Craven Stakes winner King's Ironbridge has dramatically left Richard Hannon's yard after a disagreement between the Marlborough trainer and the colt's owner Terry Johnsey, it was reported today.
It appears Johnsey was unhappy with the way King's Ironbridge was ridden by Dane O'Neill when only 10th in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last Saturday.
The horse is to join Upper Lambourn trainer Brian Meehan.
"I told him to take the horse away," Hannon told The Times. "We had a disagreement after the race, a dispute over running and riding.
"My view was that the horse was drawn badly and Dane had no option but to stay out wide but the owner is entitled to his opinion."
Richard Hughes partnered King's Ironbridge to victory in the Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes over the Guineas course and distance last month but chose to ride stablemate Tamburlaine in the Classic instead. Tamburlaine finished runner-up to Golan.
Meehan said: "I'm looking forward to training him - he's a lovely horse. The circumstances are none of my business and I want to keep out of that. I shall look through his entries but I do know he's in the St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot and that will be an option." PA