Mohaafeth Misses The Derby, Is Ascot Bound

Shadwell's Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was taken out of Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby due to the ease in the going and will head to Royal Ascot, trainer William Haggas explained. Visibly disappointed as he made the declaration on ITV Racing, the Newmarket-based handler was not happy to chance the Listed Newmarket S. winner on the good-to-soft ground following Friday's heavy rain. “After lots of soul searching and discussion, we have decided to scratch and go to Ascot,” he said. “It was a decision that essentially was left by Sheikha Hissa to me and I have never felt the horse is comfortable on soft, dead ground. It's not soft, but it is dead and I don't really want to run in a race I don't think I can win. I'm very grateful for the support and I'm sure it's the right decision, but we'll never know whether it's right or wrong. We all want to win the Derby, every owner, jockey and trainer wants to win the Derby, but we want to have a fighting chance. This is a young horse with a lot of potential and he's got a lot more to offer, so I think it will be a bump in the road running him today. So yes, it's sad, but in a way I'm relieved.”