Godolphin's hopes of winning the Kentucky Derby (Gr 1), one of the major races that has eluded their grasp, was dealt a big blow when leading candidate Blues And Royals was ruled out of the Classic.
Godolphin announced late on Monday that Blues And Royals, a runaway winner of the UAE Derby will not run in the May 7 race at Louisville as he was suffering from a low-grade respiratory illness.
"It is very disappointing for everyone concerned because we were very much looking forward to taking Blues And Royals to Churchill Down," Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford said on the stable's website.
"He seemed to have the right credentials for the race, but it is just one of those things. The horse's welfare has to come first and it just would not be possible for us to get him ready.
"It would not be in his best interests to send him to Kentucky. All immediate plans for him are on hold."
Blues And Royals burst into the Kentucky Derby picture following his 12-length victory of the UAE Derby (Gr 2) at Nad Al Sheba on March 26. Winning the Kentucky Derby has been high on Godolphin's priority list ever since the stable was launched in the mid nineties.
Godolphin has had five runners challenge for the race in the past but none in the last two years.
Worldly Manner, their first ever Kentucky Derby runner in 1999, finished seventh behind Charismatic. In subsequent attempts, China Visit and Curule were sixth and seventh to Fusaichi Pegasus, Express Tour eighth behind Monarchos and Essence of Dubai ninth to War Emblem.
Godolphin revealed that although Blues And Royals will miss the Derby, he would nevertheless be shipped to Belmont Park later this month along with a small contingent of horses to be based in America for the season.
American bookmakers, who remain sceptical of Godolphin's methods, had rated Blues And Royals a 20-1 chance behind Kentucky favourite Bellamy Road who is trained by Nick Zito.
Latest odds (Kentucky Derby):
Bellamy Road 4/1; Sun Kind 8/1; High Limit 10/1; Bandini, Consolidator and High Fly 12/1; Greater Good, Greely's Galaxy, Nobel Causeway and Rockport Harbor 15/1; Afleet Alex, Wilko 20/1; Buzzards Bay 30/1; 40/1 bar.
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