Fergie's former racehorse enjoying a retirement with beaches and beer

Sir Alex Ferguson's former champions have gone on to have varied post-sport careers, from Gary Neville's role as a pundit to Eric Cantona's Hollywood stardom.

But it's a more relaxing life for one retired winner.

Spirit Dancer was one of Ferguson's most successful racehorses and is now enjoying strolls on the beaches of County Donegal and even enjoying some beer each day.

Instead of being put out to pasture in England after an injury, the gelding was placed in stables in Rathmullan.

So how did this English-trained champion end up in Donegal?

Trainer Rachel Carton works at the stables in Rathmullan and her stepson is the top jockey Oisín Orr, who rode Spirit Dancer.

Together Orr and the thoroughbred brought great success for Sir Alex and his co-owner.

"Oisín rode him twice in Bahrain and he won the Bahrain International twice with him [Spirit Dancer] and Fergie, as we now affectionately call him," Carton said.

She said her stepson later took up a job in England with Richard Fahey, who was training Spirit Dancer.

When the horse unfortunately suffered a career-ending injury, Orr stepped in with a solution.

"He sprained his fetlock joint which is the equivalent of the ankle in a human," she said.

"He had his rest and his rehab and his medication, but it became obvious last autumn when he started into his training again that the joint just wasn't going to stand up to racing again.

"So the decision was made that he had earned his retirement."

Orr then asked if it was possible to retire him to his home stables where he learned to ride.

The horse has adapted well to his new surroundings and enjoys lapping up a locally-brewed beer with his dinner.

But he is only allowed a few drops each time, Carton said.

She said Spirit Dancer was a "step above most horses" whose "superior character as well as ability comes through".

The horse's hugely successful career included winning about $2m (£1.5m) in back-to-back successes in the Bahrain International Trophy in 2023 and 2024.

Carton described him as a lovely, easy going horse who would adapt to new surroundings if given time to process it all.

"It's probably what stood to him with the racing as well," she said.

"Oisín was able to keep him calm and relaxed and settled out the back of the field.

"He wasn't using up any unnecessary energy but when he was asked to go he would... he would give it his all."

Spirit Dancer is the offspring of the famed champion Frankel - once dubbed the Usain Bolt of the horse racing world - and it seems he is a chip off the old block.

"Anyone who is into racing will have heard of Frankel, who is pretty much a superstar racehorse and sire," Carton said.

"It's actually one of the traits of Frankel himself that as he got older he also became very mellow and a good-natured horse.

"So far Spirit Dancer seems to be going to same way. He's a very pleasant horse to be around.

"He can be a bit cranky in the stables, but once he's out and about he's a complete pet and very curious."

The Donegal trainer said Sir Alex had huge time and respect for Spirit Dancer.

"He's accustomed to dealing with athletes because footballers are athletes," she said.

"Despite the fact they throw themselves on the ground if they so much as stub their toe, but they are athletes.

"So I think Sir Alex just recognised the superiority of this horse and also his temperament.

"And he had bred the horse, so he knew him from the foal right up and was able to follow his life and not just his career."

Orr said he believed the horse on which he had so much success would love Donegal.

"Spirit Dancer has been a big part of my career since moving from Ireland to the UK. I was very fortunate to get on him," he said.

Videos of all the activities mapped out for the horse have been sent on to his former trainer Fahey, and in turn to Sir Alex.

The former premiership manager might be surprised by one new retirement treat enjoyed by Spirit Dancer.

"He's gone past his elite athlete stage and I work in a well-known local brewery too so I'm able to give him a beer with his dinner every night," Carton said.

"In fact the horses here all get beer with their dinner. They enjoy it!"