LONDON // Godolphin's season was dealt a significant setback yesterday when the unbeaten filly White Moonstone was ruled out of the Qipco English 1,000 Guineas.
White Moonstone was working on the gallops at Newmarket when she pulled up stiff.
Godolphin immediately sent her for veterinary investigation but, regardless, she will miss the first English Classic for fillies next Sunday.
"Unfortunately, White Moonstone is not right and we need to find the cause of the problem," said Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager. "She definitely won't be able to run in the 1,000 Guineas."
White Moonstone is also entered for the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 22 and the English Oaks at Epsom on June 3.
The daughter of Dynaformer raced four times as a juvenile, capping her two-year-old season with a victory in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Ascot, a reliable indicator of a top-notch performer.
The news comes just five days after Dubai Prince was ruled out of the English 2,000 Guineas due to a hairline fracture, and it is likely that the Mahmood al Zarooni-trained son of Shamardal will also miss the English Derby.
The Dubai-based operation have the perfect opportunity to get their season back on track this afternoon when Genius Beast lines up in the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown, a race in which Godolphin's Chabal passed the post first 12 months ago but was later disqualified.
"He should have no problem with the step up to a mile-and-a-quarter," al Zarooni said, "but I am not sure how he will cope if the ground is very quick. He won well on soft ground at Haydock Park last season."
