Cazoo Derby: Royal runner Reach For The Moon ruled out

The Queen's Reach For The Moon will miss next month's Cazoo Derby in the monarch's Platinum Jubilee year with John and Thady Gosden having run out of time to prepare the colt for the Epsom Classic.

For Her Majesty to have a runner with a genuine chance in the world-famous this year had been seen as a major boost for the race, but unfortunately those dreams have been dashed.

Reach For The Moon was high in the ante-post lists for the premier Classic after winning the Solario Stakes at Sandown in August but will now be aimed towards Royal Ascot during the middle of next month.

The Sea The Stars colt signed off last term by finishing runner-up to Bayside Boy in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster as a setback prevented him from running again as a juvenile and the Gosdens have faced a race against the clock to get him ready for a trial, with York’s Dante Stakes the preferred option.

However, it has now been decided that the Group Two will come too soon for him and as a result connections have decided to aim for Royal Ascot instead.

As a result of his absence Coral cut Aidan O’Brien’s 2000 Guineas third Luxembourg into 9-4 favouritism from 5-2.

The Queen’s racing manager John Warren said: “We will look forward to Ascot.”