Hatton's Grace Hurdle winner Voler La Vedette retired to stud

The Grade One winning mare Voler La Vedette has run her last race and will be retired to stud.

The Grade One winning mare Voler La Vedette has run her last race and will be retired to stud.

Winner of last season's Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, the Colm Murphy-trained star ran the race of her life when finishing runner-up to the legendary Big Buck's in last year's Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

However, she has failed to fire in three starts this season, including when beaten at 1 to 7 on her first start of the campaign at Navan. "The really heavy ground hasn't helped her but she's been an unbelievable horse for us. She has been very good to us all and will go to stud now," said Murphy yesterday.

Voler La Vedette failed to get in foal when visiting the stallion Presenting in 2011 but returned to racing for her best ever season. In all she won 13 of her 27 starts and amassed prizemoney of almost €500,000.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column