Leading European contender Ramatuelle (Justify) has been withdrawn from Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Mile on veterinary advice.
Trained by Christopher Head for owners including NBA Hall of Famer Tony Parker, Ramatuelle was last seen making the breakthrough at the top level with an emphatic victory in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, impressing with her turn of foot as she powered clear in the closing stages to win by three lengths.
Connections had been confident of a bold bid at Del Mar after being handed an inside draw but have now been forced to scratch the three-year-old.
A statement issued on behalf of Ramatuelle's connections posted on X said, “We are deeply disappointed that Ramatuelle has been withdrawn from the Breeders' Cup, especially with the anticipation surrounding her as a leading contender in this prestigious event.
“She has been moving beautifully all week at Del Mar and is in peak physical condition, making today's outcome understandably frustrating for our team.
“We have immense respect for the Breeders' Cup's rigorous protocols and the dedicated veterinary team, whose responsibility to protect equine athletes is essential to our sport.
“Although Ramatuelle's PET Scan report stated 'no definitive major concern for breakdown was identified', it showed signs of bone remodelling. While this is common in three-year-olds, it prompted the decision to proceed with an abundance of caution and withdraw her from the race.”
The statement added, “As a Group 1-winning daughter of Justify, Ramatuelle remains nominated for the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, and we will take a day to carefully consider her next steps.”
Head was quoted as saying, “Ramatuelle arrived in good order, she's been training well, and she's been eating up every day.
“This is obviously a disappointment and a bit of a shock for all of us, but at the end of the day, she's healthy and well, and that's what really matters. There will be more Breeders' Cups for the stable, and we'll look forward to those opportunities.”
(For more on PET scans as a diagnostic tool, read Dan Ross's story in Friday's TDN.)
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