MARCUS Tregoning’s hopes that Alkumait would spearhead his stable’s challenge in 2022 have been dashed with the news that the Showcasing colt has been retired.

The four-year-old, who has missed much of last season through a leg injury, has joined a stud in Ireland after being purchased by Capital Bloodstock who, as an incentive, are offering a £100,000 bonus to any of his progeny that win black type races as a two-year-old.

Bred at Whitsbury, Alkumait was owned by the late Hamdam Al Moktoun and went into training with Tregoning who ran him four times as a juvenile, winning his second start in style at Goodwood in July and then stepping up in class, swooped late and fast to land the prestigious Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury the following month, posting a record time for the race.

His final race as a two-year-old came in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, regarded as the championship for two-year-olds, in October but the colt couldn’t act in the gruelling ground and once his chance had gone, he was heavily eased in the final furlong to finish last of the 14 runners.

He only ran once last year, dropping out tamely in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, a major trial for the 2,000 Guineas, to finish seventh. Alkumait is stand at the Castlefield Stud in Ireland at a fee of £5,000.

Tregoning always considered Alkumait’s future lay in sprinting but the horse never had that opportunity.

He was found to have suffered a chipped knee in the Greenham and though it was hoped he would recover in time to contest the major races in the Autumn, it was never to be.

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