Briefly : Celtic Swing retired

Racing

Celtic Swing, the one-time wonder horse of racing, has run his last race, writes Sue Montgomery. His owner, Peter Savill, and trainer, Lady Herries, have reluctantly made the decision to retire him after a scan revealed a hairline fracture in a hind leg. Savill said: "It will be impossible to race him this year and the only prudent decision is to retire him. He was an exceptional horse, the best I have ever owned, and it saddens me to have made this decision." Celtic Swing was hailed as the horse of the century after a stunning two-year-old campaign, and no horse's three- year-old career in recent decades was awaited with more anticipation than his. But he was beaten a head by Pennekamp in the 2,000 Guineas, and bypassed the Derby, and although he showed tenacity and courage to win the French version, the ligaments in one of his dubious forelegs gave way in the Irish Derby. A comeback had been planned for Doncaster next month, but now a career at stud beckons.