Storm Boy’s racing journey has officially come to an end just days after competing at Royal Ascot, with connections deciding to retire the star colt following a post-race injury diagnosis.

The son of Justify was found to be lame after finishing tenth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1207m), and he will now begin stud duties at Coolmore Australia with a debut service fee of $16,500.

Purchased for $460,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale by a team led by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Storm Boy retires with an enviable record: five wins and two minor placings from a 12-start career that earned over $3.5 million.

He quickly made a name for himself with a streak of four wins to start his career, highlighted by an explosive win in the 2024 Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) and the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m).

Storm Boy finished third in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), scoring a 115 rating from Racing and Sports, just behind his Magic Millions performance.

He returned as a three-year-old to win the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) with a 118 rating before posting a peak of 119 in the Group 1 The Everest (1200m).

“He was jaw-dropping, much like his sire Justify,” Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier said.

“He won five of his first seven starts in a really dominating fashion and was unlucky not to include a Golden Slipper in that tally.

“We took Storm Boy to Europe with the plan of winning the QE II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot but unfortunately we haven’t been able to give him the ideal prep.

“We felt we were getting back to where we needed to be with him, but he was found to be quite lame since returning to Ballydoyle on Saturday.”

Storm Boy joins a high-profile Coolmore roster that includes the fully booked City Of Troy, another Justify colt.

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