Paul Smith's Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) has suffered a superficial injury to his left foreleg and will miss the first half of the flat season. Trainer Roger Varian said, however, the 4-year-old would be targeted to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, in which he finished fourth last year.
“Kingston Hill will miss the first half of the season due to a setback,” Varian said. “He is sound but sore.
He has an area of significant bruising and inflammation which will take time to settle.”
“It goes without saying that this is an early-season blow as he looks so well and has been training better than ever,” Varian added. “We will now target the top middle-distance races later in the season with all roads leading back to Longchamp in October for another crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.”
Kingston Hill has been in a Group 1 winner in each of his two seasons on the racetrack. He took the G1 Racing Post Trophy as a 2-year-old and won last year's G1 St Leger in addition to finishing second in the G1 Epsom Derby.
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