King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes: The winner of the Desert Crown Derby is no longer in doubt after suffering minor injuries | Racing news
Derby winner Desert Crown has suffered a minor injury, which could put his participation in next weekend’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in doubt.
An impressive Classic winner, Sir Michael Stoute-trained son Nathaniel is unbeaten in his three post-match starts at Epsom.
However, the pony owned by Saeed Suhail, who went head-to-head in several places for a mile-and-a-half mile show in Ascot on Saturday, was a market rogue Wednesday afternoon, with Coral eventually suspended their market Desert Crown becoming the second pony owned by Saeed Suhail trained by Stoute to win the Derby following Kris Kin’s success in 2003.
Richard Kingscote lifts the Derby Cup at Epsom
Hopes are high he will be straight with Derby form, locking horns once again with next Irish Derby winner Westover, who finished two and three quarters of the length behind him in second place. three at Epsom.
However, Stoute told the PA news agency: “He won’t be working tomorrow morning.
“We just had a little laugh that we were checking his leg.” When asked about the specifics of the injury and whether he suffered a stone bruise, Stoute said: “Who knows?”
He added: “We’re just checking on him.” So we’ll have more news on Friday or Saturday. It is too early to say whether he will run for King George. We cannot make a decision now. “
