Trainer Freddy Head has paid tribute to Moonlight Cloud after confirming the great mare has left his stables to prepare to be a brood mare.

The six-year-old failed to sign off her career with a victory when she could only finish sixth in the Hong Kong Mile, but before that had won three consecutive Group Ones in France in sensational style.

Moonlight Cloud came closer than any other horse to defeating Black Caviar when she ran the champion to a head at Royal Ascot in June 2012.

The French mare won six Group Ones in all and excelled at Deauville where she claimed three consecutive Prix Maurice de Gheests and a Prix Jacques le Marois.

But perhaps her most impressive display came in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October when she showed the sort of acceleration not seen very often.

"She was a great mare, probably one of the best I've trained, but when you've also trained Goldikova it is difficult to say that she was definitely the best," Head said.

"Let's say that she was definitely in the same league.

"She had a lot of class, maybe not quite the same amount of stamina as Goldikova, but she had a very smart turn of foot.

"It is very difficult to compare them, they were both exceptional.

"She's going to visit Galileo and I just hope I'm not too old to train her babies!

"Goldikova has a yearling by Galileo, and she has visited him again since.

"I'm sure Moonlight Cloud will produce nice foals, too. She was a lovely horse to train and I've got some great memories of her, the acceleration she showed in the Foret will live with me a long time.

"It will be hard to come across another one as good as those two but we'll keep trying."