Charlie Appleby’s Derby winner Masar will NOT race again this season as scans reveal the extent of his injury
Masar is set to stay in training and make his return as a four-year-old next year
DERBY hero Masar will not run again this season after picking up an injury.
The Godolphin colt was ruled out of the Coral-Eclipse after knocking his leg during routine exercise, but scans have now revealed the extent of the injury.
Veterinary advice is for Masar to have two months of rest and trainer Charlie Appleby feels it would be too much of a rush to bring him back for autumn targets.
He told Press Association Sport: "We re-scanned him yesterday (Saturday) evening and after discussions with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed he was keen to see him stay in training.
"So we felt to give him the best chance next year we would give him the rest of this season off.
"He's going to miss eight weeks now anyway.
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"You can't get a lead into championship race, i.e the Arc, by missing this much time so if we wanted him to run as a four-year-old we felt he would have the best opportunity by giving him the rest of the season off.
"He's a substantial colt anyway, there's a chance there's more to come and going into his four-year-old season he takes the best mile-and-a-half form.
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"After the Irish Derby some were crabbing the Epsom form, but since the Eclipse and Kew Gardens winning the Grand Prix de Paris last night it looks an awful lot better.
"The two races of interest are the Champion Stakes and the Arc, but it would be a push to get to those races and we've decided to do what is best for the horse and give him all the time he needs.
"The races we'll be looking at next year are the Coronation Cup, the King George and the Arc."