Rashabar, who had been no bigger than 12-1 for Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp, is set to miss the French Classic, according to trainer Brian Meehan.
The winner of last year's G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot posted a fine reappearance run to finish second in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury last month. However, he is now being re-routed to the Irish 2,000 Guineas after Meehan reported his charge to be “not 100%” after spiking a temperature recently.
Meehan said of the son of Holy Roman Emperor, “Unfortunately Rashabar will miss the Poule d'Essai des Poulains this Sunday. He spiked a temperature a couple of days ago and subsequent bloods have shown he is not 100%. As always in these situations it is better to be cautious and we will now aim for the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.”
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Henri Matisse heads the betting at 4-1 for Sunday's contest with the master of Ballydoyle also represented by recent winner Officer, Rock Of Cashel, Serengeti and Camille Pissarro. Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell is another Irish-trained runner who features among the 21 horses left in the race.
Meanwhile, having hit the crossbar with Field Of Gold at Newmarket, John Gosden is hoping to go one better in France with Detain.
“He's in good form and is French Guineas-bound,” said Gosden, who trains the colt alongside his son Thady. “That's where we plan to send him and I think the track will suit him. The only thing about the French Guineas is, well just please draw a single number, because if you get from 10 out to 16 or 18, you may as well trot back.”
He added, “I used to walk the track every year with Frankie [Dettori] and if you ever stand at the start over a mile at Longchamp, you'll see what happens to the track–it immediately turns right downhill, and you have to stay straight. Those on the inside have already taken two lengths out of you and it can be a problem, the mile start at Longchamp.”
There are 16 left in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, with O'Brien able to choose from Bedtime Story, Exactly, Merrily and Heavens Gate.
Ollie Sangster, second and third in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, has left in Celestial Orbit, with Zanzoun another big player for the Gosdens and Charlie Fellowes set to field Shes Perfect. Vertical Blue and Zarigana form part of the home team.
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