‘Disappointing for all concerned’ as star horse with ‘bags of talent’ is ruled out of £750,000 clash with City Of Troy

6 months ago 43

BOOKIES said there was ‘disappointment for all concerned’ after it was confirmed Passenger would miss his blockbuster £750,000 showdown with City Of Troy.

Sun Racing’s Favourite pullout told you exclusively that Sir Michael Stoute’s star four-year-old colt is still recovering from an infection which also ruled him out of Royal Ascot.

Sir Michael is being patient with Passenger’s recovery from an infection[/caption]

It means he cannot return in time for the Coral-Eclipse over a mile and a quarter at Sandown on Saturday week, for which he was 5-1 second-favourite.

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Passenger made a winning comeback in the Huxley Stakes at Chester last month, the form of which was franked by the runner-up Israr winning the Wolferton Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners Flaxman Stables Ireland, said: “The Eclipse will come a bit too early. It has taken him a bit of time to get over the infection he had.

“We’ve just entered him in the Juddmonte International at York on August 21.

“It was good to see the form of Passenger’s Chester win franked at Royal Ascot by the runner up.

“We need to get him back to full health and then take it from there. The horse is the priority and we will take our time with him and run when Sir Michael is ready.”

It means Aidan O’Brien’s Derby-winning superstar City Of Troy is now odds-on to claim the crown.

He is now 1-2 from 4-7 with the sponsor… while new second-favourite Economics would still need supplementing.

Coral’s David Stevens said: “It’s disappointing for all concerned that Passenger won’t be lining up at Sandown next weekend, as following his Chester win, he would have been the chief market rival to the red-hot favourite.

“His absence means City Of Troy is now 1-2 to join an illustrious list of Derby and Eclipse winners, odds that could well get shorter depending on his opposition at the Esher track.”

Passenger was beaten on his sole Group 1 start in last year’s Derby at Epsom but Cooper belives he can strike gold at the highest level and admits a return to a mile and a half is also on the cards.

He added: “We would like to think he is capable of winning a Group One given the entries he has got over a mile and a quarter. He is also entered in the Arc.

“I think that gives an insight into what Sir Michael and the rest of the team at Freemason Lodge Stables think of him.

“The Arc entry suggests a mile and a half will be looked at again at some point.”

Meanwhile, Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly was supplemented for the Irish Derby at a cost of €100,000.

He is currently the 5-4 favourite ahead of Aidan O’Brien’s 7-4 second-fav Los Angeles, while Roger Varian’s Matsuri is the big market mover into 13-2.

Coral-Eclipse odds via Coral

1-2 City Of Troy
6 *Economics
8 White Birch
10 Alflaila, Dancing Gemini, Luxembourg
12 Auguste Rodin, Ghostwriter
16 Dubai Honour, Jayarebe
20 Emily Upjohn, Henry Longfellow, Inspiral
25 Bar
*Needs supplementing