Dylan Thomas's racing career came to a disappointing end as he finished well behind Doctor Dino in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase on Sunday.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner lost any chance when he stumbled after being hampered early in the straight.
"For him to turn up at all was a big if," said his trainer Aidan O'Brien.
It had been intended that Europe's top Flat horse would finish in the Japan Cup last month, but he was barred by the Japan Racing Association (JRA).
The JRA was unhappy with the results of a routine test for Equine Viral Arteritis and O'Brien explained: "He got caught in quarantine in Japan for a long time.
"He looked a horse ready to go into training than go out of training. Being realistic and honest, he was way overweight.
"We couldn't do anything about it, we put as much work into him as we could and the lads did a good job keeping him sound and right. We were delighted to be invited here (Sha Tin).
"It's important that he's safe. It didn't really matter the race we've had."
In addition to the Arc, Dylan Thomas also won the 2007 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and was named Britain's Horse of the Year.
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