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| Sumita Pawar |
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Shadwell-owned Anmaat will not be able to participate in Saturday's Coral Eclipse at Sandown due to a foot abscess.
From Triumph To Disappointment: A Champion's Journey
After winning the John Smith's Cup last summer, the 5YO trained by Owen Burrows continued his success by winning the Gr.3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes and the Gr.2 Prix Dollar before taking a break during the winter.
He had recently finished second in the Gordon Richards Stakes and won the Prix d'Ispahan in France. His connections were excited to see him compete at the highest level in his home country, but unfortunately, he will not be able to race at the Esher venue.
Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said, “It looks like a foot abscess and we sort of hoped it was going to burst overnight, but it hasn’t and he’s just not 100 percent sound this morning.
“It’s just a matter of timing, he’ll be fine next week hopefully. Like all of these things, you can’t fight them, that’s nature’s way and he just isn’t right to run on Saturday.
“It’s a big blow to Owen and the team there and obviously Sheikha Hissa and all at Shadwell. It was going to be interesting to see him against the best mile-and-a-quarter horses in this country and Ireland, but there’s no point making a fuss about it — those are the cards we’ve been dealt.”
It is unlikely that Anmaat will compete in next month's Juddmonte International, as Shadwell is focusing on sending Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Mostahdaf to the race.
Gold added, “That (Juddmonte International) is the obvious one, except for the fact that if we’re lucky and get there in one piece we have Mostahdaf lined up for that.
“Off the top of my head, we could look at something like the Irish Champion Stakes (for Anmaat), but that is obviously a while away yet (September 9).
“The Eclipse was his prime summer target, but there we go. We’re just digesting it, so we haven’t sat down with the programme book yet, but the Irish Champion would certainly be an option.”