Adayar, the victorious horse of the 2021 Derby, announces its retirement
Adayar Retires from Racing
Renowned racehorse Adayar, winner of both the Derby and King George races, has officially announced his retirement from racing. The magnificent son of Frankel, owned by Godolphin, brought trainer Charlie Appleby a second Derby victory at Epsom in 2021 under the expert guidance of jockey Adam Kirby. Aweek later, he stunned spectators once again by triumphing over older horses in the prestigious King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, this time ridden by William Buick.
While these victories solidified Adayar’s status as an exceptional talent on the track, his subsequent performances were met with mixed results. Despite competing against top-class rivals in events like the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Champion Stakes, he was unable to replicate his earlier success. Last season saw him make only two appearances; although he narrowly missed out on victory in the Champion Stakes when beaten by Bay Bridge by just half a length.
Fans eagerly anticipated his return as a five-year-old with hopes for more illustrious wins—however, fate had different plans. Although Adayar made a triumphant comeback in May with a resounding victory in Newmarket’s rescheduled Gordon Richards Stakes, disappointment followed soon after at Royal Ascot’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes where he finished third. This defeat served as a prelude to an unexpected upset at cramped odds against Israr during his most recent outing—the Princess of Wales’s Stakes held at Newmarket.
In light of these developments, trainer Charlie Appleby spoke to www.godolphin.com about Adayar’s retirement: “Adayar has been a cherished member of our yard for the past three seasons, delivering two memorable victories at Epsom and Ascot. He has been an absolute pleasure to train, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt at Moulton Paddocks. However, we eagerly anticipate witnessing his future success in his new career as a stud horse.”
Throughout his racing career, Adayar amassed an impressive record of five wins out of thirteen races, earning nearly £2 million in prize money.