Johannesburg, Who Ran in Derby, Retired

Johannesburg, brilliant as a 2-year-old but a bust this year, has been retired and will begin his career as a stallion next year in Kentucky.

A winner of four Group or Grade I races in 2001, including a brilliant performance in his main track debut in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park, Johannesburg was winless in three races this year for owners Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier, and trainer Aidan O’Brien.

After losing his seasonal bow by a nose in a race overseas, his first defeat in eight races, the son of Hennessy was brought to the U.S. again for a crack at the Kentucky Derby, even though his pedigree suggested he had little chance of handling 1 1/4 miles.

Not surprisingly, Johannesburg was nowhere to be found at Churchill Downs. He checked in eighth, 13 lengths behind upset winner War Emblem. In what turned out to be his final start on June 22 at Ascot in England, he was ninth, beaten 10 lengths, in the Golden Jubilee.

“Unfortunately, we made the mistake of running Johannesburg in the Kentucky Derby,” O’Brien said. “The combination of training him on bad ground during our wet spring [in Ireland] and trying to stretch his stamina too far just bottomed him out.”

Johannesburg will stand at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., where his father is a stallion.