SIR ALEX FERGUSON’s best horse Clan Des Obeaux has been retired due to injury.
The dual King George winner, 11, won Fergie and his fellow co-owners more than £1million during a glittering career.
Clan Des Obeaux was a true superstar over fences – but has been retired aged 11 due to injury
Manchester United legend Fergie owned the star chaser with good friends Ged Mason and Paul Barber.
Trainer Paul Nicholls told Betfair: “We are announcing that we are retiring Clan Des Obeaux
“He’s got a minor injury which just keeps niggling him, it’s not going to come right and even if we give him another six months off we’ll be in the same situation this time next year.
“So, having a chat with Paul Barber, Jed Mason and Alex Ferguson, between us we decided that he’s been such a wonderful horse – he’s won two King Georges, two Aintree bowls, the Punchestown Gold Cup. He’s been an amazing horse.
“He’s had a fantastic career, I think he’s won over £1m in prize money.
“He’s going to have a happy retirement.
“He’ll have a little bit of time off, probably needs six months out in the field, and we’ll find another job for him.
“I think winning at Punchestown the season before last, that was a good day, to go and beat the Irish on their home ground was good.
“He was top of his game and that was fantastic.”
Clan’s last run came at Punchestown just over a year ago when he finished second in his attempt to defend the Gold Cup he won a year earlier from dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo.
The superb stayer’s final run in this country was a win in last year’s Grade 1 Betway Bowl at Aintree during the Grand National Festival.
Sent off 13-2, he saw off Gordon Elliott’s Conflated by a length, winning for a second time after hammering Clondaw Castle by 26 lengths 12 months prior.
Clan won his two King Georges in 2018 and 2019 – victory in those two races just short of £300,000 combined.
Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, who guided Clan to that Punchestown win in April and the Kempton Boxing Day blockbuster in 2019, said: “Happy retirement Clan.
“What a pleasure to have had a few goes on him always gave his very best. Incredibly special days at Kempton and Punchestown, thank you Clan owe you a hell of a lot.
“Well done team of owners and Paul. Enjoy your retirement.”
Fergie celebrates Clan Des Obeaux winning last year’s Betway Bowl alongside jockey Harry Cobden
