Group winner Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) sustained an injury during the running of the G1 Betfred Derby and will miss the rest of the season according to trainer Adrian Murray.
Owned by Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing, the G3 Ballysax S. hero ran 14th over the good to soft ground.
“Dallas Star picked up a bit of an injury unfortunately and I'd say he won't run again now this year,” said Murray. “I know the ground had gone a bit quick for him, but he's a better horse than that.”
Murray also had updates on his Royal Ascot team, which would number as many as 10, all in the deep purple silks with white checked cap of Amo Racing. G3 Marble Hill S. hero Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) is pointing to the G2 Coventry S., while California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) is set for the G2 Queen Mary S. or G3 Albany S. The trainer enjoyed his first Royal Ascot winner with Valiant Force (Malibu Moon) at 150-1 in the G2 Norfolk S. in 2023. He returns to the fray, as does Group 1 winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
“We're hoping to have nine or 10 going,” he said. “Arizona Blaze will go, he'll probably go over six furlongs in the Coventry.
“We've a nice 2-year-old filly in California Dreamer, she'll either go Queen Mary or the Albany and of course there's Valiant Force.
“We'll split him and Bucanero Fuerte up so Valiant Force will probably run over five with Bucanero in the [G1] Commonwealth Cup, but none of these plans are set in stone just yet, we're still over a week away and a lot can change.”
Breeders' Cup runner-up and multiple graded/group stakes winner Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) has also returned from a stint in America and has joined Murray's string.
“Go Bears Go is with us now, he's back from America,” he added. “We did have him in a race the other day but I'm not sure where he'll go, I'll have to talk to Kia.”
G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup third Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}) could also be a force at Royal Ascot, and Murray is aiming the 4-year-old at the G2 Hardwicke S. He won the G2 Beresford S. in 2022. He was one position in front of stablemate Elegant Man (Arrogate) in the Gold Cup.
He said, “Crypto Force ran well in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He finished in front of Elegant Man, but when we galloped them the week before Elegant Man galloped all over him. There's every chance he'll get his ground at Ascot, possibly in the Hardwicke.”
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