Group One-winning colt Astern has been retired and will stand alongside his sire Medaglia D'Oro in the Hunter Valley in the spring.

Godolphin Australia managing director Henry Plumptre praised the Golden Rose winner whose autumn campaign ended after his unplaced run in last Saturday's TJ Smith Stakes on unsuitable heavy ground.

The TJ Smith was his first start since the spring with niggling viral issues and wet tracks thwarting his latest campaign.

"Astern is a colt of the highest quality. He is an exceptional type from a world-class family," Plumptre said.

"His performance in the Golden Rose placed him on top of the three-year-old rankings.

"Medaglia d'Oro has been a phenomenal stallion for us in both hemispheres, and, as his best son, Astern has all the credentials to follow in his father's footsteps."

The winner of five of his nine starts, Astern retires to stud the highest-rated son of Medaglia d'Oro.