King George winner Poet's Word ruled out for rest of the year with injury

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Poet’s Word will miss the remainder of the year following an injury setback.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained two-time Group 1 winner was last seen finishing second to Roaring Lion in the Juddmonte International at York but the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in November, for which he was a 6-1 shot, has been ruled out.

Poet’s Word, owned by Saeed Suhail, defeated Cracksman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished second in the Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night at Meydan in March.

Stoute said in a statement: "Poet's Word has sustained an injury and will not be able to race again this year.

"His owner, Saeed Suhail, will soon be coming to England and will make a decision on his future."

The five-year-old, placed joint-second in the latest Longines World Rankings behind Australian wondermare Winx last month, was also entered in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot, in which he finished second to Cracksman last year.

Philip Robinson, understudy to the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond, reflected on the star's campaign: "It's a real shame about the injury but he's had a great season.

"I've been there for almost all his runs since I joined the operation and it's been a pleasure to be associated with the horse up to this point. Hopefully we've still got a future with him at some stage.

"He's a determined and tough horse, and doesn't know when to give in. He's a real fighter and they're the horses who get the injuries as they give it all they've got."

Coral shortened Qipco Champion Stakes favourite Roaring Lion to 5-4 (from 11-8) following Poet's Word being ruled out.

"Poet's Word was the closest challenger to Roaring Lion in the Champion Stakes betting, so the premature end to his campaign has seen the latter shorten at the head of the Ascot market, with last year's winner Cracksman the new second favourite," said Coral's David Stevens.

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