Oaks winner Imagine retired

Vodafone Oaks winner Imagine, described by her trainer Aidan O`Brien as an 'exceptional filly', has run her last race.

The daughter of Sadler`s Wells has been retired after connections conceded that they had run out of time to have the filly ready for the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 7th.

Imagine, who also won the Entenmann`s Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in May, has not raced since beating Flight Of Fancy and Relish The Thought by one and a quarter lengths and a head in the Epsom Classic.

'We decided we were running out of time in our efforts to have Imagine ready for the Arc,' O`Brien told the Racing Post.

'She suffered a stone bruise after Epsom and took a long time to recover. During her break she put on weight and became unfit and trying to get her ready to race again has proved a slower process than we expected.'

Imagine, who is a half-sister to the brilliant dual-Derby winner Generous, will be retired to the Coolmore Stud.

'Imagine was an exceptional filly and we can now look forward to training her offspring,' O`Brien added.

The news of Imagine`s retirement means that the first three home in the Oaks have all finished their racing careers.

Flight Of Fancy failed to recover from an injury sustained in the Classic while Relish The Thought was retired to the paddocks after disappointing in her two subsequent starts.

Imagine raced 10 times, winning four, finishing second twice and third twice for Stg£418,250 in prize money.