Courage Mon Ami will not defend her Gold Cup title at Royal Ascot after suffering a setback.
The five-year-old was purchased privately by Wathnan Racing ahead of last year's meeting and had won each of his previous three starts for breeder Anthony Oppenheimer.
Courage Mon Ami provided one of the moments of the meeting as he placed the stayer's crown in the hands of Frankie Dettori, disappointed in the Goodwood Cup and finished second in the Lonsdale Cup at York in the final. Campaign begins.
Trainers John and Thady Gosden have been preparing the Frankel gelding for a Gold Cup re-bid, but the team will now rely on Gregory, winner of the Queen's Vase at Ascot last year and third in the Yorkshire Cup earlier this month.
Richard Brown, Wathnan's racing adviser, said: “It's unfortunate timing, but thankfully it's not a serious setback and we're very hopeful he'll be able to return to Cup racing later this year.
“Courage Mon Ami gave Wathnan a brilliant start last year and we will miss him on Gold Cup day. We will be pinning all our hopes on Gregory to prove a capable deputy.”
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Kyprios is the general favorite for the Gold Cup, with Gregory the best-priced second favorite at 6-1.
