Early Arc favorite Pour Moi retired due to injury

Pour Moi, the winner of the English Derby in June, was retired on Saturday after suffering a fetlock injury while exercising earlier in the week, according to a statement from Coolmore Stud in Ireland.

Trained by Andre Fabre, Pour Moi was based with Fabre’s stable in Chantilly, France, when he was injured. He had not started since the English Derby and was considered the favorite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

“Pour Moi suffered a severe over reach to his near fore fetlock during exercise at Chantilly,” Coolmore said in a statement.

Pour Moi, by Montjeu, won 3 of 5 starts for Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith. Earlier this year, Pour Moi won the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. He will stand at stud at Coolmore in Ireland next year.

Without Pour Moi, the Arc does not have a clear favorite, though the recent Group 1 winners So You Think (Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 2), Meandre (Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on July 14), Nathaniel (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot on July 23), and Sarafina (Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 26) will be well-supported.

Goodwood: Dubawi Gold handy winner of Celebration Cup

Dubawi Gold rallied from last in a field of seven, and overcame a touch of trouble in the final quarter-mile, to score a cozy win in Saturday’s Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood, England.

Ridden by Richard Hughes for trainer Richard Hannon, Dubawi Gold ran through traffic in the final furlong to win by a half-length over Set the Trend. Dubawi Gold was not being urged in the final strides.

Beacon Lodge finished a half-length behind Set the Trend in third. Poet’s Voice, the defending champion, finished last as the 15-8 favorite, beaten a little more than five lengths.

The Celebration Mile, worth approximately $163,000, was the biggest win of Dubawi Gold’s 14-race career, which includes two listed wins earlier this year. In the spring, he was second in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas.

Hannon said after the race that the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sept. 11 would be Dubawi Gold’s next start.