Classic Heroine Just The Judge retired from racing
An outstanding racehorse at two, three and four years of age, the daughter of Lawman will join the broodmare band at Tweenhills Farm and Stud in Gloucestershire and be covered by a leading sire in 2016.
Just The Judge has been trained throughout her racing career by Charlie Hills, who said: "All good things come to an end, but I'm very proud of Just The Judge's achievements. She's been a tremendously sound filly, and with three months' rest could have raced on, but she had nothing else to prove on the racecourse.
"She was unbeaten in her first season, when a Stakes winner against colts, a Classic winner at three and a Grade One winner at four. She has always been the most beautiful-looking filly with great conformation, and she proved amazingly tough.
"Last season she had a long journey to Canada where she won the E P Taylor Stakes, then undertook another trip to Santa Anita in California where, two weeks later, she ran a great race at the Breeders' Cup. She has been a wonderful horse for my career, and I would absolutely love to train one of her foals."
In her first two races as a juvenile Just The Judge carried the colours of the Sangster Family and Matthew Green, following which Qatar Racing bought a majority share in partnership with the Sangsters. Soon after she completed a hat-trick when taking the Gr.2 Rockfel Stakes, and at three opened her season in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas.
She put up a superb performance in that race, finishing second, beaten just half a length by Sky Lantern, and soon gained a Classic of her own when winning Ireland's equivalent race. At Royal Ascot she finished third in the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes, and it was later decided she would race on at four.
That decision was vindicated when she took third places in the Gr.1 Pretty Polly Stakes and Gr.1 Beverly D. Stakes before winning the Gr.1 E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine. She also ran a typically gusty race when third in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita, beaten less than two lengths.
A few weeks later Just The Judge topped Tattersalls' prestigious December Sale when knocked down for 4,500,000gns to a new partnership involving Qatar Racing and China Horse Club. She will remain in their joint ownership as a broodmare, and being such a tough racemare, by a leading sire and out of a mare whose half-sister, Well Heeled, was placed in the Oaks, she will be a fabulous addition to the breeding stock owned by Sheikh Fahad and his brothers.