Trainer Hugo Palmer has removed Godolphin's Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) from consideration for the June G1 Investec Derby, with the colt instead set to target Royal Ascot.
“The horse is in great nick but we always knew after his niggle at the beginning of March that the Derby would be cutting it fine,” Palmer explained. “His work [on Friday morning] was particularly satisfactory but he just got tired. And if a horse is getting tired over a mile-and-a-quarter gallop eight days before the Derby they are not going to run to the best of their ability.”
Best Of Days has not been seen since winning the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket in September.
“He has grown a lot over the winter and is much bigger and stronger, and with him being a big horse it takes a little bit more time to get him ready,” Palmer added. “The Derby is the world's greatest race but it takes a hell of a horse to win it, so rather than push him and let him run poorly we will look at other options.”
Palmer said Best Of Days holds entries in the G2 King Edward II S. and the G2 Queen's Vase S. at the Royal meeting, but is likely to target the former. “I would say the King Edward VII is more likely,” Palmer said. “He is a gorgeous horse and I can't wait to run him.”
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