More Than Ready’s international Group 1 performer Verrazano has been retired after pulling up lame in the G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown last month.

“It’s not a significant injury but time would not permit us to have him ready for the Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said.  “It’s very disappointing as he ran two lovely races on his first two starts for us and we had been looking forward to a great season with him.”

Verrazano (4c More Than Ready – Enchanted Rock by Giant’s Causeway) had been placed in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at his only other starts since transferring from North America.

He had risen to the top of the USA three year-old division in 2013 after decisive victories in the G1 Wood Memorial and G1 Haskell Invitational.

His previous trainer Todd Pletcher said Verrazano enjoyed his finest hour when running out a devastating winner of the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in July of last year.  “It was a monstrous effort – he just blew them away that day.

“He’s a striking individual to a look at – a really gorgeous horse.”

Verrazano (USA) will stand his first northern book at Ashford Stud in Kentucky in 2015.

VERRAZANO
More Than Ready colt wins the Haskell Invitational