Michael Owen lost his chance of victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot when his Brown Panther sustained an injury. The seven-year-old had been third in the betting for Thursday’s race, traditionally regarded as the highlight of the Royal meeting, and his career as a racehorse must now be in the balance.
Owen broke the news through Twitter, reporting that Brown Panther had “injured his near fore leg” and said he was “absolutely gutted”. Tom Dascombe, who trains at the Cheshire stables owned by the former England striker, later explained the horse had had to be treated with anti-inflammatories, meaning there was no chance of him taking part in a race this week.
“At this stage we don’t know the extent of the injury so I can’t tell you any more,” Dascombe said. “It’s very disappointing.”
Brown Panther, which Owen bred from one of the first mares he owned, finished fourth in last year’s Gold Cup, appearing to lack the necessary stamina for the marathon distance. But Owen and his team had been hopeful of a better showing this year. The horse had since won the Irish St Leger and a £384,000 prize in Dubai, where he beat 14 rivals by daylight.
“When we sat down at the start of the year Royal Ascot was the first thing we put in the diary as his big target,” Owen told the Observer during the week. He added there had already been interest in Brown Panther as a stallion prospect.
Bookmakers reacted by shortening the Gold Cup favourite, Forgotten Rules, to a top price of 11-4 from 3-1. But he may also miss the race because his trainer, Dermot Weld, has concerns about the horse racing on a fast surface. “Unfortunately Ascot missed all the thunderstorms but we’re very hopeful,” Weld said. “If the ground is safe, he’ll run.”
