Running Stag will not be returning to Britain after his next sortie to the United States, trainer Philip Mitchell confirmed today.
The six-year-old, winner of the Grade Two Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs last month, is due to arrive at Saratoga racecourse on Saturday week to complete preparations for the Grade One Whitney Handicap eight days later.
'He's not coming back this time, although we are still in control of him until the end of the year,' Epsom-based Mitchell said.
'We shall all miss him - he's given us loads of fun over the last three years.'
Running Stag's main target this autumn is the Breeders' Cup Classic in November.
'He's been back here for quite a while this time as there was only one suitable race for him in the 30-day period between June 11th and August 6th,' Mitchell explained.
'His campaign has been based totally around the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November.'
The idea to campaign Running Stag overseas - he also finished second to Jim And Tonic in the Hong Kong Cup on his final start as a five-year-old - in the first place was Mitchell's.
The trainer said: 'I'd been looking for 10 years for one to go back to the States with after I sent some over in the early 1990s that were placed loads of times.
'I bought him because he had one of those American pedigrees and was such a gorgeous horse. I thought we would be able to plunder some prizes over there with him.
'I told the owner (Richard Cohen) that whatever he did a two and three would be a bonus as he would come into his own as he got older.
'And it's quite amazing that he's now won over #1million in prize money.
'Richard has said that once he's seen Running Stag set up at stud he'll start looking for a replacement but horses like Running Stag you only get once in a lifetime.' - PA
