SO MI DAR, who had been second favourite for the Investec Oaks in what was set to be a mouthwatering clash with the brilliant 1,000 Guineas winner Minding, will miss the Epsom showpiece after pulling out lame on Monday morning.
The daughter of Dar Re Mi confirmed herself a major threat to Aidan O'Brien's brilliant Minding with a scintillating victory in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York last week and had been trimmed to as short as 5-2 to follow up with a Classic victory.
So impressive had she been that many pundits had hoped she may again be pitted against the colts in the Derby, as she was when defeating Humphrey Bogart and Viren's Army in the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom last month, and was 6-1 with a run.
However, the Irish Oaks is now her primary target, with trainer John Gosden hopeful she could overcome the setback in as little as ten days.
"We have to do what is right for the filly, so I am afraid she is a non-runner," said Gosden.
"It's a real disappointment but I'm sure she'll probably be back for the Irish Oaks, just not Epsom."
'She's not right'
Speaking at an event at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Monday night, Gosden explained all had appeared well with the filly until this morning, when she was favouring her near hind.
Gosden said: "It was one of those mornings you get. She came around the parade, ate up and was perfectly happy. We walked her for ten or 15 minutes and she was lame in her left hind.
"We had the vet in to look at her and she's not right. We would call it a one to two out of five if you graded it on lameness."
'The horse comes very much first'
Gosden paid tribute to So Mi Dar's owner, Lord Lloyd-Webber and said he understood why his charge could not take her place in the Oaks in a little over a fortnight's time.
"The horse comes very much first," he said. "That's my job and luckily I'm training for proper owner-breeders who understand the game and took it well.
"It's the old story - she may well come right in ten days but at this stage, you cannot go into any major race thinking you can walk for ten days then be ready to race."
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