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Jockey Luke Morris hopes that his achievements on the brilliant Alpinista will "open up a door or two" for him in the future as the grey superstar was retired.

Just days before a go at a £2.4m payday in the Japan Cup, Sir Mark Prescott's stable star has been retired to stud after 'suffering a slight setback'.

The trainer said: "Unfortunately Alpinista has suffered a slight setback and will not now be able to take her chance in the Japan Cup.

"It's a great shame as the JRA have been fantastic in making arrangements for the trip and I can't thank them enough.

"Alpinista was exercised this morning but has now been retired to stud where she will join the great broodmare band of Miss Rausing.

Last month's Arc winner has won breeder-owner Kirsten Rausing more than £3m on the track. And her finest achievement was the half a length win over Vadeni in Europe's most prestigious race.

Luke Morris was the pilot at Longchamp and he has guided her to all but one of her 10 career triumphs including six Group Ones in three different countries.

Alpinista won eight consecutive races over a mile and a half. She ran three times this year, landing the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Yorkshire Oaks and Arc.

Morris acknowledges he may never ride another horse like Alpinista, but he hopes her achievements may boost his career.

Morris said: "She's been wonderfully handled by Sir Mark and all the team and she's just been marvellous – she never never once let us down.

"It's fantastic that Miss Rausing is now going to have her back at Lanwades (Stud). Hopefully she can be just as successful as a broodmare.

"Hopefully we find another good one somewhere along the line and hopefully it may open up a door or two. I'll just keep working hard and hopefully another nice one comes along again."

Morris can look back at Alpinista's racing career with great fondness and great pride.

"I'm extremely privileged and I was extremely lucky to be able to ride her," he said.

"To win six Group Ones on the spin was a massive achievement, culminating in the Arc, and I can't thank Sir Mark, Miss (Kirsten) Rausing (owner-breeder) and all the team at Heath House enough.

"It's been an incredible journey and I'll look back on her career very fondly."