Gstaad to miss Jacques le Marois, now targeted at Moulin de Longchamp

The Irish 2,000 Guineas winner suffered an infection following a setback sustained at Goodwood and has been ruled out of the highly anticipated Deauville clash against Bow Echo

COUNTY KILDARE, Ireland—The eagerly anticipated clash between Bow Echo (Night of Thunder) and Gstaadin the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) will not come to pass after all. Aidan O'Brien confirmed that the Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) winner will not be ready in time for the major Deauville fixture, with his comeback now delayed until the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) in September.

The son of Starspangledbanner enters off a runner-up finish in the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood, where he once again chased home Bow Echo, just as he had previously done in the 2,000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket and the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. However, that performance left behind an unexpected setback.

"At Goodwood he was kicked by another horse, which led to a minor infection in his hind leg," O'Brien explained. "Under standard antibiotics he normally could have run a week later, but because the cut was deep he required a much stronger treatment regimen that takes 14 days. The medication will not have cleared his system in time to run in the Jacques le Marois."

For that reason, the Irish trainer has already revised the colt's roadmap: "He will most likely make his return directly in the Prix du Moulin. That will almost certainly be his next race."

While Bow Echo remains firmly on track to defend his unbeaten record at Deauville, Ballydoyle also had to reshuffle the plans for two of its top 2-year-olds.

Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Great Barrier Reef (No Nay Never) missed last weekend's Phoenix Stakes (G1)—won by stablemate Sun Goddess (Sioux Nation)—due to a bout of ringworm. "He had a bit of ringworm, which is why he missed the Phoenix. He's completely over it now, but when something like that happens you have to give them a couple of weeks before racing again," O'Brien clarified.

All signs point to the son of No Nay Never targeting the Prix Morny (G1), where he could potentially align alongside Man's Best Friend (No Nay Never), recent winner of the Richmond Stakes (G2) at Goodwood.

"We believe our representative for the Morny will come down to either Great Barrier Reef or Man's Best Friend," the trainer noted.

The outlook is somewhat different for Victorious (Wootton Bassett), the brilliant winner of the Queen Mary Stakes(G2) at Royal Ascot, whose season may have come to an early close.

"She was a bit under the weather and is getting some rest now. We're not sure yet if she will run again this year. If we aren't completely happy with her, we would rather wait. She has already traveled plenty and gained enough experience. If she isn't a hundred percent, her season is over."

Thus, Ballydoyle heads into the upcoming major dates on the European calendar with a few forced adjustments, while still keeping intact the formidable firepower of a stable that remains a central force in every major event of the Northern Hemisphere summer.