Gosden Calls Time on The Fugue

Multiple champion The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}–Twyla Tharp {Ire}, by Sadler’s Wells) has been retired from racing after injuring her near-fore when running sixth to Mukhadram (GB) (Shamardal) in the July 5 G1 Coral-Eclipse S. trainer John Gosden told Racing Post Thursday. She will be sent to Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webbers’ Watership Down Stud to begin her career as a broodmare. 
    “Unfortunately The Fugue sustained an injury to her near-fore in the Eclipse S.,” said Gosden. “Having discussed the matter with Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd-Webber, we have taken the decision, in the best interests of the filly, to retire her from racing. The Fugue has been a pleasure to train and to be around for all of us here and she never ceased to amaze us with her courage and athletic ability.” 
    Off the mark at first asking as a 2-year-old, The Fugue was crowned Highweight 3-Year-Old Filly in England from 9.5-11f in 2012 with victories in the G1 Nassau S. and G3 Musidora S. alongside placings in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, G1 Investec Oaks and G2 Ribblesdale S. before running third as the favorite in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf that fall. Kept in training as a 4-year-old, The Fugue went one better in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks against her peers and bested Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. ahead of an unlucky second to Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf. She was also runner-up in the G1 Hong Kong Vase and earned three championships to round out 2013. The 5-year-old took the G1 Prince of Wales S. at Ascot in a career-best performance June 18 in track-record time before her run in the Coral-Eclipse. 
Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber acquired The Fugue’s second dam Sumoto (GB) (Mtoto {GB}) in foal to Inchinor (GB) for 920,000gns at the Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale in 2000. Sumoto had already proven her worth as a producer as the dam of G1 Coral-Eclipse S. winner Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer) as well as G1 Queen Eliabeth 2nd S. victor Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}). For the Lloyd-Webbers Sumoto produced G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Twyla Tharp (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) who sold to Mandore International Agency for 1.7 million gns at the Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale after her daughter’s 3-year-old exploits. The Fugue goes to the paddocks with a record of 17-6-4-3 and earnings of $3,125,860. 
    “It is impossible to describe how much fun The Fugue has given us over the last two and a half years,” said owner-breeder Lady Lloyd-Webber to the Racing Post. “She has taken us to 14 Group 1s all around the world culminating in the highlight of her career last month when she beat the track record in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. We feel incredibly privileged and lucky to have bred and owned such a magnificent filly and we look forward to her coming home to the stud for her second career. We would also like to put on record our thanks to John Gosden and his team at Clarehaven for their work and dedication throughout her career.”