Gstaad will miss a potential fourth meeting with Bow Echo in the Prix Jacques le Marois next Sunday after developing an infection following his narrow loss in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Setback after Goodwood
Aidan O'Brien's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner has finished behind Bow Echo on three occasions this campaign, taking the runner-up position in the 2000 Guineas, the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and in a memorable Sussex Stakes just over a week ago.
O'Brien made clear he would not shy away from another encounter with George Boughey's outstanding colt later in the summer – but while the latter has the option of travelling to Deauville, Gstaad is set to be aimed at the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp on September 6 following a minor setback.
O'Brien explains infection
When questioned about the Marois as a possibility at the Curragh on Sunday, O'Brien said: "I don't think so. He got galloped into in Goodwood and he got a little bit of an infection in his hind part from it."
"We put him on antibiotics and with the antibiotics we put him on usually we'd be able to run him in seven days, but they had to give him an extra strong antibiotic because the cut was deep so it took 14 days, it wouldn't be out of his system in time."
He added: "It will probably be the Moulin now before he runs. That's probably where he'll go."
Updates on other runners
The Ballydoyle trainer also delivered updates on two of his Royal Ascot-winning juveniles in Great Barrier Reef and Victorious, with the latter potentially sidelined for the remainder of the season.
"Great Barrier Reef had a spot of ringworm, that's why he didn't come here for the Phoenix Stakes (today). It's gone and it's dead, but you have to give them a couple of weeks when that happens," O'Brien added.
"With the horse from Goodwood (Richmond Stakes winner Man's Best Friend) today was coming a bit too quick, so it will be between him and Great Barrier Reef for the Prix Morny we think."
Victorious was a little bit off, so she'll have a little bit of time off and whether we run her for the rest of the season I'm not sure, but if there's anything (wrong) we'll wait with her because she's travelled and she's a lot of experience. If we're not 100 per cent happy with her she's finished for the season.
