Alpha Centurai and Saxon Warrior have run last races

Alpha Centurai’s four Group One wins this year included the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Champions Series stars Alpha Centurai and Saxon Warrior have both been retired after suffering injuries at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Alpha Centurai, owned by the Niarchos family, suffered a chipped fetlock in her defeat to Laurens in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes.

The news emerged on Sunday afternoon, after the Jessica Harrington-trained filly had undergone a thorough examination at Fethard Equine Clinic.

Her defeat to Laurens ended a magnificent run of Group One wins for the daughter of Mastercraftsman, which began with the Irish 1,000 Guineas and took in the Coronation Stakes, Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois.

Harrington told At The Races: “I said to Maria [Niarchos] this morning ‘you’ve got to do whatever’s best for the filly’. She’s been on an amazing journey and it’s been a great summer for me.

“She’s taken me to places I’ve never been before, she gave me my first Classic winner and my first Royal Ascot winner, so I have a lot to thank her for.”

Saxon Warrior, whose exploits this season included winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, suffered a tendon injury when a neck runner-up to old rival Roaring Lion in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes.

O’Brien told RTE Racing: “He badly damaged a tendon in the race which was a pity and when he came home last night we wrapped him up.

“When we looked at him this morning his tendon wasn’t in a good place. There’s a tear in there and it’s a big pity.

“He was an amazing horse.”