Roger Teal's Oxted has been ruled out of the Group One Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday after the Group One winning horse was below par in his preparation to the race on the gallops.
Oxted has bounced onto the racing scene this term having showed huge promise as a juvenile when landing his final contest in September, he has gone on to do things for his handler they never thought would be possible.
After building in size and maturing for the winter, Oxted started his three year old career in the Group Three Abernant Stakes, seeing off a decent field of seven runners who have previous group race experience.
Having looked very professional at Newmarket he was sent back there for his first experience in a Group One with the July Cup over six furlongs attracting a superstar field of runners.
Roger Teal's sprinter saw off a classy field to land his first ever black type victory with his jockey, the young Cieren Fallon also landing his first ever Group One success.
Oxted (Mayson) follows his father with success in the Darley July Cup 👏
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 11, 2020
The biggest victory in the career of @RogerTealRacing, and what about the jockey - still a claiming apprentice, and a Group 1 winner on his just his second ride at the highest level! @CierenFallonJr pic.twitter.com/BsDviF5hzC
Having avoided Battaash in the Nunthorpe he looked set to have another crack at the Sprint Cup but will now be aimed at elsewhere.
(Credit ATR) "I'm not going to run Oxted and wanted to let people know as soon as possible.
"He just worked below par this morning and with the ground being on the easy side I don't want to risk him. I'd rather wait for Champions Day at Ascot.
"We're waiting on some blood tests because he didn't work his normal self this morning and you want to be 100 per cent sure you're firing on all cylinders going into a race like that.
"Everything was fine before today, but you know what horses are like."
Teal was already worried about running his star this weekend with it set to be tough, testing conditions.
He added: "I've made the first entry stage for Ascot, which will be our next target. Unfortunately these things happen and we were delighted with him over the weekend, but today we weren't.
"We'll wait on those results, but he's good at telling us things and you've got to listen to the signs. If we ignored them and he disappointed on Saturday we'd be kicking ourselves."