Sir Michael Stoute’s Passenger has been ruled out of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot due to an infection.
The four-year-old created a big impression when beating Israr by a length and a half in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester last month, a performance that saw him leap to the head of the Prince of Wales's Stakes market.
However, last year's unlucky Dante Stakes third and Epsom Derby disappointment will not contest the ten-furlong feature at Royal Ascot after Alan Cooper, racing manager for owner the Niarchos family, confirmed he will miss his assignment following an infection.
Cooper told the PA News Agency: "He has an infection, and it would be a race against time to have him spot on for Ascot. Hopefully, he will be ready for the Eclipse, but that will be up to Sir Michael.
"We'll get the horse right first and then we will make a plan when everybody is happy."
Passenger's defection has seen Auguste Rodin installed as the new market leader with Paddy Power (6/4) ahead of his Tattersalls Gold Cup conqueror White Birch.
