No Firm Plan Yet For Almanzor

Jean Claude Rouget was out of luck with dual Group 1 winner Qemah (Ire) (Danehil Dancer {Ire}) who was second at Lingfield on Saturday and the trainer was also able to provide the latest update on last year's star colt Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {Fr}). The brilliant 4-year-old won three Group 1 races last year culminating with a defeat of Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot in October but earlier this year he was one of a number of horses affected by a virus that laid low the Rouget stable. “He is ok,” Rouget told At The Races. “Obviously we had a virus in the yard where he is but all the horses are now back cantering normally. They look well physically and mentally. With Almanzor the original target was the [G1] Prix d'Ispahan May 28 but that won't happen. He might run at Chantilly in June but we will have to see if he recovers his best form in training.”