Sakheer (Ire) was found to have genuine excuses for disappointing in last Friday's Commonwealth Cup after trainer Roger Varian reported that the colt emerged from Royal Ascot with “front limb lameness”.
The Zoffany (Ire) colt won two of his three juvenile starts last season, including the Group 2 Mill Reef S. at Newbury, and after failing to see out the mile in the 2,000 Guineas, was sent off as short as 17-2 for the Commonwealth Cup.
However, Sakheer trailed home last of the 13 runners reverting in trip, and Varian says that genuine excuses are coming to light for the sub-par performance.
The trainer posted on Twitter, “Unfortunately Sakheer is not 100 per cent following his run in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday.
“He is currently unsound and being investigated for a front limb lameness. He will require a period of time out of training but will return to the track later in the year.
“Whilst this is obviously disappointing, it does go some way to explaining his below-par performance.”
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