One-time Melbourne Cup favourite and 2011 Cup placegetter Lucas Cranach has been retired from racing due to persistent injuries.

The classy German entire raced three times in Australia finishing fifth in the 2011 Caulfield Cup and third to Dunaden and Red Cadeaux in that year's Melbourne Cup.

He resumed in the autumn on 2012 and was an impressive first-up winner of the Group Two Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield before a leg injury forced him out of the rest of the autumn.

He was the early favourite for the 2012 Melbourne Cup but was ruled out of the spring carnival with a bone chip to a sesamoid, part of an ongoing problem.

Lucas Cranach did his Australian racing in the colours of Australian Bloodstock and its co-director Jamie Lovett confirmed the six-year-old's retirement on Twitter.

"Unfortunately for connections we have decided to retire Lucas Cranach this morning on the advice of vet. Very disappointing for all concerned," Lovett tweeted.

Lucas Cranach was trained by Anthony Freedman during his time in Australia and Freedman also expressed his disappointment.

"Very disappointing day with the retirement of Lucas Cranach, he had world class ability," Freedman tweeted.

"I hope he is picked up for stud duties here or NZ."