King's Best, long-time favourite for the Epsom Derby after his dazzling 2,000 Guineas win, was pulled out of the world's most famous horse race today due to injury.
It was a bitter blow to Saturday's big race as King's Best was being hailed as a potential racing star who could have achieved greatness over the unique Epsom switchback, a gruelling test of both horse and rider since 1780.
Bitterly-disappointed trainer Michael Stoute said in a brief statement: 'King's Best is a non-runner for there is no improvement. I am very sorry for his owner, the team at home and those who backed him.'
Derby betting was thrown into total confusion after Stoute, a master trainer with an eye for detail, revealed on Thursday that the hugely impressive 2,000 Guineas winner had a recurrence of the muscle problem that plagued the colt last week.
He was quick to warn punters who had backed the impressive colt ante-post that the odds were stacked against him. An injury so close to the race can rarely be overcome in time.
Joe Mercer, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, said the colt had been given physiotherapy but there was no improvement overnight and the disconsolate connections had no option but to pull out just a day before the off.
The highly-strung colt, who won the 2,000 Guineas in May with a devastating turn of foot, pulled a muscle in his quarters last weekend. His electrifying acceleration at Newmarket had dazzled racing pundits with King's Best being hailed as an equine hero if he could conquer the daunting challenges of Epsom.
King's Best had been favourite for the Epsom Derby ever since his 2,000 Guineas win even though there had been doubts about the colt's stamina over the extra half mile and fears that his volatile temperament would bubble over amid the hurly burly of Epsom Downs on Derby Day.
Stoute, one of the great perfectionists of the sport, is sadly no stranger to last-minute Derby scares.
His hugely-promising colt Dr Massini was favourite to land the premier classic four years ago but suffered a foot injury and had to be withdrawn just three days before the race.
Bookmakers at first suspended all betting on the Epsom Derby race after the King's Best injury scare but then instituted the Henry Cecil challenger Beat Hollow as the new favourite. Cecil won the race last year with Oath and now looks set to have another outstanding chance.
King's Best had been drawn in stall one, the same berth occupied by Oath. Beat Hollow was in stall 10, a lucky stall that boasts five of the last 14 Derby winners.
But one last-minute uncertainty was cleared up when connections finally decided to let Barathea Guest take his chance in Saturday's race. The colt was third in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
'He was clearly staying on in both races and when winning the Greenham before,' said a spokesman for owner John Guest. 'Barathea Guest is declared to run at Epsom. He breezed impressively under (jockey) Philip Robinson yesterday and is in great spirit.'
