Henry Cecil sustained another crushing blow in the run-up to the Vodafone Derby as Sandmason was overturned at York today.
With his main hope Beat Hollow and other possibles Bien Entendu and Wellbeing on the sick list, the trainer needed a boost from Sandmason.
But the colt, a well-backed 5-4 favourite, failed to sparkle and went down by one and a half lengths to Hataab in the Michael Seely Memorial Glasgow Stakes.
Hataab, under an assured ride from Richard Hills, made most of the running and pulled out more to take care of the favourite.
Sandmason, who was beaten by Beat Hollow on his last outing, is now 25-1 for the Derby with Victor Chandler.
Hataab was strengthening the Derby hand of owner Hamdan Al-Matkoum whose Sakhee won yesterday's Dante Stakes.
But the colt, trained by Ed Dunlop, is unlikely to run in the Epsom Classic even though he is quoted at 16-1 by some bookmakers.
Cecil, who is planning to give Beat Hollow slightly more serious work to check on his recovery from a lung ailment, was absent at York today.
Stable jockey Richard Quinn admitted to being "very disappointed" by Sandmason. "The winner just kept on galloping and I could not get on terms with him," he said.
Hataab emerges with plenty of credit as he was giving 6lb away to all the other runners.
But Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold said: "I would be surprised if he figured in our Derby calculations. The King Edward VII Stakes is probably more a target for him.
"He's an idle horse at home but he does his best on the track and he's certainly got a good attitude.
"He was given a good ride today as on this sort of greasy surface it was probably best to be out in front."
Ralph Beckett secured his first victory under Flat racing rules since taking over from Peter Walwyn last November when Malleus obliged in the Scarborough Handicap.
Beckett, 28, said: "Things have been going well enough but I needed that first winner. It's good to get it at York as I was brought up at Bawtry and had my first job in racing with Jimmy FitzGerald.
"I was considering running this horse at Nottingham tomorrow but I was worried that he wouldn't get the fast-run race that he needs."
Juwwi came back fresh as paint after finishing fourth yesterday at the track to land the Guilbert UK Handicap.
But there was a sting in the tail for his young jockey Darren Williams who was banned for three days for irresponsible riding of a minor nature.
