Four-time Group One winner Trapeze Artist has been retired after suffering a shoulder injury in his attempted defence of the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.

The four-year-old came out of the race with a large haematoma after finishing seventh.

Trainer Gerald Ryan said owner Bert Vieira had immediately decided he should be retired.

Widden Stud will stand Trapeze Artist on behalf of Vieira in the upcoming breeding season.

"That's it," Ryan said. "Bert said, 'enough is enough'.

"I'd say he's torn a muscle and it's haemorrhaged.

"He's been such a wonderful horse to all of us and I look forward to his first son or daughter to walk into my stables."

Trapeze Artist retires with seven wins from 20 starts and prize money of more than $5.5 million.

His four Group One wins were in the 2017 Golden Rose, last year's TJ Smith Stakes and All Aged Stakes and last month's Canterbury Stakes.