The Queen’s star colt Reach For The Moon has been ruled out of the Platinum Jubilee Derby on June 4.
Her Majesty was hoping the horse, who was third favourite in the betting, could provide a glorious success in the famous Classic at Epsom – a race she has never won as an owner. But Reach For The Moon’s trainer John Gosden has ruled him out saying the race will come too soon for the three-year-old.
Gosden said he has run out of time to get the son of Sea The Stars fit again after he suffered an injury last autumn. A royal victory in the Derby would have been a highlight of the celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty, with the Classic taking place during the extended four-day Bank Holiday.
Gosden told the Racing Post: “Following a setback last autumn, Reach For The Moon has been given all the time and care he requires in his training programme. We had planned to run him in the Dante Stakes at York next week. However, in the best interests of horse we have decided that this race is coming too soon for him. Consequently, he will not run in the Derby and will be pointed towards Royal Ascot."
On Sunday John Warren, the Queen's racing manager had said they had been "chasing their tails" to get the horse fit. Reach For The Moon, who won two of his five races as a two-year-old, was last seen finishing second to Bayside Boy in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last September.
He was then found to have picked up an injury which ruled him out of the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. The Queen does have two other entries in the Derby but both are rank outsiders – Educator (40-1) and the maiden General Idea (66-1), both trained by William Haggas.
