Excelebration is to miss next month’s Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin because of an infection.
The German 2000 Guineas and Prix du Moulin winner will now leave Newmarket trainer Marco Botti to join Aidan O’Brien’s stable at Ballydoyle in Ireland to continue his career as a four-year-old in 2012.
A controlling share of the classy miler was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Coolmore owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier following his easy victory in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in August.
His last run of 2011 was a second to Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on the inaugural British Champions Day in October.
“It’s a real shame as Excelebration was in superb form,” Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock said.
“Everyone was really looking forward to Hong Kong and hopefully finishing a great year on a real high.
“Unfortunately, a dirty scope has revealed a slight infection and with a long flight in the offing plus not much time before the race, all the connections have agreed that it was in the horse’s best interests to give Hong Kong a miss and wait for next season.
“Marco Botti has done a truly magnificent job with Excelebration but he will be heading over to Ballydoyle just before Christmas.
“It was always the understanding when the horse was purchased that he could be a flag-bearer for Ballydoyle in the four-year-old mile division next year, so let’s hope that wish can come true.”
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