Unbeaten Derby winner Desert Crown is out of Ascot with a hoof problem that race officials can’t take chances on… but he could make a return at the International Stakes in York next month
- Desert Crown, the undefeated Derby winner, will miss Ascot through injury
- He has sustained a hoof injury and has already been scanned to assess the damage
- His race directors are targeting the International Stakes in York next month
Unbeaten Derby winner Desert Crown will miss Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot with a hoof problem.
Ante-post betting on the mid-season championship race had been suspended on Wednesday after news emerged of the problem and now trainer Sir Michael Stoute has confirmed his stallion will not run.
Bruce Raymond, race director for Desert Crown owner Saeed Suhail, said: “He had a foot injury and was scanned. Michael just told me he can’t walk in the King George.
Unbeaten Derby winner Desert Crown will miss Ascot with a hoof injury
Desert Crown race officials are targeting a return at next month’s International Stakes in York
“If it were a weaker horse we might take a risk, but you wouldn’t dare with a horse like this.”
Raymond suggested that next month’s International Stakes in York could now become Desert Crown’s next target.
Christophe Soumillon’s 12-day careless driving ban, imposed after nearly bringing down two rivals while celebrating his Eclipse Stakes win on Vadeni, has been reduced to eight days on appeal.
Jockey Richard Kingscote rode Desert Crown to victory on Derby Day during the Cazoo Derby
