Late setback scuppers Zanzoun’s Classic bid

Zanzoun misses Sunday’s Poule d’Essai des Pouliches after a late setback was discovered following exercise on Thursday morning.

John and Thady Gosden’s Nell Gwyn heroine was all set to bid for Classic honours at ParisLongchamp on Sunday after her impressive display in the Newmarket trial, but could now face a spell on the sidelines.

“She was a little off after exercise this morning, John and Thady called to say after she cantered they weren’t happy with her and she looked a little tight behind,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“When you are not in peak condition, you can’t be heading off to the races, so we will have to sit and wait and diagnose whether it is muscular or something a bit more – and when she tells us she’s ready, we will make a plan then. Unfortunately, she’s just not ready for Sunday.

“This only all unfolded at 7am this morning, so we will just have to wait and see what comes out during the next couple of days.”

Juddmonte and Clarehaven will still be represented in the French capital on Sunday by Detain, who is one of a strong hand for the owners in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, with Andrew Balding’s Greenham scorer Jonquil also set to contest the colts’ Classic.

The performances of that duo could have a bearing on where 2000 Guineas runner-up Field Of Gold could be seen on his next start, with the respective teams soon to finalise the next steps for Juddmonte’s legion of top-class prospects.

Mahon continued: “We sort of said we wouldn’t fully discuss plans until after Sunday and we had said Cosmic Year would go to the Irish 2,000 Guineas after winning the King Charles II Stakes and that still looks the main target for him.

“But Field Of Gold, no, we said we would sit down with John and Thady after France on Sunday once we’ve seen how the other horses run. The owners will be there and we will all discuss it and come up with a plan.”