Sagitta 2000 Guineas winner Golan will make a surprise return to the racecourse next year, it emerged today.
Rather than retire to Coolmore Stud in Ireland as expected, he is to go back into training with Sir Michael Stoute in Newmarket.
The three-year-old, in whom owner Lord Weinstock sold a share to Coolmore after his Classic victory, had been thought to have run his last race when sixth in the Japan Cup last month.
But Stoute told the Racing Post: "Lord Weinstock was very keen to keep him in training, Mr Tabor loves having an older horse and Golan will be staying with us. I am delighted to be training him at four."
Golan was placed in the Derby and Irish Derby after his Guineas triumph and also won the Prix Niel before finishing fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Lord Weinstock's bloodstock agent John Warren added: "It is hard to say what his targets will be next year but Sir Michael really feels he has a serious chance of proving himself at the top level as a four-year-old.
"If you had taken Galileo out he could have been the winner of the Guineas and the Derby and there should be many opportunities for him next year.
PA