Victoire Pisa, Dubai World Cup winner, retired to stud

Victoire Pisa, the winner of the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March and two major stakes in Japan, has been retired after two disappointing races in the last five weeks.

A 4-year-old Japanese-bred colt by Neo Universe, Victoire Pisa will stand at stud in 2012 in Japan.

Owned by Yoshimi Ichikawa, Victoire Pisa won 8 of 15 starts in a three-year career.

At 3, he won the Japanese 2000 Guineas and Arima Kinen, and was the 2010 champion 3-year-old male. Earlier this year, he was a Group 2 winner in Japan before his surprise win in the Dubai World Cup. The race was run just two weeks after a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. The colt’s win in the Dubai World Cup was considered a sporting lift for that nation.

This fall, Victoire Pisa was 13th in the Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 27 and eighth in the Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse on Christmas Day.

Victoire Pisa will stand at Shadai Stud in Japan, where he was bred.