Sheikh Hamdan's G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas runner-up Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has been ruled out of the remainder of the season by trainer Owen Burrows but will remain in training next year. The bay colt signaled his talent last year with a second behind Air Force Blue (War Front) in the G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. and filled the same position first-up in the Guineas, but was beaten 16 lengths when ninth in the G1 Investec Derby. Given a short summer break thereafter, he was beaten 40 lengths when last of seven in Salisbury's G3 Sovereign S. Aug. 11.
“He's finished for the year,” Burrows confirmed. “He'll have a break now and we will bring him back next year. He is back at Shadwell.”
“There is nothing major wrong with him, we've just found a few niggly problems,” the trainer explained. “But they are enough to explain the poor run at Salisbury and enough to put a stop to his year. All being well, we will start him off back over a mile next year. He is only lightly raced and we are still learning about him.”
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