Braveness Mon Ami won’t defend his Gold Cup title at Royal Ascot after the setback.
The five-year-old was bought privately by Wathnan Racing forward of final 12 months’s assembly, having received every of his three earlier begins for breeder Anthony Oppenheimer.
Braveness Mon Ami then offered one of many highlights of the assembly, taking the stayers’ crown within the arms of Frankie Dettori, earlier than disappointing within the Goodwood Cup and settling for second within the Lonsdale Cup at York in his closing begin to the marketing campaign.
Trainers John and Teddy Gosden have been making ready the Frankel gelding for an additional Gold Cup bid, however the staff will now depend on Gregory, winner of the Queen’s Vase at Ascot final 12 months and third within the Yorkshire Cup on his return earlier this month.
Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown mentioned: “It is unlucky timing however fortunately not a serious setback and we’re very hopeful he’ll be again in Cup racing later this 12 months.
“Braveness Mon Ami gave Wathnan such an excellent begin final 12 months and we are going to miss him on Gold Cup day. We can have all our hopes that Gregory will show to be a succesful deputy.”
Kyprios, skilled by Aidan O’Brien, is the even-money general favourite for the Gold Cup, with Gregory second favourite at 6-1.