Dual Group 1 winning son of No Nay Never will miss Breeders' Cup target

Dual Group 1 winner Blackbeard (No Nay Never) will miss his intended Breeders' Cup target next month and will stand at stud next year. 

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt has raced eight times this year as a juvenile, winning six times including the Group 1 Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville in August and was last seen taking out the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes (6f) at Newmarket on September 24. 

"Blackbeard was a little off after exercise this morning in preparation for the Breeders' Cup," said Aidan O'Brien. "Unfortunately, when we had him x-rayed the radiographs showed a small chip in his right knee and a decision has been made to retire him.

"He's a typical No Nay Never; strong, early maturing and very fast. He ran every month from April to September and improved and improved from one race to the next. The plan is for No Nay Never's other brilliant son Little Big Bear to be trained for the Guineas along with Saturday's winner Auguste Rodin while Luxembourg also remains in training for next season."

Ryan Moore partnered Blackbeard in all but one of his eight starts and said:  "Blackbeard was a very exciting horse to ride.

"He was tough as nails and the ultimate professional who continued to improve throughout the season and had a lethal turn of foot."

The son of No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) is the first foal out of smart juvenile Muirin (Born To Sea) who was fourth in the 2017 Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes(7f) on only her second start for trainer Edward Lynam. Blackbeard was purchased as a foal for 270,000gns, while his full sister topped this year's Goffs Orby Sale at €2.6 million and he became Ballydoyle's first two-year-old runner of the season when a comfortable winner at Dundalk in early April.

In addition to his Group 1 successes, Blackbeard also won the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes (6f) and the Group 2 Prix Robert Papan (1200m). 

"The whole Scat Daddy line couldn't be going any better," said Coolmore's David O'Loughlin. "No Nay Never has obviously enjoyed a fantastic season, Justify has made a brilliant start in the US, Sioux Nation is churning out quality winners here in Europe and the first yearlings by No Nay Never's first son to stud Ten Sovereigns have gone down incredibly well. Blackbeard is very much his father's son and a hugely exciting prospect."