'It was an honour to be associated with such a brilliant horse'

The Julie Camacho stable has hailed star sprinter Shaquille for providing them with "some wonderful days" following news of his retirement to stud.

The Yorkshire trainer had had only one runner in a Group 1 race before this year, but Shaquille propelled the yard on to the big stage with stunning victories in the Commonwealth Cup and July Cup.

The Charm Spirit colt, who will stand at Steve Parkin's Dullingham Park just outside Newmarket, came with profound quirks but enormous speed. He blew the start at Royal Ascot and Newmarket, yet recovered impressively to land a Group 1 double.

Camacho's husband and assistant Steve Brown said: "It's been amazing and we've had some wonderful days with him. His performances at Ascot and Newmarket were the signs of a very good racehorse. To do what he did and get the results he did – he certainly did things the hard way. It's been a great chapter of our lives and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

"We've enjoyed the journey we've been on with his owners, Martin Hughes and his family, and Peter Rawlings and Michael O'Shaughnessy, and we'd also like to thank Paige Harrison and all the team at home for their support. It's an exciting development for British racing and breeding and we're looking forward to following his career at stud."

With stable stalwart Judicial also recently retired, the search is on for the next stars at Camacho's Malton stable.

"Both horses have given us a tremendous amount and we're grateful to have been involved with them," added Brown. "They've elevated our profile and now we need to look for the next one."

Shaquille: won the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot

Shaquille won three of his four starts as a two-year-old. He began his second season by refusing to enter the stalls on All-Weather Finals day at Newcastle on Good Friday, only to earn a trip to Royal Ascot with wins in a handicap at Newmarket and a Listed race at Newbury.

The three-year-old put up a remarkable display in the Commonwealth Cup, missing the break and trailing the field by five lengths early on, yet coming from behind to lead inside the final furlong to win going away.

He missed the break again in the July Cup at Newmarket and pulled so hard his jockey Rossa Ryan decided to send him to the front, yet still had enough in reserve to complete a Group 1 double last achieved in 2015.

Shaquille, hailed as "a serious machine" by James Doyle, who won twice on him, finished last in the Sprint Cup at Haydock on what turned out to be his final appearance. He missed the Champions Sprint at Ascot because he was reckoned not to be quite right.

Hughes, the owner-breeder of Shaquille, said: "It was an honour to be associated with such a brilliant horse. To breed him and to race him in my colours, and then to see him develop into a superstar on the track was thrilling.

"Both of his Group 1 wins were spectacular. I now look forward to partnering with Dullingham Park in his future career as a stallion."

On Shaquille's new career at Dullingham Park, Parkin said: "We're delighted to have been able to secure a horse of Shaquille's ability and potential to stand at our new stallion farm. Julie, Steve and their team have done a terrific job with his racing career and we'll be working hard to ensure Shaquille is equally successful in his new career as a stallion."

Dullingham Park manager Ollie Fowlston added: "In addition to his obvious speed and ability, he's a tremendously good-looking horse with a wonderful temperament. We can't wait to show him to breeders from around the world during the Tattersalls December Sales."

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