The St Leger winner Milan has been retired for the year but will return for a four-year-old career next season.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt was runner-up to Fantastic Light in last month's Breeders' Cup Turf in New York and had been mentioned as a possible for either the Japan Cup or the Hong Kong Vase.

However, O'Brien confirmed yesterday: "Milan has been put away for a campaign next year and won't be running again this season."

It brings an end to a successful if somewhat luckless season for Milan who had been set to finish up for the term after running fifth to Sakhee in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. However, his Breeders' Cup effort has encouraged the Ballydoyle camp that the colt can improve on his Group One tally as a four-year-old.

Milan missed out in the French Derby when stumbling at the start and was judged unlucky when third in the Group One Prix Lupin at Longchamp last May. Rider Mick Kinane also reported after the Breeders' Cup that Milan had lost vital ground on the home turn because of interference.

The sole O'Brien possibility for the Hong Kong International meeting on December 16th is the Breeders' Cup Mile third Bach who could be aimed at the Cup race over a mile and a quarter.

In the meantime, the Ballydoyle trainer is considering his options for the last Group One of the European season, the Criterim de Saint Cloud over 10 furlongs next Tuesday.

O'Brien yesterday listed the Racing Post Trophy runner-up Castle Gandolfo, the Italian Group One winner Shalkhov and the Leopardstown scorer Ballingarry among his options for the French race which could see him break the world record for the number of Group One winners trained in a year.

O'Brien also reported that last year's smart juvenile Hemingway, the one-time 2,000 Guineas favourite who has not run at all this year, has been retired to stud. No details as to where the brother to Second Empire will stand as a stallion were available from Coolmore Stud yesterday.

Hemingway's former stable companions, the Group One scorers Beckett and Minardi, have also been retired to stud.

Muakaad, a smart four-year-old owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, has been put down. The four-year-old colt broke a leg on the gallops at Dermot Weld's stables three weeks ago.

"He fractured his leg very badly and they couldn't do anything to save him," Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager, Angus Gold, said yesterday.

The son of Muhtarram's last race ended with victory in the Listed Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown in September.