Potential G1 Epsom Derby candidate Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is unlikely to make the lineup at Epsom having picked up a hock injury. The 3-year-old's form has a solid look to it now as he was last seen beating subsequent G3 Craven S. winner Stormy Antarctic (Stormy Atlantic) in the G1 Criterium International at Saint-cloud last November. “It is not career-ending, it is just a hold up, said Coolmore's UK representative Kevin Buckley. “He is not going to make a Guineas but he would have been more a horse for a Derby trial. Hopefully we will see him back in the middle to later part of the season.” Johannes Vermeer was kept busy by Aidan O'Brien in the second half of last season. He broke his maiden at Killarney in August, won the G3 Willis Champions Juvenile S. at Leopardstown in September before being beaten into fourth behind Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) when favourite for the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October. He bounced back three weeks later to be second to Marcel (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) in the G1 Racing Post Trophy before rounding out his season a week later with success at Longchamp.
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