Ralph Beckett’s Westover has been retired to stud after sustaining a career-ending injury when runner-up in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

The son of Frankel landed the Irish Derby in fine style last season after finishing a somewhat unlucky third in the English equivalent at Epsom a few months earlier.

Westover's four-year-old campaign has been nothing short of high-class having chased home the sensational Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March prior to filling the same position behind Emily Upjohn in the Coronation Cup in June. The Ralph Beckett-trained colt deservingly gained a second top-level triumph when taking out the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and played a vital part in a pulsating King George renewal when going down narrowly to Owen Burrows' Hukum.

The Juddmonte-owned star was expected to take his place in the Breeders' Cup Turf after only finding the unbeaten Ace Impact a length and three quarters too strong in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

However, connections have announced he picked up a career-ending injury during his gallant effort in Paris last weekend and they have been forced to draw stumps on his racing career.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte's racing manager, said: "It's devastating news, unfortunately he suffered a career-ending injury on Sunday, and he'll have to be retired,"

"Long-term he'll be fine, and he'll be OK for a stallion career, but we had such good days with him this year and last year, we had an exciting end to the season planned and we were all very excited about it. Unfortunately, it's come to an end.

"We were looking at the Breeders' Cup and we actually only entered him in the Japan Cup on Tuesday. We were planning on doing a bit of travelling and seeing a bit of the world with him, but unfortunately, that's not to be."

A second career at stud beckons with Mahon continuing: "I'd say he'll be a top-class stallion. He's one of Frankel's best sons and as we saw with Ace Impact [by Frankel's son Cracksman], Frankel's sons are off to a flying start.

"He's been beautifully trained by Ralph; Rob Hornby has obviously built up a good association with him last year and this year and Colin Keane was exquisite on him the day he won the Irish Derby.

"It's been a great story for a lot of people, none more so than Juddmonte. We're very lucky to have had him."

Beckett said in a statement: "I am very proud of the horse and what he has achieved, he gave his all every day at home and on the racecourse and we will all miss him."