Racing: Ante-post favourite Teofilo will miss Saturday's Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after suffering a setback.
Last season's champion two-year-old, trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger, was found to have some soreness at the back of his off-fore knee.
The Galileo colt won all his five starts as a two-year-old, including the Group One National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
He was 2-1 favourite to begin his pursuit of Triple Crown glory with victory in the 2000 Guineas.
The problem first flared up about a fortnight ago but Bolger was able work Teofilo again last week and the colt seemed back on course for Newmarket.
Bolger said: "Teofilo had a blow-out this morning at 6.30am over five furlongs and moved with his usual fluency.
"He gave every indication that he was fit and ready to run. Unfortunately at 9.00am there was excessive heat, and some soreness at the back of his off-fore knee when palpated.
"After discussions with my senior staff, I have decided that it would not be prudent to run him in Saturday's Stan James 2000 Guineas. Consequently, I shall not be declaring him for the race.
"My staff and I have made every effort to have Teofilo fit and well for the first Classic of 2007 but must now accept that a cautious approach is the correct way to go as more serious damage could be done if subjected to a race at this time.
"A further press release on his condition will be issued in two
weeks."
As well as withdrawing Teofilo at today's 48-hour final
declaration stage, Bolger has also taken out his other entry, the
outsider Slaney Time.
But the trainer still has the market leader for Sunday's Stan James 1000 Guineas in Finsceal Beo.
The Irish Derby will have a new sponsor from next year after Anheuser-Busch decided not to renew its current contract.
For the past 22 years the race has been known as the 'Budweiser Irish Derby' but the firm will sponsor the event - staged at the Curragh racecourse - for the last time on July 1st.
Curragh Racecourse manager Paul Hensey said: "We are very grateful for the enormous contribution and commitment made by Anheuser-Busch during the past 22 years.
"Their support of the Irish Derby has assisted us to develop the event into one of the major sporting and social events in the Irish calendar."
Hensey said the search for a new sponsor has started.