Al Kazeem back in training

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Al Kazeem retires due to injury (August 4 2015)

Roger Charlton's Al Kazeem, who won the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Coral-Eclipse in 2013, has been retired.

The popular seven-year-old has been struggling with an injury, with time now called on the decorated career of the four-times Group One scorer.

"John Deer, Al Kazeem's owner, has taken the decision to retire his superstar, due to a suspensory branch injury," the Beckhampton handler told www.rogercharlton.com.

"I also believe that this is in the best interest of the horse.

"Al Kazeem has been a pleasure to train from start to finish and he has had a remarkable career.

"He injured himself during his second win of the Group Tattersalls Gold Cup this year after returning from stud.

"He had a month off after that race but is now cantering and is sound.

"He is so honest and never gives up, so much so, that John and I are worried that he may injure himself further in our attempt to bring him back for the Group One Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

"He has never let anyone down and has merely enhanced his incredible reputation every step of the journey.

"There is no doubt that he was a top-class racehorse."

Al Kazeem proved subfertile at stud when he was retired from the track in 2013 and returned to training with Charlton a year later.

With his racing career now over for a second time, he will try again at Oakgrove Stud, in Chepstow.

Charlton said: "At Beckhampton we will miss him greatly.

"He strides out of his box with tremendous enthusiasm every day.

"He was a pleasure to train but one can't underestimate the care that goes into looking after a horse like Al Kazeem.

"He will stand alongside Avonbridge at Oakgrove Stud in 2016 and I hope he is able to add to the number of foals he has on the ground already, who are currently exciting their breeders.

"I believe that he is the greatest training feat of my career and yet he made it so easy for me."