Ruler Of The World is set to miss Saturday’s Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom after suffering a minor setback.
Last year’s Derby winner, who is jointly owned by Coolmore and Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Aidan O’Brien, had his only start this year in Dubai when only 13th in the World Cup.
Harry Herbert, Al Shaqab’s racing adviser, told Press Association Sport: “Ruler Of The World worked very well on Tuesday, I was there to see him myself, but unfortunately he isn’t quite right this morning and I am almost certain he isn’t going to run on Saturday.
“It’s bitterly disappointing and very frustrating as everyone was very pleased with the way he worked, but he isn’t right this morning and you can’t line up in a race like the Coronation Cup unless you’re 100 per cent.
“We don’t think it’s anything serious, Aidan thinks he may have tweaked a muscle. It’s too early to say (where he will run next). We hadn’t looked beyond Saturday.”