LAST season's champion European two-year-old Air Force Blue has been retired and will stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

Described by Aidan O'Brien as the best juvenile he has ever trained, the son of War Front had an outstanding first season winning three Group 1 races, culminating in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. On the strength of his top-class form as a youngster he was sent off at odds-on for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but was well-beaten and he also proved disappointing in his three subsequent starts.