Newshaami yesterday emerged as a possible surprise runner in next Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes. The Sagitta 2,000 Guineas fifth finished distressed when trailing in 14th of the 15 runners in the Vodafone Derby just last Saturday.
But he was left in the St James's Palace at yesterday's acceptance stage and could run at Royal Ascot in place of owner Hamdan Al Maktoum's French 2,000 Guineas second Muhthathir, who has suffered a setback.
"Haami was distressed but he is fine now," said trainer John Dunlop's racing secretary Marcus Hosgood. "The trainer is happy enough with him to have left him in the race but he will discuss it with the owner's racing manager Angus Gold nearer the time before deciding whether to run."
Dunlop is not averse to using Epsom as a stepping-stone to Royal Ascot as his Marju won the St James's Palace in 1991 less than a fortnight after finishing second in the Derby.
A total of 12 colts remain in Tuesday's Group One one-mile event, including 2,000 Guineas second Lend A Hand, plus Victory Note and Desert Prince - winners respectively of the French and Irish equivalents.
Godolphin have at least two acceptors in each of the first three races at Royal Ascot, with Fa-Eq and Almutawakel in the St James's Palace Stakes, Cape Cross and Starborough in the Queen Anne and Daylami, Starborough and Faithful son in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
Daggers Drawn will not run in next Thursday's Cork And Orrery Stakes, one of just three Royal Ascot races his trainer Henry Cecil has yet to win, after suffering a suspected fractured hind leg on the Newmarket gallops yesterday morning.
The Group Three sprint had been pencilled in for the son of Diesis after two disappointments over a mile this season.
The chestnut, winner of Doncaster's Champagne Stakes at two and one-time favourite for the 2,000 Guineas, finished sixth of seven on his reappearance in the City Index Craven Stakes and then came home last of 18 behind King Of Kings in the Guineas over the same course and distance.
Feeling Daggers Drawn had failed to stay, connections had planned to drop him back in trip. But plans will now have to be put on hold after yesterday morning's injury.
"He has a suspected crack in a hind leg," said Cecil at Newbury yesterday. "He was having a canter and he pulled up funny."
St James's Palace Stakes acceptors: Almandab (J Gosden), Almutawakel (S bin Suroor), Desert Prince (D Loder), Docksider (J Hills), Dr Fong (H Cecil), Duck Row (J Toller), Fa-Eq (S bin Suroor), Greenlander (C Brittain), Haami (J Dunlop), Lend A Hand (M Johnston), Speedfit Too (G Margarson), Victory Note (P Chapple-Hyam).
