Dreams of a first Triple Crown winner in 37 years were dashed yesterday when Teofilo was taken out of tomorrow's 2,000 Guineas line-up at Newmarket and doubts about whether he will be ready to make next month's Epsom Derby appear to be growing.
Jim Bolger's unbeaten two-year-old champion is on the easy list after the knee problem that affected him a fortnight ago returned after a routine work-out yesterday morning.
In a statement, Bolger said: "Teofilo had a blow-out this morning at 6.30 and moved with his usual fluency. He gave every indication he was fit and ready to run. Unfortunately at 9.00 there was excessive heat, and some soreness, at the back of off-fore knee when palpitated. After discussions with my senior staff I have decided it would not be prudent to run him in the Guineas.
"My staff and I have made every effort to have Teofilo fit 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 he was subjected to a race at this time."
Teofilo's classic defection has also cost ante-post punters an estimated €3 million and a Coral spokesman declared: "It is undoubtedly the worst ante-post disaster for punters in decades, both in terms of money lost and the awful timing of the defection."
Paddy Power announced they will refund all single ante-post bets on Teofilo, a move which could cost them up to €100,000, but concern quickly moved on to next month's Epsom Derby for which Teofilo had been as low as 5 to 2 favourite.
Some firms immediately withdrew the Irish star from their ante-post Derby betting, with one firm stating: "You would have to be extremely doubtful about the chances of Teofilo lining up at Epsom."
There was no suggestion yesterday from Teofilo's connections that the double Group One winner would be forced to miss Epsom but there will be intense interest in the colt's rate of recovery in the next couple of weeks.
With Teofilo and his stable companion Slaney Time not declared for tomorrow's Guineas, a final field of 24 will run over the Rowley mile, including the Aidan O'Brien trio of Duke Of Marmalade, Eagle Mountain and Yellowstone. The shortest priced of the four Irish runners, however, will be Hattef who is now as low as 6 to 1 to give Kevin Prendergast a 2,000 Guineas triumph to match Nebbielo's win 30 years ago.
Adagio, winner of the Craven Stakes for Michael Stoute, is the new general 3 to 1 favourite for the race. Stoute has already won the Guineas on five occasions.
Tomorrow's race will have the largest field since the Stoute-trained Kings Best beat 26 others to win in 2000. The stalls for both the 2,000 Guineas and Sunday's 1,000 Guineas will be placed in the centre of the track.
Four Irish fillies, including the Bolger-trained favourite Finsceal Beo, are expected to be declared for the fillies classic at today's 48-hour final stage. Both Kevin Prendergast and jockey Declan McDonogh will take their chance with the Goffs Million winner Miss Beatrix who will tackle a mile for the first time.
