Horse Racing: Aidan O'Brien said yesterday it is unlikely High Chaparral will make it back in time for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. The double Derby and Breeders Cup winner injured a shoulder muscle last month.
Ascot's mid-summer showpiece on July 26th had been mooted as a possible return date for High Chaparral.
"He is only starting back in exercise now and I would say it is unlikely he will make the King George," O'Brien said.
"He bruised a muscle in his shoulder, which is a big muscle in the body. We are not aiming him at any race in particular at the moment. He will tell us when he is ready," he added.
Another star member of the Ballydoyle senior team is the 2001 St Leger winner Milan, who is also back in exercise after a setback.
"He is only starting back and he will obviously miss Ascot. He is at about the same time as High Chaparral," said O'Brien of the horse who hasn't run since getting badly injured in last year's Mooresbridge Stakes.
The Ballydoyle trainer reported that both his weekend Group One winners, Yesterday and Black Sam Bellamy, have emerged unscathed for the Curragh and could join up again for an Epsom raid on the Oaks and Coronation Cup respectively.
Meanwhile, Paul Moloney, who has ridden "around 200 winners" here, enjoyed his first success in Britain when guiding Redde to victory in a beginners' chase at Uttoxeter yesterday.
"The last four seasons I've been riding in Ireland with an average of about 30 winners every year. I just wanted to come to England and give it a go," the 24-year-old said.
