Godolphin Racing's Doyen, who reached his peak with a three-length win in last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-G1), has been retired to Darley's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.A fee will be announced later this fall.

After finishing off the board in his only start at age two, Doyen won two stakes in France at age three, including the Prix du Lys (Fr-G3). Last year, Doyen enjoyed his best season. Besides winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Ascot, he lowered the 1½-mile course record there when capturing the Hardwicke Stakes (Eng-G2) by six lengths in 2:26.53 during the Royal meeting. He earned $1,047,627 in his five 2004 starts.

After his Group 1 win at Ascot, Doyen's form tailed off as he did not register a victory in the final five starts of his career, including off-the-board finishes in all three of his starts this year. Overall, he won five of 14 starts and earned $1,291,257.

"Doyen's two Ascot wins were thrillingly memorable," said Sam Bullard, head of nominations at Darley. "He was supreme that summer and it's a great pity he never rediscovered that sparkle. But at his best, he was as good as they get."

An Irish-bred five-year-old son of Sadler's Wells, Doyen is a full brother to 1995 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) winner Moonshell (Ire), as both are out of the Kris mare Moon Cactus, who finished second in the 1990 Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) (French Oaks).

"He's a really good looking horse too and one with a magnificent pedigree," Bullard said. "We were very fortunate to stand In the Wings (GB), who was a tremendous stallion son of Sadler's Wells, and we're hopeful Doyen, who's right out of the Montjeu (Ire) mold, can do even better."