No Derby run in Jubilee year for The Queen's Reach For The Moon
- Tom Reed
- 3 May 2022
The Queen's Reach For The Moon will not run in the Epsom Derby during the Platinum Jubilee year and will instead go to Royal Ascot.
There was disappointment for Her Majesty the Queen's racing operations as trainer John and Thady Gosden announced Reach For The Moon will not run in the Cazoo Epsom Derby on June 4.
Fancied in the market for the premier flat classic after taking the Solario Stakes at Sandown in August, the three-year-old Sea The Stars colt also finished a creditable second to Bayside Boy in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
But a setback interefered with his progression as a juvenile and the Epsom Derby on June 4 has sadly come too soon, denying the Queen a potential centrepiece Classic in her Platinum Jubilee year. A run in the Dante Stakes was preferred as a trial but there just has not been enough time to get a through preparation routine for a horse of the calibre required to win the Epsom Derby.
Reach For The Moon was available as a general 8/1 chance for the centrepiece on the Epsom Downs.
Aidan O'Brien's 2000 Guineas third has been further cut for the Derby after Reach For the Moon's defection, being cut from 5/2 to 9/4 favourite.
Charlie Appleby trains the second and third favorite for the Epsom Derby with his New London going at Chester on Wednesday, May 4. Meanwhile his Walk Of Stars, A Dubawi colt takes up the third place in the current betting market.
A philosophical racing manager to the Queen, John Warren said: "We will look forward to Ascot."
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee takes place from June 2 to June 5 with the Epsom Derby due to take place on June 4.
