Richard Fahey is unsure what the future holds for Wootton Bassett after he faded to finish fifth in Sunday’s Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
The Iffraaj colt’s unbeaten juvenile career was rounded off with a Group One win in France, leaving connections dreaming of Classic glory over the winter.
But his three-year-old season has not lived up to expectations so far, with a setback early in the year meaning he missed the 2000 Guineas and when he did eventually return in the French equivalent, he finished only fifth.
A seventh-placed finish in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot suggested a drop in trip was in order and while he travelled much more like the horse of old over six and a half furlongs (1300m) at the weekend, he could not sustain his effort and weakened.
There was a little more encouragement as he passed the post a creditable fifth, but his trainer was expecting more than his star turn has delivered so far this year.
“I haven’t seen him this morning but the lads say he seems fine,” Fahey said.
“It’s a little bit frustrating as I thought he went there to win the race. I was surprised he walked the last 100 yards (metres).
“He travelled well and settled grand. They went a nice gallop and to be fair we were quietly confident that he’d stay well, but he didn’t.
“It was a little bit more encouraging and we’ve been stopping and starting with him all season, which isn’t an ideal way to train a Group One horse.
“We’re trying our best and it’s just a bit frustrating as I don’t know where we are with him.
“He shows a lot of speed but he did win over seven furlongs (1400m) as a two-year-old. He just didn’t show that battling quality for whatever reason.
“We’ll just have to see how he is and go from there, but at the moment we’re carrying on.”
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