Desert Crown's Arc bid in major doubt as connections look to next year

Derby hero Desert Crown appears increasingly unlikely to feature in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe or Champion Stakes, with the Classic winner in a race against time to return for the backend of the season.

Saeed Suhail’s colt has been ruled out of the King George and Juddmonte International in recent weeks due to a foot injury, with his recovery ongoing.

Desert Crown heads the ante-post betting at 5-1 for the Longchamp showpiece on October 2 but connections are already looking to next year, a potential crack at the Sheema Classic at Meydan, in case he does not run again this season.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail, said: “It is a minor injury and healing well, but enough to stop Michael [Stoute] preparing him for the midsummer races. We were hoping to get him ready for the Champion Stakes or the Arc, but that’s in Michael’s hands and it depends how things go with him.”

He added on the Nick Luck Daily podcast: “The difficulty is whether Michael will have time to prepare him for the backend, which probably is doubtful. He’ll definitely be back for next year and I know Saaed would like to take him to Dubai for the Sheema Classic. It’s a great race for kudos and winning over there but you may miss some of the early season races in Britain. You have to give them some good time for recovery afterwards.”

Desert Crown is unbeaten in three starts and recorded a Racing Post Rating of 125 in the Derby last month – a figure only bettered by Golden Horn (127) in 2015 in the past decade.

Several bookmakers have taken Desert Crown out of the Arc betting following the update on his recovery, with Coral making three-time Japanese top-level winner Titleholder the new favourite at 5-1.

Coral’s John Hill said: “Japan have been desperately trying to win the Arc over the last couple of decades and they look to have a great chance this year. With Desert Crown now most likely out for the season, Titleholder is the new favourite for the premier middle distance contest in Europe.”

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Longchamp, October 2)

Coral: 5 Titleholder, 7 Vadeni, 8 Alpinista, Torquator Tasso, 12 Onesto, Pyledriver, 14 Free Wind, 16 Baaeed, Do Deuce, Hurricane Lane, Luxembourg, Nashwa, Westover, 20 bar

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