at the age of six in 2015 by South Yorkshire trainer David Griffiths, who said: "He was a bargain and he was still winning at 12.

Duke Of Firenze: 'He was a bargain and he was still winning at 12'Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"There were so many good days, when he finished fourth in the Abbaye and all the three races he won at York.

"He was unlucky not to win another Dash. When he was third to Caspian Prince in 2017, beaten a short head and a nose, it looks on the print as though he's won. We won it with Ornate two years later and he was seventh but if he'd have got a run we might have had a one-two and arguably he might have been first."

Duke Of Firenze ran what turned out to be his final race when finishing ninth at Wolverhampton last week.

"He's sound as a pound and still loving his work and his racing but you wouldn't want anything to happen to him," Griffiths said. "He's been an absolute legend.

David Griffiths: 'He's sound as a pound and still loving his work and his racing but you wouldn't want anything to happen to him'Credit: David Carr

"He could go to one of the racing colleges and teach the kids a few things, he's a bit of a handful on the gallops but he's good in the stalls and he's a name. Another option is becoming an equine therapy horse, going to hospitals and schools – he's so chilled out he could be good for that.

"Whatever happens, he'll always have a home here with us. He's given us some great days out and he deserves a good retirement."

Griffiths also paid tribute to the soundness of a sprinter who raced through 12 seasons, winning on nine different tracks for eight different jockeys.

The trainer added: "The night before he was going to run in the Nunthorpe in 2017 he had a bit of a big joint and we put him in the spa – for some reason he panicked, cut his legs and couldn't run.

"That was about the only injury he ever had, he was always sound and happy and he still is now."

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