Desert Crown (GB) (Narthaniel {Ire}), the unbeaten Derby winner, will not run in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York next month, his owner Saeed Suhail's racing manager Bruce Raymond has revealed.
Sir Michael Stoute's colt wowed racing fans with a devastating display in the Derby but has not been seen since that Epsom triumph.
He was being aimed at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on Saturday but was ruled out of that contest after missing a key piece of work with a foot injury.
In what is the latest blow to the connections of the outstanding 3-year-old, Desert Crown will not make it to York, with Raymond revealing that Soute has been taking things easy with the colt.
Raymond said, “We'll try to prepare him for the end of the season, either the Arc or the Champion S. I've not spoken to Sir Michael, but the York race is Aug. 17, he'd need to be galloping by now. I just don't think there is enough time to prepare him.”
In the absence of Desert Crown, Coral cut Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to 4-5 favourite from 5-4 for the York showpiece. Desert Crown can be backed at odds as big as 5-1 with some firms for the Prix de l Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2.
Stoute did not want to elaborate on the news, and simply said, “We are not going to issue any statements about it and not going to get into it. He is not going to York, though.”
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