The Luca Cumani-trained Mount Athos is one of two English stayers who have been ruled out of the Hong Kong Vase.
Mount Athos disappointed the Cumani stable with his Japan Cup effort, bringing to an end an international campaign that started with his luckless fifth in the Melbourne Cup.
The John Gosden-trained The Fugue will also miss the race after suffering a minor setback.
She has enjoyed an excellent three-year-old campaign, with victories in the Musidora and Nassau Stakes supplemented by fine places efforts in the Oaks at Epsom, the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Yorkshire Oaks and most recently the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Connections had been looking forward to seeing the Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber owned filly sign off for the year in the Far East on December 9, but she will now be saved for next season.
“Very sadly she is not going to run in Hong Kong,” the family’s racing and bloodstock manager Simon Marsh said.
“She had been working fine but she has got a bit of a temperature and we don’t want to risk her by travelling. She is only a three-year-old.
“She will be fine for next year and hopefully we can look forward to an exciting season as a four-year-old.”
Bayrir, from the yard of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, is to fill one of the vacancies in the 13-horse field.
Singapore sprinter Mr Big is out of the Hong Kong Sprint with his place to be taken by the John Moore-trained Captain Sweet.
AAP
