British raider Telecaster will miss this weekends Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after suffering a late setback just days before the Group One event at ParisLongchamp.
The Castle Down Racing owned colt has had an up and down career, bursting onto the scene at Doncaster with a good second and then bolting up at Windsor next time out, really announcing himself as a horse to watch.
After that win, he went to York in the Group Two Dante Stakes where he managed to see off a strong field including multiple Group One winner Too Darn Hot.
After that he struggled for form finishing last in the Derby and then only beating one home in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown.
With those underwhelming performances he was put away for the rest of the season and came back 11 months later in June this year and finished a good third in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes.
He used that run to improve and get off the mark for the season in the Group Three La Coupe at ParisLongchamp, but couldn't back that up at the Ebor meeting when fourth in the City Of York Stakes.
Telecaster made it back to back wins in France last time out when taking the Group Two Grand Prix de Deauville on heavy ground and having stayed the Arc trip well, his connections had big plans for the four year old.
BREAKING NEWS...
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) September 29, 2020
Recent Grand Prix de Deauville winner TELECASTER will NOT be lining up in this weekends Arc de Triomphe after trainer Hughie Morrison was unhappy with his work earlier this morning ❌
Massive shame for connections 👎🏼
🎬 @AtTheRaces pic.twitter.com/7FOeA2tqvJ
With the rain coming for the colt his connections were dreaming big with entering him for the Group One but to the frustration of the owners and trainer Hughie Morrison he will not be running.
(Credit ATR) Mark Weinfeld, of owners Castle Down Stud, said: “It’s a real shame, but this is what can happen with horses – he’s just wasn’t 100 per cent sound this morning.
“We’re absolutely gutted. It’s nothing too serious, but it’s just sod’s law.
“He’s in the Champion Stakes at Ascot – and as I haven’t heard what the vet has said, I’m not sure if he’ll make that or not. We just need to know what the problem is.
“It would be nice if he made Ascot, because that is likely to be soft ground too. It’s rather deflated the week, though.”
Looking to next term, Weinfeld added: “I think he’ll probably stay in training next year.
“I was hoping we’d have had a good offer from a stud by now – but nothing has come yet, so we could continue next year and hope for a wet year.
“We’re all very disappointed. But the horse is in one piece, and we live to fight another day.”