Al Shaqab's King Of Rooks (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) will be shelved for the remainder of his juvenile year after finishing sixth in Kempton's G3 Sirenia S. on Saturday. The bay was purchased privately by Al Shaqab after winning the Listed National S. in May and subsequently placed in the G2 Norfolk S. and G3 Molecomb S. prior to a pair of off-the-board finishes for trainer Richard Hannon.
“King Of Rooks was hugely disappointing at Kempton on Saturday,” said Harry Herbert, racing advisor to Al Shaqab. “He looked great in the paddock before the race, but it might be that he has just lost his way a bit as nothing has come to light following the race. It is probably time to draw stumps and freshen him up for next season. We may have gone to the well one too many times this season.”
Herbert added, “These horses are not machines and you never know if they are going to train on, but he has enough scope and size to suggest he will. Hopefully he will make a lovely sprinter for next season.”
Herbert had better news regarding Al Shaqab's G1 Morny victor Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who will target the G1 Middle Park S. Sept. 26.
“The Middle Park is very much the plan at the moment provided [trainer] John [Gosden] is happy with him, and that might well conclude the year for him,” Herbert noted. “He is an excitingly fast 2-year-old and his performance in France was terrific. Physically he is doing very well and he looks the best 2-year-old out there and, all being well, he will turn into a magnificent sprinter.”
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