Stakes-winning juvenile Main Desire (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) will miss Royal Ascot, and likely the rest of the season, after suffering a setback, according to trainer Michael Bell. Racing in the colours of Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics, the filly broke her maiden at Nottingham on May 2 and took the Listed Marygate Fillies' S. at York two weeks later. She was being pointed for the G2 Queen Mary S. at the Royal meeting.
“It's desperate for all concerned, particularly her owner Steve Parkin, because according to the bookmakers at least, she had a leading chance,” Bell said. “It's crazy to speculate at this stage, but what I can say for certain is that she won't be running on Wednesday week. It's unlikely she'll run again this season, but hopefully she'll be fine for her 3-year-old career. I hope it's not career threatening.”
“It's hard to take,” he added. “We still have Big Orange in the [G1] Gold Cup and Ronald R in the Britannia H. along with a few other bullets, but she looked to be our best chance.”
Another Ascot defector on Tuesday was Godolphin and Lordship Stud's Swiss Storm (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who beat just one home on his seasonal reappearance in the G2 Dante S. on May 18.
“He won't be going to Royal Ascot,” trainer David Elsworth confirmed. “He's had a small issue that has put him back a month. He's OK and we're just erring on the side of caution.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
