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Gatsby skips Champion run

3 minute read

The Grey Gatsby has been ruled out of Saturday's Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot but will stay in training next year.

The Grey Gatsby winning the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Kevin Ryan's three-year-old has enjoyed a tremendous campaign, winning the Dante Stakes at York, the French Derby and most recently lowering the colours of Australia in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The son of Mastercraftsman was due to round off his season on Champions Day this weekend, but with testing conditions increasingly likely to prevail, Ryan has decided to draw stumps for the year.

"I'm not going to run him on heavy ground. They had 25 millimetres of rain last night and there is more forecast," said the trainer.

"He's done everything we've asked of him this year.

"He stays in training next season, so we'll look forward to that now."

Despite his intended defection, The Grey Gatsby is still among 12 Champion Stakes entries following the confirmation stage.

Corine Barande-Barbe's French ace Cirrus Des Aigles won the race in 2011 and will be strongly fancied to regain his crown after having filled the runner-up spot behind Frankel and Farhh in the last two renewals.

Aidan O'Brien has three remaining contenders in Kingsbarns, Ruler Of The World and Kingfisher, while fellow Irish trainer Dermot Weld is set to saddle a major player in Free Eagle.

Frankel's brother Noble Mission has enjoyed an excellent campaign and is in the mix for Lady Cecil.

Al Kazeem, Sheikhzayedroad, Ayrad and Western Hymn are also engaged, while the Richard Hannon-trained Pether's Moon has been supplemented for the race.