So You Think was scratched at the 11th hour from the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park at yesterday's final declaration stage and will be retired.
Aidan O'Brien's six-year-old stallion was widely believed to have an outstanding chance of defending his title in tomorrow's 10-furlong contest but was found to be lame in his stable and was pulled just minutes before the 48-hour declarations.
The Eclipse was to be the globe-trotting performer's swansong before being retired to Coolmore Stud in Australia, where he has been advertised at a rate of $A66,000 (Dh249,000) for the 2012 southern hemisphere breeding season.
"So You Think was found to be lame after morning exercise. He appears to have pulled a muscle in his hind quarter which precludes him from running in the Eclipse Stakes," a statement from Coolmore said.
So You Think will enter quarantine tomorrow so will not have another opportunity to add to his haul of 10 wins at the highest level.
Seven others horses were declared, alongside the Godolphin trio of Monterosso, Farhh and City Style, with Cityscape, the winner of the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan, pencilled in for at least a place, according to James Doyle, the jockey.
Doyle, who rode 23 winners in the UAE last season, believes that the stiff incline at Sandown will not be an issue as his mount attempts to run over 10 furlongs for the first time.
"It's his first run at a mile and a quarter, and Sandown is quite a stiff track, so there has to be a question mark," Doyle said.
"However, he relaxes so well in his races, and certainly wasn't stopping at the end in Dubai," he added, in an interview with the Racing Post.
"It's a good race, featuring some good horses with proven Group 1-winning form, but if I can get him nice and relaxed I'd be hopeful of finishing in the first three."
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