Titania ruled out of 1,000 Guineas
MY TITANIA has been declared a non-runner in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. With heavy rainfall yesterday making conditions testing, trainer John Oxx has decided not to take any chances with the well-regarded filly.
The daughter of Sea The Stars has had no luck this season after an unsatisfactory scope also saw her miss the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
My Titania had made a fine impression as a juvenile when victorious in the CL Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh last September. Oxx said: ‘The forecast was against us all week.
‘I thought earlier in the week we had no chance but actually we didn’t get the rain and the ground was quite nice on Friday, it was yielding.
‘But then the rain arrived as predicted and it got softer and softer, so there was no way we could run,’ added Oxx.
My Titania will now be aimed at Royal Ascot, but her relative inexperience is a concern to her trainer.
He said: ‘Unfortunately we have still not found out if she is up to Group One standard, it was going to be a big jump in grade at Newmarket and here.
‘We’re anxious to find out, we’ve no option but to run in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot now and, unfortunately, we’re going there without a previous run [this season] and meeting battle-hardened fillies.
‘But Royal Ascot is in mid-summer and is usually fast ground.
‘We’d be unlucky to meet soft ground there.’
Meanwhile, Leighton Aspell is set for a short spell on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone in a fall at Towcester on Friday evening.
The Grand National-winning rider was aboard Morning Reggie in the two-mile novices’ hurdle when the Oliver Sherwood-trained runner crashed out at the fifth flight.
Aspell’s agent Dave Roberts said: ‘He’s broken his collarbone. It was a clean break and he’ll be out for a couple of weeks now.’