Telescope, the one-time Derby favourite who went on to win the Great Voltigeur and the Hardwicke Stakes, has been retired at the age of five by his owner, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, following an injury sustained in the build-up to this year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute for the Wavertree syndicate, the son of Galileo won his maiden in impressive fashion at two to earn favourable quotes for the Epsom Classic but was forced to miss the Derby when he was injured in advance of the Dante Stakes. After making a winning reappearance in a Leicester conditions race later that year, Telescope went on to claim the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

At four he was twice beaten into second by Frankel’s brother Noble Mission in Group 3 contests before posting an impressive seven-length victory over his stable-mate Hillstar in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Beaten a head by subsequent Group 1 winner Second Step in the Jockey Club Stakes this season, Telescope, who is described by Stoute as “a model of consistency”, added a final six-length win to his CV in May when beating Dubday in the Listed Al Rayyan Stakes.

Announcing Telescope’s retirement, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Chairman Harry Herbert said: “After speaking to the vets, the decision has been made to retire Telescope. He has proved such a consistent horse for us and has given all his owners at Highclere an enormous amount of fun and success.

“I would like to thank Sir Michael and his team who have looked after him so well throughout his career. Telescope has become known as one of the best looking horses in training and that combined with his wonderful pedigree and race record will stand him in good stead as he embarks on his new stallion career.”

No stud plans have been announced for Telescope. Another former Highclere-owned and Stoute-trained Hardwicke Stakes winner, Harbinger, who also won the 2010 King George by a highly impressive 11 lengths, was sold to stand in Japan at the Shadai Stallion Station at the end of his racing career.