Richard Hannon's leading stable star and Queen Anne Stakes favourite at Royal Ascot King Of Change has been ruled out of Royal Ascot and instead be targeted at the big contests in the autumn.
The four year old last season raced four times and truly arose as a horse to be reckoned with having won nicely at Nottingham on his seasonal debut before heading into the 2000 Guineas as a 66/1 shot and finishing a bold second.
From there the son of Farhh took a small break and was unleashed again in September, winning the Listed Fortune Stakes at Sandown and that set the colt up perfectly to land the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champion Day.
After landing that Group One he is a horse that Hannon was well and truly looking forward to unleashing in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting but now he will head for other targets according to the trainer.
Much the best – King Of Change powers to Queen Elizabeth II glory under @LeveySean for @rhannonracing at @Ascot #ChampionsDay pic.twitter.com/xZqV24K51l
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 19, 2019
(Credit Racing Post) Hannon said: "He's quite a heavy colt who showed when winning the QEII last season that he loves some cut, so rather than campaign him on fast going through the summer we've decided we'll save him for some big targets later in the year.
"There are a lot of big prizes for him at that time of the season and it was always a big part of the plan, so we're happy to wait.
"There's the Prix du Moulin for him and on Champions Day he could go for the QEII again or the Champion Stakes, when he'd be more likely to get his ground."
The colt had been a general 3/1 joint favourite for the first race at Royal Ascot and with him not heading to the contest it leaves it open for the likes of Circus Maximus for Aidan O'Brien who won the St James's Palace Stakes at the meeting last year.