Snow Fairy retired

Frankie Dettori celebrates aboard Snow Fairy after their Irish Chamion Stakes victory last year. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The great Snow Fairy has been retired after a wonderful career in which she won six Group 1 races around the world and ran some other great races in defeat, notably when third in the QIPCO Champion Stakes in 2011 behind Cirrus des Aigles and So You Think.

One of the all-time popular mares, she won almost £4 million in prize money and had a legion of fans.

Her last run was a victorious one when she took the Irish Champion Stakes last September.

"It is with much sadness that a decision was made this morning to retire Snow Fairy," Dunlop revealed in a statement.

"Unfortunately after a routine piece of fast work today she was found to have re-injured her near fore tendon, which has caused her problems in the last two years.

"I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Mrs Patino for all she has done, she has been the most wonderful owner of a truly amazing horse.

"Most owners would have retired her a lot sooner than she did and if this had been the case she would not have won the Irish Champion Stakes last year, which was without doubt her greatest performance.

"I would also like to thank all of my staff who have looked after her, ridden her and travelled her around the world. She remains the only international horse to have won two Group 1s in Japan."