Foot abscess rules John and Thady Gosden's rising Juddmonte star out of $2.5m contest on Saudi Cup card

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John and Thady Gosden's rising Juddmonte star Shader has been scratched from the $2.5 million Red Sea Handicap on the Saudi Cup card this weekend due to a foot abscess. 

The homebred four-year-old was due to step up in trip at Riyadh on Saturday after a convincing win over Dubai Honour in the Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton in December.

He was third favourite for the race behind fellow Europeans Epic Poet (David O’Meara) and Tennessee Stud (Joseph O’Brien), but did not travel on the flight which left for the Middle East at the weekend.

Barry Mahon, racing manager to Juddmonte, said: “Shader was found to have a foot abscess on Saturday morning, so we couldn’t risk putting him on the plane to Saudi Arabia. 

"We still have Tarriance in the race, who is trained by Andrew Balding, and he’s doing well out there.”

Also scratched from the Red Sea Handicap was the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde, last seen when eighth in the Melbourne Cup in November.

Other British- and Irish-trained runners in the 1m7f race include Burdett Road (James Owen), Tabletalk (Tom Clover), Real Dream (Ian Williams) and Goodie Two Shoes (Joseph O’Brien).

Elsewhere on the Saudi card, Royal Champion (Karl Burke) will bid to back up his first overseas win in the Bahrain International Trophy in November when he tackles the $3m Neom Turf Cup, which has been promoted to Group 1 status this year and also features fellow Brits Phantom Flight (George Scott) and Survie (George Boughey), as well as the Irish-trained Galen (Joseph O’Brien).

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