Mars, who finished third in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, is to leave Aidan O'Brien and join Mike de Kock.

A syndicate including Bernard Cantor, who owns horses with William Haggas, has acquired a majority share in the three-year-old, but the Coolmore triumvirate of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith will retain a interest in the Galileo colt.

As well as running well at Ascot, Mars finished sixth in both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby and finished fourth in the Eclipse, but was disappointingly beaten at odds-on in the Meld Stakes by Scintillula.

"From what I've seen this is a serious racehorse and I can't wait to train him," said De Kock on www.mikedekockracing.com.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to compete at the highest level with a top horse and my thanks go to Coolmore and the syndicate."

Mars will join De Kock's small string based in Newmarket in the coming weeks.