The racing career of dual Group 1-winning sprinter Zoustar is over, with the Chris Waller-trained colt injuring a suspensory ligament during preparations for Royal Ascot.

Part-owner Antony Thompson of Widden Stud said the intention was always for Zoustar to finish his career in England and return to Australia for the 2014 breeding season.

"It is devastating that we won't get to showcase him to the northern hemisphere and show what a talent he is," Thompson said.

"While he might not have reached the heights we would have liked in Sydney during the autumn, there was a lot of confidence that he was really thriving in England, Chris (Waller) was getting quite excited about him looking ahead to Royal Ascot".

"He will come back home and get ready for the season, at the end of the day we bought him as a stallion, and we have got a great one that won the Coolmore Stud Stakes for us - we have got to take the positives out of that."

Chris Waller is also extremely disappointed at not getting the opportunity to prepare a horse for the Royal Ascot carnival.

"A minor problem was detected with the horse following his first serious pace-work and scans overnight revealed he has a very small strain to the lateral aspect of the proximal suspensory ligament and as a result his work-load needs to be reduced as well as being given time off for the area to rest and recover. The vet prognosis is for a return to racing in three-months time," he said.

"It is extremely disappointing that we are not able to compete at Ascot and the owners and I are devastated by this. The horse had travelled extremely well to England and for me personally it was the start of what would have been the experience of a lifetime. To have a horse the calibre of Zoustar to not only race in England but at the prestigious Ascot carnival would have clearly been a highlight for me."

Zoustar raced only once during the Sydney autumn, finishing eighth in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes behindAppearance.

"Looking back to his run in the Canterbury Stakes in the autumn, Jim Cassidy reported that the horse was not happy in the ground and changed legs several times and post-race he was mildly lame in behind. Looking at it now it could have been a problem that was underlying but with that said, it wasn’t identified in a thorough veterinary examination, and realistically there was no indication of this injury which could have been in its early stages," Waller said.

"The big positive I can take out of all of this is the fact I have been fortunate enough to be involved with an exceptionally talented racehorse and win two Group One races".

"His ability, attitude and physical attributes as well as his gentlemanly temperament make him a tremendously special horse to me.

"We all saw the horse improve as a three-year-old after doing such a magnificent job as a two-year-old, however whilst it is easy to talk after the event having seen him as a later three-year-old I could only see upside for a horse that was still developing.

"I know myself this horse is the real deal the owners had planned his retirement this season at Widden Stud due to his stud value where I am sure he will be very popular with breeders." (racingnetwork)