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A health issue that nearly claimed the life of the Group One winner Vespa last spring has brought a premature end to his racing career.

The Chris Rutten and John Norwood-owned son of Elusive City made an unlikely return to racing this year, but when it became apparent he was not operating to his own high standards the decision was made to call time.

“He had an abscess in his lung that was about half the size of a football – he is lucky to be alive,” Rutten said.

“He came back but when we knew he was running on six cylinders instead of eight it was time to retire him. In his last couple of races it was clear he wasn’t himself.

“He gave us a lot of fun and now we have to look after him and do what’s best so he will be retired.”

A stud deal for Vespa has yet to be confirmed, but Rutten and Norwood will both retain an interest in the stallion.

The winner of seven of his 18 starts and more than $915,000, Vespa was crowned champion two-year-old of 2014 after his victories in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes and the Listed Karaka Million.

The following season he won the Listed Northland Breeders’ Stakes before venturing to Melbourne where he was a luckless sixth in the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.

He returned home to claim the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas and against the older horses won the Listed Flying Handicap and ran a close second in the Gr.1 Easter Handicap. He resumed as a four-year-old in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.

“He went a huge race for fifth and was very unlucky, but three days later he just crashed and that’s when he went to Massey,” said Johno Benner, who guided Vespa’s early career before being joined in partnership by Holly Wynyard.

“His four runs after that were solid and his second in the NRM Sprint to Xtravagant did us proud, but he wasn’t at his top.

“Holly and I owe an awful lot to him and it will be hard to find another one as good – it was one hell of a ride and we’re looking forward to the next part of his life.”