Divine's career ended by injury

CLASSIC DOUBLE 12 June: French Oaks 15 May: French Guineas

Top French filly Divine Proportions has been retired to stud after suffering a tendon injury.

Divine Proportions was unbeaten in nine starts before a shock defeat by Dubawi at Deauville on 14 August.

Trainer Pascal Bary said he was deeply disappointed by the injury but called his filly a "true champion."

Divine Proportions won both the French 1,000 Guineas and French Oaks before finishing fourth when odds-on favourite for the Prix Jacques le Marois.

The daughter of Kingmambo's nine victories from 10 races, included five Group One triumphs, amassing £870,000 in prize money.

Divine Proportions was the best horse I've ever trained and she had all the qualities of a great champion Trainer Pascal Bary

Divine Proportions raced in the colours of the Niarchos Family and was trained by Bary at Chantilly.

"The news is very brutal for me as she'd never had a training problem and was in brilliant form before the Marois but I did suspect something might be amiss four or five days after she returned to Chantilly," Bary told the Racing Post.

"Since returning to my yard she has undergone extensive tests and the vets have found tendon damage in her off fore-leg.

"They have recommended that such a brilliant filly should not race again, so a decision has been made to send her to stud."

Alan Cooper, racing manager to the owners, learned the news on Wednesday afternoon.

"It is a big blow to all the team, the owners and Pascal Bary's stable. She also had built up a great fan club," he said.

"The highlight of her career for me was for her to be unbeaten in her first nine starts. That was incredible and her victories included five Group Ones. That was a tribute to the filly herself."