Attraction ruled out of Cheveley Park Stakes

Attraction has been ruled out of next Thursday's Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes after sustaining a crack in her pedal bone. Mark Johnston's filly had been due to defend her unbeaten record in the six furlong event but she was found to be lame after exercise on Thursday. In a statement, Johnston said: It is with great regret that I have to announce that Attraction will not be confirmed today for the Cheveley Park Stakes.

She was found to be lame on her left hind leg on Thursday after exercise with heat and pain to the foot. It was, at first, hoped that this was a simple foot infection or bruise and that there was still a chance of running but x-rays have now confirmed a crack in her pedal bone. She will be confined to her box for the next six weeks.

The daughter of Efisio is currently William Hills' 10-1 joint favourite with Carry On Katie for next year's 1000 Guineas but Johnston is not sure whether she will make the race. He added: A decision on whether or not she will return to training to be aimed at the 1000 Guineas will be made towards the end of December. Attraction is unbeaten in five starts this term and she was an impressive winner of the Group Three Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

She then followed up in the Group Two Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket where she annihilated a classy field by five lengths. Johnston then planned to run her in the Prix Morny at Deauville on August 31 but she missed the race after a slight setback. However, that problem is not related to her latest injury. Johnston explained: This is an entirely new problem and unrelated to the difficulties we had which prevented her from running in the Prix Morny.

At that time a succession of unrelated problems (mostly related to over-reach injuries sustained in the swimming pool) kept her out of work but precautionary x-rays taken of both front limbs showed bony changes in her knees which were a cause for concern. She was, however, until Thursday, on course to run and this latest problem is a bolt out of the blue.

Filed by Brendan Cole