Mount Athos Future Uncertain

Globetrotting group winner Mount Athos (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) faces an uncertain future on the racetrack after trainer Marco Botti revealed Wednesday the 8-year-old gelding could be retired. The Marwan Koukash silkbearer, who has not been seen since winning the Listed Aston Park S. almost a year ago, was being readied for the May 8 G3 Ormonde S., a race he won in 2013, but Botti has now ruled him out of that contest. 
“It was always the plan to bring him back for Chester but that has come too soon for him,” the conditioner said. “He is a horse that has had plenty of issues and we need to speak to his owner whether that is it and we call it a day.” 
Mount Athos could be replaced in the Ormonde by the Botti-trained Group 1 winner Tac de Boistron (Fr) (Take Risks {Fr}). 

“He is entered at York for the Yorkshire Cup but if he gets his ground we might run him in the Ormonde S. at Chester next week,” Botti said. 

Botti also revealed that Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa’s Moohaarib (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the winner of Wednesday’s Listed Paradise S., will step up to Group 1 company in the Lockinge S. May 16.