The full extent of the leg injury to Derby winner Masar was revealed by the results of a series of scans that became available to Godolphin on Saturday evening.

After taking veterinary advice, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and trainer Charlie Appleby have decided not to run Masar again this season — but the plan is for the colt to return to action next year, with Epsom’s G1 Coronation Cup his first major objective.

Appleby said today: “The vet has seen a change in the soft tissue damage to Masar’s off-fore, and after speaking to His Highness, we have decided to call a halt to the colt’s season immediately.

“Sheikh Mohammed is keen for Masar to run again at four, and if we are to deliver on that, the best option is to give him a long break.

“He’s going to be on the ‘easy’ list for six to eight weeks in any case, and that leaves little time to prepare him properly for the big targets in the final months of this season.

“In time, though, we can give him the right preparation for big races such as next year’s Coronation Cup, which is over the same course and distance as the Derby.

“Other targets we will look at are Ascot’s G1 King George and the G1 Arc,” he added.

Masar is believed to have knocked his leg in routine training on Friday, 6 July, the eve of the Coral Eclipse at Sandown Park. He was forced to miss that race after swelling was discovered in the leg over 24 hours before post time.

The form of Masar’s Derby has already received a boost by Roaring Lion (third) and Saxon Warrior (fourth) finishing first and second in the Eclipse, and more recently, with Kew Gardens (ninth at Epsom, beaten 27 lengths) lifting the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on Saturday.
Godolphin