Dual Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}–Reckoning {Ire, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) has been retired from racing, his former trainer Mark Johnston revealed on Friday afternoon. Stud plans for the 2021 Gold Cup winner are pending.
The Dr. Jim Walker-owned 6-year-old is now trained by Mark's son Charlie. In his first start back from sustaining an injury after his Gold Cup victory, the March foal was unplaced in the G3 Red Sea Turf H. in Saudi Arabia in February. He bounced back with two third-place efforts in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at the end of March and in the 2023 edition of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, his final start.
Johnston, who is now assistant trainer to his son, said, “We have known this was coming, it's been difficult keeping him going. I had slightly mixed feelings about his run at Royal Ascot as while he ran a good race, I didn't think it was as good as his best of two years ago.
“The objective was to get him to Ascot and then we hoped we might get him to Goodwood, but it has always been there, rumbling away.
“His Gold Cup win was the highlight, but he won three races on the bounce, two at Group 1 level and one at Group 2, with his win in Dubai being very impressive–you could say that was his purple patch, those seven or eight months.”
A winner of the Listed Glasgow S., G3 March S., and G1 Prix Royal-Oak from eight starts as a 3-year-old in 2020, Subjectivist added the 2021 G2 Dubai Gold Cup before his crowning achievement at Royal Ascot that June, where he ran out an imperious five-length winner. He retires with a mark of 20-6-4-4, and $1,191,024 in earnings.
Johnston added, “We hope he will go to stud now. There were a couple of people interested after his Gold Cup win and one of those has kept in touch, so we will see what happens.”
Bred by Mascalls Stud, Subjectivist was sold for 62,000gns from the New England Stud to the elder Johnston as a Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling. A half-brother to three-time group winner Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}), who was second in the G1 St Leger and third in the G1 Goodwood Cup, the bay is also a half to the G2 Rockfel S.-placed mare Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). Their dam was placed thrice at listed level and is from the family of G1 Gran Criterium hero and Classic-placed sire Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).
SUBJECTIVIST was imperious in the 2021 #RoyalAscot Gold Cup, can he regain his crown in 11 days? 👑 pic.twitter.com/x8yVCYUbRu
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 11, 2023
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