Last year’s Cazoo Derby (G1) hero Desert Crown has been ruled out of the July 29 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot due to a leg infection.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained 4-year-old had been preparing to make his first start since finishing second to Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Sandown in May, having missed an engagement in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) the following month due to a minor setback.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Desert Crown’s owner Saeed Suhail, confirmed the news the morning of July 27 and said the next target will be the Aug. 23 Juddmonte International (G1) at York.
Raymond said: “He has a leg infection and we’ll go to York with him now. It happened yesterday, would you believe it? He’s in good shape and everything else is going well, it’s just bad timing for Ascot.”
Although Desert Crown has been ruled out of the big weekend event, Raymond explained the injury was no more than an infection.
He added: “I only heard last night. I don’t think it’s bad—it’s not a broken leg or a fracture, it’s just an infection and Michael said he wouldn’t be declaring him.”
As a result of Desert Crown missing the King George, Coral have shortened him to 5-1 (from 8) for the Juddmonte International next month, with Mostahdaf and Paddington heading the market at 3-1.
