Next stop Coolmore as dual-purpose star Verdana Blue is retired

Grade 1 winner and top dual-purpose performer Verdana Blue has been retired, Nicky Henderson announced on Saturday.

The nine-year-old was not pleasing the Lambourn trainer in the run-up to Royal Ascot, where Henderson admits he is unlikely to have any runners, and has been sent to Ireland to be covered at Coolmore.

He said: "She's been fantastic, we've had tremendous times. She's run some good races. I think she nearly should have won the Ebor last year, but we hadn't quite hit the heights we'd hoped for Michael Tabor.

"She had a blissful temperament, to die for, and she was a really, really good mare."

Verdana Blue: pictured winning the 2019 Scottish Champion HurdleCredit: John Grossick

Verdana Blue's finest hour came when upsetting odds-on favourite and stablemate Buveur D'Air in the 2018 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, while she also won the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton and Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

Later in her career she also ran to a high level on the Flat, finishing second in last year's Ascot Stakes and third in the Ebor at York.

Henderson, who isn't aware who she will be covered by, added: "She could breed something fantastic and I hope we might see some youngsters out of her one day."

The daughter of Getaway won nine of her 31 starts, earning £341,440 in prize-money.

Verdana Blue career statistics

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