G1 Cazoo Derby favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could be re-routed to next Thursday's G2 Dante S. at York after unsatisfactory blood work ruled him out of Saturday's Listed Derby Trial S. at Lingfield.
“His blood count didn't come back proper–his SAA [Serum Amyloid A] was very high and that is usually an indication of inflammation or infection somewhere, but we couldn't find either anywhere in his body,” O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing. “He scoped perfect this morning. Maybe it was just one of those things, but we'll do his bloods every day going forward and see. He's in the Dante and we'll see what happens over the next few days.”
O'Brien admitted it would be difficult to send High Definition to Epsom without a prep race.
“For us, we need to be getting out, because with the travelling you'd like a bit of time between their first and their second run,” he said. “The Dante normally is a little bit close to the Derby, but there's a little bit longer this year and that is probably what we'll look at. He'll have to improve every day and go forwards. If they [bloods] all came back normal and it had settled down then it's very possible. Realistically you couldn't go to the Derby without a run.”
O'Brien likewise confirmed that Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), fourth as the favourite in last weekend's G1 1000 Guineas, is on course for the G1 Cazoo Oaks.
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