Just days after a disappointing performance at Royal Ascot, it has been confirmed that Storm Boy, the talented Magic Millions winner, has been retired from racing.
After finishing tenth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1207m) on Saturday, the colt was found to be lame and will now return to Australia to begin his stud career at Coolmore, where his initial service fee is set at $16,500.
Storm Boy, who was purchased for $460,000 at the 2023 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale by a syndicate including Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, retires with a glittering record of five wins and two placings from 12 starts, earning over $3.5 million in prize money.
He burst onto the scene with four straight wins, headlined by a dominant display in the 2024 Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m), followed up with another strong victory in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m).
Storm Boy’s third-place finish in the prestigious Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) behind Lady Of Camelot earned him a Racing and Sports rating of 115, narrowly missing his earlier peak of 116 achieved in the Magic Millions.
Upon resuming as a three-year-old in August 2024, he raised the bar again with a 118-rated win in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.
His career-best rating of 119 came in a brave effort in the Group 1 The Everest (1200m), finishing eighth behind Bella Nipotina after racing under tough conditions.
“He was jaw-dropping, much like his sire Justify,” said Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier.
“He won five of his first seven starts in a really dominating fashion and was unlucky not to include a Golden Slipper in that tally.
“We took Storm Boy to Europe with the plan of winning the QE II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot but unfortunately we haven’t been able to give him the ideal prep.
“We felt we were getting back to where we needed to be with him, but he was found to be quite lame since returning to Ballydoyle on Saturday.”
Storm Boy will now join Coolmore’s stallion roster, which also includes the newly added City Of Troy, another son of Justify, who enters the season fully booked.
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